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San Diego, CA

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Kelly K.

The military history exhibit was so cool! I definitely recommend going down in the bunker to check it out. I love a little museum that has all the props they had from the past to make you really feel like you're there. The coastal view of the water and city is gorgeous. It's also a nice area to walk around using the pathways.

The view from inside the stairwell
Jenn K.

The views up the mountain are worth the ride up . The lighthouse is a quaint piece of history . The museum was very informative and being an information junkie I loved learning about the history and progression of how the lighthouse was an important part of San Diego history. You can take a look inside and it not for those who don't like small spaces or spiral staircases but it lets you go all the way up to the light tower to view it from below . There are great views overlooking all of the bay as far as you can see . The park rangers do run a guided tour if you get there just right timing and there was a volunteer w a telescope pointing out highlights on the horizon. On a side not the bathrooms were very clean and well maintained for a state park. The history about Cabrillo was interesting too

Afshin A.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument Cabrillo National Monument, located in San Diego, California, is rich in history and natural beauty. Named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the first European to set foot on the West Coast of the United States in 1542, the monument commemorates his historic exploration. Among its many attractions, the lighthouses at Cabrillo National Monument stand out for their historical significance. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is one of the monument's most fascinating aspects. Built in 1855, it served as a beacon for sailors navigating the treacherous waters off the coast of San Diego. Rested high on a cliff, the lighthouse provided a panoramic view of the surrounding ocean and city. Unfortunately, its elevation was a disadvantage, as fog and low clouds often covered the light. In 1891, the lighthouse was decommissioned and replaced by a new one built closer to sea level. During our recent visit to the Monument, we parked our car in one of the parking lots near the Visitor Center and, after visiting the attractions there, walked up the road to the Lighthouse. It is a 5-10-minute walk, depending on your pace. We learned a lot about the lighthouse and its history. The interior has been carefully preserved to give visitors a feel for how the keepers lived there in those days. The exhibits are very interesting and informative. They give visitors a good understanding of the lighthouse's importance and the challenges its keepers faced in those days. I highly recommend visiting this National treasure to those who live in or are visiting San Diego.

Melissa B.

California 01-2024 Tony and I drove to San Diego and went to the Cabrillo Point Park located here is also the Point Loma Lighthouse. One price of the park gets you to all of the sites including the gorgeous views of San Diego, the Harbour and Pacific Ocean. Definitely recommend if you are in the area

Uphill getting to the lighthouse
Alex D.

Accessibility: not great. You have to park at the bottom of a steep hill and either walk far or have someone push you uphill. It is half a mile or more from the parking lot. Stairs inside the lighthouse. Very very windy here. Experience: awesome little lighthouse. Very educational inside. Beautiful views. Definitely one to check out if you can.

JRC Lighthouse.
Bryan And G.

We had an amazing time at the Cabrillo National Monument, beginning at the lower level. We spent about 15 MINUTES there, on the nice bench!! I would like to thank them for having a disabled parking spot amongst their parking spaces. We then drove up to the VISITOR'S CENTER, for the views, and the JUAN RODRIQUEZ CABRILLO Statue. At the upper level, there were very few disabled parking spots. We saw only one, but it was for an RV. WE WERE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS!!! We saw something for the very first time, a plane carrying a political figure flying into North Island. It was then off to the LIGHTHOUSE. It was particularly windy up there, and we loved it. We didn't go into the Lighthouse this time, but we walked around it. It was a beautiful day, but very cool and windy; WHICH WE LOVED!!! As we drove out, we got a much better glimpse of the FORT ROSECRANS MILITARY CEMETERY. So beautiful, with its green, green grass.

Lighthouse from Cabrillo Monument
Travis T.

I have always had a thing for lighthouses and enjoy visiting this one when I am in San Diego. This is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse that operated from 1855 to 1891. It is located within Cabrillo National Monument at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula. It didn't operate very long because fog obscured the light and so today it is a museum. There is a newer lighthouse down the hill. Inside the museum, you can get a glimpse of what the living quarters of lighthouse keepers looked like back then. They have vintage clothes, furniture, and other artifacts on display in each of the rooms. Even though most of the keepers had their families with them, being a lighthouse keeper looked like a lonely life. But at the same time, there were lots of things for them to do to keep these lighthouses running. Nearby is Cabrillo National Monument where you can see the statue of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. There is also a visitor center and a hiking trail.

