The beautiful Old Point Loma Lighthouse and the nearby Assistant Keepers Quarters building at Cabrillo National Monument.
I’ve visited Cabrillo National Monument many times over the years. I’ve blogged about it on several occasions. It’s one of the most wonderful places in San Diego.
Today, September 30, is National Public Lands Day, so admission to Cabrillo National Monument was free all day.
I grabbed my camera, jumped into my car and drove this morning to the tip of the Point Loma peninsula. Once again, I wanted to enjoy some amazing views and a pleasant walk above the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. Most of my time was spent around the Old Point Loma Lighthouse.
To see and learn more about the lighthouse, including its interior and the adjacent museum, and to enjoy other fascinating aspects of Cabrillo National Monument, please feel free to explore Cool San Diego Sights.
The historic Old Point Loma Lighthouse is a major attraction at Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego.Visitor to Cabrillo National Monument looks up at the lighthouse.Built in 1855 at the end of the Point Loma peninsula, above the entrance to San Diego Bay, the old lighthouse used to guide sailors to safety with a powerful fresnel lens.Walking around the old lighthouse is a wonderful experience, with amazing views in all directions.The cluster of trees near the Old Point Loma Lighthouse are rare Torrey pines, which are native to this region.Walking along the cliffside trail north of the lighthouse.Someone sits high above the blue Pacific Ocean enjoying the cool breeze and natural beauty.South of the lighthouse, people walk toward the gray whale migration overlook.Visitors to Cabrillo National Monument scan the watery horizon for ships and whales.A park ranger and volunteers were removing non-native plants among dry stalks of California sunflower and buckwheat. Invasive species can crowd out native species.People approach the handsome lighthouse from the south.Photo of Old Point Loma Lighthouse, the small museum beside it and the large Rain Catchment Basin.Visitors to San Diego are strongly encouraged to enjoy some time at Cabrillo National Monument. It’s a very special place, with many paths to walk.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
A recently improved section of Tweet Street Park on Cortez Hill. Volunteers help make this downtown neighborhood even more beautiful.
Do you love Tweet Street Park on Cortez Hill? I feel very fortunate that I get to walk through the narrow but lush park almost every single day.
Over the past weeks and months, I’ve noticed smiling volunteers busy pruning, planting, removing trash, and adding new beauty to our downtown park. They are the Friends of Tweet Street Park! They welcome new community members!
A couple days ago I talked to Joe Ciavarella as he was working on one section of the park. I learned that Cortez Hill residents and anyone interested in beautifying this special corner of downtown San Diego can make a tax deductible contribution that benefits the Friends of Tweet Street Park. Funds obtained go to the purchase of gardening tools, new plants and materials that are used for a variety of landscaping improvements.
If you’d like to make a donation, visit this page.
Positive people doing positive things make each corner of this world a whole lot better!
IMPORTANT UPDATE!
There’s a new web page where you can now make your donation. You can find it here.
In addition to the work of volunteers, improving the park requires the purchase of tools, plants and other material. Anyone can now easily make a donation!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Walking south along the Ocean Beach boardwalk near the foot of the OB Pier, toward the old Silver Spray Apartments and Plunge.
Let’s take a walk along the shore! We’re going to start at the boardwalk near the foot of the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier, pass quickly around the historic, ruin-like Plunge, then head along a rocky trail between cliffs and the crashing ocean.
We’ll see tide pools, tiny pocket beaches and amazing scenery. Many refer to this stretch as a part of San Diego’s Sunset Cliffs, even though the official Sunset Cliffs neighborhood lies farther south down the Point Loma peninsula.
Ready to go exploring? Let’s start!
