Point Loma, Harbor Island & Shelter Island

A Neighborhood of Dramatic Contrasts.

West of downtown San Diego, you'll find Point Loma, Harbor Island and Shelter Island, all of which offer great restaurants and a variety of accommodations. These areas feature picturesque marinas from which sportfishing excusions, whale watching tours and harbor cruises depart. A peninsula jutting into the sea, it's easy to think of Point Loma as a dead end - "land's end" in fact. But, as the site where San Diego was discovered in the first place, it seems more appropriate to consider Point Loma as a starting point - the start of a new land, a new dream, a new way of looking at things. And that's just the place to start your own exploration of San Diego, with a voyage around Point Loma, Harbor Island and Shelter Island.

Point Loma

Point Loma encompasses at least five distinct districts. Up on The Point are beautiful, multi-million dollar mansions. Down by The Midway you'll find seedy strip shows and Kobey's Swap Meet, the city's largest weekend swap meet. On the Ocean Beach side, surf pounds the rugged coastline, while The Harbor side is a safe haven for yachts. Point Loma's fifth district is Liberty Station, the waterfront urban village in the redeveloped Naval Training Center that includes hotels, restaurants, shops, a waterfront park, the historic Sail Ho Golf Course and the NTC Promenade, home to over 48 museums, galleries, artist and design studios, dance companies and other organizations that showcase San Diego's creative community.

Point Loma is known locally as an excellent spot for tide pooling, where low tide brings a magnificent reveal of the underwater reef, exposing flowery anemones, crabs and a myriad of other sea creatures to the delight of visitors and locals who frequent these pools. And don't miss a trip to the Cabrillo National Monument home of the Point Loma Lighthouse for a look back at San Diego's nautical history and stunning views of the bay and downtown skyline. If you're looking for great surf, locals frequent a number of quality surf breaks along the western edge of Point Loma.

Harbor Island

For a thin strip of land directly south of the airport, Harbor Island packs a lot into its two miles of real estate. Large hotels, marinas and several restaurants, including Island Prime and Tom Ham's Lighthouse, call this island home. A shoreline path complete with a steady ocean breeze keeps walkers, joggers, skaters and bikers cool while they enjoy panoramic views of the San Diego skyline, Coronado Island and the Big Bay. Several grassy areas provide ample picnic opportunities. Harbor Island is also an ideal place to enjoy the city lights by night, firework shows on the 4th of July, the annual boat Parade of Lights in December and sailing races, such as the America's Cup, when they are taking place.

Shelter Island

A nautical atmosphere prevails on Shelter Island, one of San Diego's principal boating centers, where marinas, resort hotels, restaurants and bayside parks welcome sailors and landlubbers with recreational amenities. Many short and long-range sportfishing trips depart from here, catching a host of Pacific fish like Yellowtail, Albacore, Halibut, Dorado, Calico Bass and a variety of rock fish. Shelter Island is also home to Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites, and their summer Concerts By The Bay, which attract nationally known musicians and comedians. At the end of Shelter Island, you'll find the Yokohama Friendship Bell, a large bronze bell housed in a pagoda structure, that was a gift from the city of Yokohama, Japan in 1958 to commemorate the sister city relationship between San Diego and Yokohama.

What to Love

• Exploring the tide pools below the lighthouse at the west end of Point Loma.
• Whale watching in the winter from the glass-enclosed observatory at Cabrillo National Monument.
• Taking a ½ day, ¾ day, full day or multi-day sportfishing trip from the docks of Shelter Island.
• Humphreys' summer concert series, where you're certain to find one of your favorite artists on the bill.
• Scuba diving in the kelp beds off the coast of Point Loma.

What to Know

• The are great bike paths in these areas which border San Diego's big bay.
• With its close proximity to the airport, it comes as no surprise that there are a large number and variety of hotels in the vicinity.
• There are a wide array of nautical-themed bars and restaurants in the area, particularly in and around Shelter Island.
• You'll find great prices and selection on everyday items in the Midway District around the Sports Arena.

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