Mimi M.

The lighthouse itself was under going renovation until end the month (August 2024). The house next to the lighthouse has a lot of memorabilia and complete information about the lighthouse. its very interesting and informative visit. The view just stunning.

Top of the light house ladder to the light itself
Candy S.

Great national park to visit! Opens 9am on the dot Several easy trails to take and observe the oceans, coronado Islands, and nature. The lighthouse is a site to see, and fun to walk up the winding stairwell up to the top of the light house. Unfortunately you can no longer walk around the light itself. But, still really cool to see. Rooms are set up through look through windows with fun information on the time back then about the rooms. Isn't history fun!? There's the keepers quarters with the light up close so you can see how it works and fun information about the artifacts and the folks. Little garden with veggies and fruit growing to make the times more real! We got the honor to pick carrots, the volunteers are extremely nice and the rangers are helpful too. Bathrooms are clean and well kept. Bring quarters to use the binoculars look for whales or the ships setting out. This is a local place for us, we have an annual pass for$80 to visit all the national parks so it's worth it especially since we have a couple of national parks relatively close by. Have fun, bring water and snacks and hats. No shade and it gets hot. Respect nature and the park. Pack in pack out The other trails drop down to the tide pools and other fun trails. Maps are available and a gift shop along with getting your NP stamp for your book. Fun Jr Ranger booklet that's fun and educational for the older kids to do.

At the top of the lighthouse looking down
Cari A.

I was able to check out the Old Point Loma Lighthouse during the National Park free entry day. The lighthouse is located at the Cabrillo National Monument. At first I thought I was driving in a restricted area because you pass a military post and a cemetery, but you'll soon see signs that you are headed in the right direction. There is no direct parking at the lighthouse (there was a rope blocking the road), so you need to park by the visitor center and walk up the hill. The lighthouse is like a tiny museum where you can see what it used to look like when it was occupied as a living space. You can climb up the staircase but the top of the lighthouse was not accessible. Outside, you'll see a little garden and another building that has some interesting information about the lighthouse. Fun fact- the light house used to be used as a gift store that sold post cards and ice cream. Overall, interesting spot to visit if you like lighthouses or are in the area.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse - Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, CA
John D.

A Light for Sore Eyes Maybe one of the shortest-lived lighthouses of a mere 36 years (1855-1891) as this original location was soon deemed not a good location due to its height (422' above sea level) not being great for low visibility situations. The Good: *Luckily, they didn't tear it down and kept it here for us to visit while meandering through Cabrillo National Monument. *Spiral staircase is awesome *Great views from the top of the hill The Meh: *I understand why, but the area where the light/lens went is blocked off. It would be cool to pop your head through, but whatever. The Ugly: *Staircase is not recommended for people with claustrophobia. TLDR: If you love lighthouses like we do, then this is def a must-see.

Nick P.

We came here on our last day in San Diego before flying back. It's about $20 for one private vehicle. You park, then you walk uphill to get to the lighthouse. The walk uphill isn't bad, just carry some water with you if you get tired. The lighthouse itself is spacious. The self guided tour is short, so it won't take long to go through it. It was not busy when we went so we read/saw everything at a leisurely pace. While at the top, you can capture some spectacular views of San Diego

Boat on the water.
Sarah F.

Beautiful place to walk around. The history of the lighthouse is cool and it won't take very long to walk through it. There are upper and lower short trail areas to walk along the water. Note that it does close at 5pm which I thought was pretty early. The pass you have to buy to get in is for 7 days. We came back the second day to watch the sunset and waves crash on the rocks at the lower level but found out the lower part closes at 4:30. So just get there earlier in the day with plenty of time to relax and enjoy the peaceful coastline.

View of San Diego

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First European settler. Great piece of history. Amazing view. I wish we could have gone to the top of the lighthouse. That was not open.

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Review Highlights - Old Point Loma Lighthouse

“Located inside Cabrillo National Monument the lighthouse is by far my favorite attraction in the park!”

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Gaslamp Tour by Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours - Outside museum after hours!