People explore tide pools between the sand-filled, long-defunct Plunge and the OB Pier.The saltwater Plunge, now often called the Sandbox, was built in 1917. Famous English Channel swimmer Florence Chadwick, who grew up in San Diego, trained in this historic pool.We’ve passed the Plunge, which is officially part of the beach, and are now carefully traversing sandstone rocks along the base of cliffs. It can be very slippery.Looking back north we see the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier and beach.People enjoy looking into small tide pools in the eroded sandstone. I occasionally saw some small crabs.The easily carved sandstone is like a book containing years of names and often humorous images.OB is a place for free spirits, and the rocks along the water attract many.Looking north again. I see Pacific Beach and La Jolla in the distance.Splashing water and curious eyes.People peer down at us from the street level above.A small group walks along the crude trail.A perfect day to explore nature’s many wonders beside the ocean.Someone heads toward one of the small pocket beaches tucked between rocky outcrops.Standing on a tiny beach at the water’s edge.The sandstone cliffs are unstable and sometimes you hear of people accidentally falling and needing rescue.Here comes a guy and his dog.As we continue to walk south, we can see the coast vanishing into the distance. The actual Sunset Cliffs neighborhood is farther down the Point Loma peninsula.A white sailboat out on the wide blue Pacific Ocean.In places the rocky and slippery sand footing is a bit difficult to navigate, even on the trail. Wear good shoes!Looking north. Spectacular scenery.More natural beauty.The rough trail continues south. Fewer people seem to be in this section.Now we’re approaching an interesting part of the walk, with a short, undulating path along a sea wall.Looking back.We’ve almost reached the end of our walk. The concrete pathway ahead has either been undermined by water, or intentionally made into a ramp for thrill seekers.At the foot of old stairs that climb up to Orchard Avenue.As we head up, someone begins down.Two people begin their own adventure along the rocks.Looking back north at the short stretch we just finished.Someone gets exercise on the steps. At the top there is some fun artwork.Relaxing on a unique surfboard bench, gazing across the magical blue ocean.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of fun photos for you to share and enjoy!
I have a tendency to take photos of everything and anything while I’m walking. Sometimes I’m surprised at the results!
Here are some visually interesting photos of buildings in downtown San Diego. You’ll find reflections in windows, strange shadows, and splashes of light. There are unusual shapes, surprising contrasts, and a few delightful discoveries.
Every walk through downtown is an optical adventure!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Every morning brings unending moments captured in mind.
I encountered some poetic street art while walking up C Street this morning. Halfway to the top of Golden Hill, I paused.
An electrical box was painted with fading scraps of thoughtful poetry. As we walk we find ourselves in surprising places. Forgive my translation of Julio Cortázar.
We walked without looking for ourselves – but knowing that we walked to find ourselves. Your smile is the moon of my life.Each night rises — the passage of time–Your heroes are always with you.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
I spied this natural wonder in Balboa Park’s Desert Garden. Why yellow?
Most of my holiday was spent in Balboa Park. Reading, jotting a few words, walking.
As I turned corners, I encountered many mysteries and wonders.
Who placed a palm frond cross and hearts on a bare tree?What on earth produced this bizarre, hollow, bulging tree trunk?What are those wonderfully odd wicker carts? I know! Those are Electriquettes, which first appeared in Balboa Park during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.Why is this small sculpture of a child in the Japanese Friendship Garden? Nobody knows. Someone placed it here mysteriously many years ago.What mysterious turn of the wind arranged this, and why did I turn my eyes to see it?Should one exit stage left or stage right?Will seeds planted in Balboa Park by Kate Sessions outlive us all?I happened upon this rose near a closed, locked door. Why is a flower beautiful?When the Comic-Con Center for Popular Culture eventually moves into the Federal Building, will visitors wear costumes?Do puppets ever manipulate their own strings?People gaze into the green distance. What do they wonder?In the courtyard of the House of Hospitality is a Time Capsule Dedicated to the Future of Balboa Park, to be opened in 2035. What waits hidden inside?How many photographs does it take to satisfy a photographer?Who gets to open those windows, and water those flowers?Spring and summer end. What is in their future?Why does time move forward?
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Live free like a butterfly. Street art in La Mesa.
I found a lot of fun street art during a random walk around La Mesa. I bounced from color to color like a butterfly, my feet pointed in every direction. I wandered down University Avenue, up La Mesa Boulevard, along Spring Street. Most of the artwork was discovered on sidewalk electrical boxes. These photos are in no particular order.
Butterfly painted on an electrical box.Street art shows colorful cars.A lot of mostly happy faces.Two giraffes.A panda bear.A high voltage heart and two red roses.The fish tank. Perhaps it contains an electric eel.Three fish.A white goose.Two owls.A blue bird.Graffiti child on a wall ready to play hopscotch at Coin Haus.Exotic mural up high in the alley behind Amethyst Moon.Koi.An abstract design.More butterflies and flowers brighten a La Mesa sidewalk.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
I spotted these friendly people heading down the sidewalk during my walk in La Mesa.
I was walking through La Mesa today, taking random photos of street art, when I happened upon some super cool people!
Ladies from the Flavor Company, a cultural fusion dance troupe headquartered in La Mesa, were greeting strangers all up and down the sidewalk. With big smiles they were promoting a walk coming up for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of San Diego! The 4-mile walk will be taking place Sunday, October 14 in Balboa Park!
Talk about setting a great example for us all!
Click the above links to learn more!
Smiles from some of the ladies of the Flavor Company, a cool dance troupe in La Mesa.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 