Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Lighthouse, San Diego

The most awesome panoramic view in San Diego can be had from a rocky promontory 400 feet above sea level at the tip of Point Loma. From its heights, you can see the Pacific, San Diego Harbor, Coronado and south to Mexico. Atop the park, the Cape Cod-style Point Loma Lighthouse served as the southernmost Pacific Coast beacon in the U.S. from 1855 to 1891. You can’t climb the tower, but can peek into the rooms. For a good overview of the military presence in San Diego, check out the observation deck's charts of military ships and aircraft based along the point and across the bay at the North Island Naval Air Station. If you love learning about marine life, one of the best things to do in San Diego is to watch the slide shows about the whales and tide pools which are presented throughout the day in the auditorium. Between December and February, you might see the annual migration of gray whales as they pass Point Loma on their way from the Bering Sea to the lagoons of Baja, Calif.

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