The Cabrillo National Monument on the end of Point Loma is San Diego’s only National Park, where 144 gorgeous acres surround a monument to explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.
These grounds offer fantastic panoramic views of the city, San Diego Bay, and the ocean. And they’re filled with a large variety of flora and fauna.
The park’s namesake monument is a statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a European navigator who landed at what is today Ballast Point in San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542.
The great thing about the Cabrillo National Monument is how accessible this attraction is. Hours of operation are open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. every day of the week, 365 days a year. Tickets are issued by car, bicycle, or motorcycle that enters.
Walk through the “Age of Exploration” exhibit room near the Visitor Center, contextualizing Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. Three films are shown several times a day in the auditorium there.
The Visitor Center is also where kids can pick up the Junior Ranger Program information, available daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’ll need to watch out for certain things around the park to earn their badge at the end of their visit.
Many also look inside the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which operated from 1855–1891. It is open to the public for self-guided tours (which take just a few minutes).