Just across the bay from Downtown San Diego, Coronado is a stunning seaside oasis with sparkling beaches, gentle surf, a charming main street and great hotels — including the famousHotel del Coronado. It's an island paradise that's perfect for a family vacation or romantic getaway.

Coronado's shimmering stretches of sand draw visitors from around the world. And with its elegant gardens, stately mansions, quaint shops and spectacular oceanfront dining, this charmed small town (dubbed "The Crown City") just might make you feel like royalty.

Spend the day relaxing on the beach, or rent a bike and tour the island via Coronado's beachfront boardwalk. Take a stroll down Orange Avenue, Coronado's main artery, which is lined with shops, restaurants, galleries and theaters, and serves as home to theCoronado Historical Association & Museum. On the other side of the island, theCoronado Ferry Landing offers a collection of more than 20 shops, art galleries and restaurants boasting gorgeous views of San Diego's Downtown skyline.Flagship Cruises & Events also offers low-cost ferry service from the landing to both the Broadway Pier and theSan Diego Convention Center.

For active visitors, Coronado offers countless outdoor recreational pursuits, including sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, surfing and kayaking. Or try a gondola cruise withThe Gondola Company, which offers private cruises through the canals of the Coronado Cays. There's also first-rate golf on the beautiful bayfrontCoronado Municipal Golf Course. And locals and visitors alike also treasure the Coronado Flower Show, held each spring since 1922.

Of course, no trip to Coronado would be complete without a visit to the legendary Hotel Del. Built in 1888 and now a designated National Historic Landmark, the hotel has a fascinating and colorful past that takes in presidents and princes, socialites and scandals, ghosts and glamorous celebrities. It's also widely believed to have been the inspiration for the Emerald City in L. Frank Baum's "Wizard of Oz," as the author spent many winters at the oceanfront hotel.

With all this and more, Coronado makes for an inviting part of any visit to San Diego.