Holiday spirit can be hard to come by when you’re basking in the sun, have your toes in the sand and are most likely rocking some flip-flops and shorts. The only chestnuts roasting on an open fire here, come in the form of hotdogs on the backyard grill. So, if you’re looking to capture some of the nostalgia and magic of Christmas your prospects might appear grim, until you cross the bridge over San Diego Bay and pull into the Hotel Del Coronado. It’s my favorite place to take family and friends for all that’s Christmas….and the best part, it doesn’t have to cost you a dime.
From the thousands of lights outlining the Hotel’s historic exterior, to the luminous Christmas tree donning thousands of ornaments welcoming you to the lobby, every corner of the Del this time of year is covered with Christmas. From the gift shops glittering with ornaments you can collect, to the seasonal gifts filling my favorite shop at The Del: Babcock & Story. There’s so much to take in that’s both charming and cheery. And that doesn’t include the new toy store for the kids to peruse or the ice skating rink in the courtyard. It’s there, the truly unique magic that is exclusive to The Del begins.
You can either watch the skaters by the sea by drinking hot chocolate or making s’mores, or simply lace up the skates for a triple axel yourself. It’s not cheap to ice skate here, I’ll give you that, but I do think everyone should do it once. I mean, where else can you ice skate, yards from the sand and take in the Pacific and the sunset over Point Loma. It’s unrivaled. (Just check out my story with this year’s theme.)
But it you really want to impress the visitors or take some festive photos for next year’s holiday card, go at night. It’s beautiful when it’s lit up inside and out. And you and your guests will feel the same. From the moment you turn left on Orange Avenue and see the tree lines medians lit up for the season, to the spectacular seaside homes decked out…there’s something about “Christmas time on the Island” that is truly extra special.
Hope you can make it a part of your holiday traditions and enjoy it as much as we do. Happy Holidays to one and all. From another mom who attempts to do it all….here’s to 2012.
