Iceskating at the Hotel del Coronado
It had been a long day, as trips to the opposite coasts are prone to be, especially when making a two-hour layover for business in Dallas along the way to prolong the experience. Upon arrival in San Diego, I was surprised to find that Mario Andretti was now driving a cab, as we sped along the boulevards to I-5 South, and then utilized all lanes west on the Coronado Causeway. But as we reached the crest of the bridge, I sank into low gear at the viewing of the Naval armadas from past and present below that was soon followed by the welcome site of the splendid, red-capped Victorian spires of the Hotel del Coronado, a very special spot I have visited many times and will always remain one of "My Favorite Places."
The turn onto Orange Avenue is quite reminiscent to arriving into Old Town Alexandria via the Wilson Bridge…with one major exception…shortly, you run into the pristine waters of the Pacific with this lovely Grande Dame sitting on its shore. The always bustling entrance to "the Del" is only a precursor to what lies just inside the doors; the opulent, mahogany paneled lobby, decorated in original period furnishings, that allows for the storied history of its past to overtake you.
Even before checking in at the stately Reception desk, I had to revisit the very unique, polished Birdcage elevator, still in operation, the one I took many times in the past (whether I needed to or not) just to enjoy the quiet banter with the frail elder statesman who operated it for what seemed like 100 years. A few steps to the right led me into the spectacular Crown Room, possibly one of the most beautiful entertaining rooms I have ever seen, with its high, vaulted carved ceiling of polished sugar pine, and adjacent, the smaller "sister" of equal grandeur, the Coronet Room. If these walls could talk, they would recant a bevy of stories of historic State Dinners and elegant social events that have graced its aura all these years.
After a quite pleasant experience at reception, we made our way out through the well manicured Garden Patio in the hotel center to our spacious and extremely comfortable oceanfront accommodation in the most recent spectacular addition at the Del, Beach Village. This private enclave of villa rooms and suites on the northwest corner of the resort estate is so much more attractive than the tennis courts that occupied this ground previously. Inside, we discovered one of the finest guestroom products in America…spacious, beautifully decorated, wide door and crown moldings, louvered shutters in the bath that allowed the sights from outside to come in, a fireplace for those chilly evenings and French doors that led out to a terrace overlooking the villa pool…and across the beach to the gorgeous Pacific. The panoramic view is just as lovely and timeless as ever, and one can very much savor the pleasures of In-Room Dining on the porch in quiet enjoyment.
Making my way back, I passed and had to pause and smile at the lush and highly manicured, Royal Palm lined Windsor Lawn and the adjacent Windsor Cottage. This beautiful area had also once been Har-Tru tennis courts, but this peaceful lawn by the ocean is light years better! Back inside the Victorian Building, I found myself amazed at the wonderful condition this 119 year old wooden structure was in, and since the installation of their state of the art fire suppression system, you would almost assuredly drown before getting caught up in a fire. Speaking of hot…what a hoot it must have been being at the Del during the 1958 filming of Billy Wilder’s "Some Like It Hot", particularly the site of Marilyn Monroe lounging at the pool during the shoot! As part of their ongoing capital improvement project, The Hotel has completed the finishing touches on an outstanding restoration of the adjacent Ocean Towers Building, a bit more modern structure housing very spacious rooms and suites, many with attractive ocean views, and this same high quality has been bestowed upon the poolside, by-the-beach California Cabanas.
After a day of travel, work or just having too much fun, the perfect place to unwind is the seaside Ocean Terrace, a massive beach deck overlooking the pool and the ocean that makes for a great place to enjoy a libation or two as the sun goes over the horizon. From here, a stroll through the maze of sixteen various boutiques and shoppes on the lower level always makes for an amusing and enjoyable time, especially as the journey leads into the legendary Babcock & Story Bar, named for the two visionaries, Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story who dreamed of building a fantastic resort hotel that would be the "talk of the Western World." Over the years, I have logged many hours at the magnificent 46-foot handcrafted mahogany bar, constructed in Philadelphia and sailed around Cape Horn to arrive at The Del in 1888. The adjacent Sheerwater is a casual dining restaurant that serves three meals daily, with much of the seating outside overlooking the Windsor Lawn. Since my last visit, the venerable dining establishment, Prince of Wales has been given a new hip look and moniker, 1500 Ocean where exquisite Southern California coastal cuisine is presented with gracious service in 3 venues indoor, ocean view or al fresco.
There is so much to savor at The Hotel del Coronado, and it is better than ever today! There is also a world class spa that has replaced the smaller one of days past, and one can always be carried over to their sister resort in nearby Carlsbad, La Costa Resort and Spa for a day of pampering. And while there, what a great place to take in a round or two of golf. Make plans to visit the Hotel Del...soon...I assure that you will love it! Who knows, perhaps I will be operating that elevator soon!
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