Cabrillo National Park
To enjoy some tremendous views of the San Diego region, a visit to the "only" National Park, Cabrillo National Park, of San Diego is a must. With amazing opportunities to explore mother nature, and learn cultural as well as historical aspects of the area, the park is an all-rounder. Also known as Cabrillo National Monument, the park offers a breathtaking view of San Diego's harbor and skyline. This also includes a San Diego icon (since 1855), Old Point Loma Lighthouse. It is the highest point in the park to date.
On clear days, when the sky is all bright and blue, visitors enjoy a wide expanse of Tijuana, the Pacific Ocean, and Mexico's Coronado Islands. Even whales are often sighted at these points between January and February. There’s a Visitors Center in the park which is known for screening a film about Cabrillo's voyage. According to the experts, it is an ideal place to start your exploration journey.
The rich history of the Cabrillo National Park takes us back to September 28, 1542. On this day, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo landed at San Diego Bay and set foot on what today is the west coast of the United States. The establishment of the Cabrillo National Monument took place on October 14, 1913, when the accomplishments of Cabrillo were memorialized. There is a statue and a museum in the Visitor Center that tells the story of Cabrillo's exploration of the California coast.
Cabrillo National Park also includes the "Age of Exploration". It is known for exhibiting as well as filming interesting insights into Cabrillo’s history. For someone seeking a quiet place to relax, a native coastal sage scrub habitat present along the Bayside Trail is an ideal spot. There is a historic Military building nearby, which exhibits the history of Fort Rosecrans as "They Stood the Watch".
The activities of the Cabrillo National Monument are supported by the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation. This private nonprofit organization has also published a number of books relevant to the scientific topics as well as the historic points of the park.
In the intertidal zone and tide pools of the Cabrillo National Monument, you will find the most diverse and thriving animal communities. Some of the notable species that live in the tide pool are true limpets, acorn barnacles (Sessilia), kelp fly (Coelopa frigida or seaweed fly), pink thatched barnacles, coralline algae, chitons, sea lettuce, encrusting algae, gooseneck barnacles, rock louse, dead man's fingers (Codium fragile), sea bubbles, periwinkles, mussels (Mytilus californianus), and the list goes on.
Cabrillo National Park is home to a wide variety of annual events. Some of the notable ones include “Founder’s Day,” “Whale Watch Weekend,” and “Open Tower Day.”