I decided to forgo the Segway tour ($60 for 90 min) and instead chose a bike rental to round out my time on Coronado Island this week. I rented it from the Marriott ($10/hr – $32/day) and started out mid-morning. A defined bike/hike path surrounds half the island and the other half provides a bike lane on the quieter streets. I rode under the Coronado Bridge, out to Silver Strand Beach, around to the Hotel Del Coronado, and past the Naval Base back to the Marriott. It was a perfect day for a ride, sun shining but not too warm. I donned long sleeves to avoid some sun damage but ended up burning my hands! I stopped for the most time on Coronado Beach to enjoy the Pacific Ocean, sand, and sun. The Hotel Del was as I remembered, a beautiful and stalwart beacon urging relaxation and serenity. They’ve completed the “beach cottages” we saw under construction last year – a collection of inviting vacation purchase properties right on the beach (I can only imagine how expensive).

After the ride, I took a nap and then headed out again, this time by cab to do some shopping on Orange Avenue near the Hotel Del. Most of the shops and restaurants are closer to that end, so if you stay at the Marriott you really need a bike or car to explore (or some really good walking shoes and plenty of time!). I decided to take a cab out and walk back, stopping at stores that caught my fancy. I ended up back near the ferry landing at the Coronado Brewery for a pint and some fish tacos, a must when in the San Diego area, and a perfect end to a perfect day.

I should mention that I had a lovely dinner Monday night of chilean sea bass at Peohe’s at the ferry landing marketplace. I grabbed a delicious dinner of green curry pork on Wednesday night from the Thai Cafe, also at the ferry landing marketplace, and enjoyed it on the patio of my room – what a view!

Alas, the rest of my time on Coronado was spent at the Web Summit I attended. The Marriott was a spectacular location for a conference. We had delicious lunches and receptions outside on a patio overlooking the bay and the Coronado bridge. Maybe that will help explain why I went for a conference and returned with a tan!