Cabrillo National Monument is a gorgeous stretch of oceanside land in the greater San Diego area, with fun for all ages and skill levels: hiking, tide pooling, exploring the lighthouse, whale watching, and learning about military history.
Cabrillo National Monument is named after Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European explorer to reach America's Wet Coast. There are many knowledgable rangers in the park who are eager to share interesting historical facts.
Activities in the park include hiking: the Bayside Trail offers 2 miles of gorgeous coastal trail with views of San Diego, and the Coastal Tide Pool Trail provides incredible ocean views and leads to tide pools. At the tide pools, you will see anemones, mussels, seaweed, limpets, octopi, and periwinkle snails. You can visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse or learn military history in the historic radio station building. Wildlife enthusiasts can watch the annual migration of the Pacific Gray Whale from December through February. The best spot for whale viewing is at the Whale Overlook on the Bayside Trail. You might also see dolphins, sea lions, and seals.