Gaslamp Tour by Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours

5.0(66 reviews)
5.3 mi•Gaslamp

Whenever I visit a new city, I always try to take a walking ghost tour. It's the perfect way to…read moreexplore a city--history, atmosphere, entertainment, and get your steps in. Brian, the owner of this company, went above and beyond to make sure my friends and I had a great experience. I was in town for a conference with coworkers, and he made everything seamless. Communication was easy through phone and text, and he quickly set us up with a tour guide the very same day. He even sent us a promo code to make things easier--super accommodating. The tour itself was excellent. The weather was perfect, but what really made it memorable was our guide, Vivian. She wasn't just reciting a script--she fully embodied the stories and the vibe of the city. Without spoiling too much, I'll just say she knew exactly how to tailor the tour for us. Since our group didn't have kids, she leaned into a more mature version of the stories, which we really appreciated. The route gave us a great look at the Gaslamp District, and we even had special after-hours access to a museum. One of our group members caught a photo of an orb there--it was deliciously creepy to explore the place at night (in the best way!). Normally, you'd have to pay for admission during regular hours, so this added even more value to the experience. Vivian also took us into historic bars with fascinating backstories. We got to pause for a drink while she shared ghost tales and history, and after the tour, we could return to those same bars and skip the cover charge--another great perk built into the ticket price. Overall, it was a fun, well-rounded, and memorable ghost tour that combined history, storytelling, and a little nightlife. I recommend! YouTube video was helpful. There is no lack on information to prepare you for this tour.

Pretty cool tour. I got to be shown around by Cowboy Pete. Very informative. Very interesting…read morehistoric actual events. Not a cheesy jump scare activity, this is real true events that caused lots of unfortunate grusome deaths by greed, medical conditions and rage. Definitely would recommend

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Gaslamp Tour by Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours
Gaslamp Tour by Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours
Gaslamp Tour by Haunted San Diego Ghost Tours - Hotel part of tour.

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Hotel part of tour.

Culture Cocina - Creating space to break bread together is part of Culture Cocina's community-oriented mission

Culture Cocina

5.0(1 review)
9.5 mi•Normal Heights

Wow. Whether you're a lifelong San Diegan or new to the region, Culture Cocina is an incredible way…read moreto explore Normal Heights! What is Culture Cocina, you ask? It's an immersive walking tour highlighting local cultural, community, and food/drink landmarks. In addition to the live commentary, the team has taken time to pre-record tidbits about places you pass during the tour for you to listen to on your smartphone. It made the transitions when walking from place-to-place smooth and effortless. Words that come to mind when reflecting upon the experience: engaging, fun, educational, and memorable. Throughout the experience, I couldn't help but continuously think to myself "this is incredible - without this tour I never would've known about these things!" It's also fun walking around in a large group and connecting with others, while still feeling like a local. I won't spoil the stops on the tour, but will say there is outstanding diversity. I bet you'll stop by places you had passed by countless times but had no idea what they were (or that they even existed)! The walk isn't too strenuous and they day feels perfectly timed. Without a doubt, Culture Cocina is highly recommended and a wonderful idea for friends, couples, and when you have out of town visitors. Thanks so much to Wilda, Taryell, and Cynthia for crafting such an incredible experience. You are all such warm, knowledgable, and charismatic leaders! Will be rooting for your continued success and the expansion of Culture Cocina into more neighborhood tours! Tips: -wear comfortable walking shoes -bring sunglasses and wear a hat

From the owner: We create space for breaking bread while learning about the history of the community through art…read moreand food. We are 3 people from different cultural backgrounds brought together by our shared passion for food, community and culture. We have each lived in San Diego for over 15 years across 20 neighborhoods in the county, here to share the richness of our city.

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Culture Cocina - Electrical box by Janine Wareham

Electrical box by Janine Wareham

Culture Cocina - Our first tour in Normal Heights as Culture Cocina

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Nelson House

Nelson House

5.0(1 review)
23.8 mi

The Nelson House is a historic property built between 1915 & 1918 by Norwegian immigrant Niles…read moreNelson on the site of the Nelson-Stone farm located on Garden Road.The Nelson House hours are Saturday's from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. On Sunday (Closed Every 2nd Sunday,) you can visit from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteer docents are available to walk you through the building and answer your questions. Be advised there is a small suggested admission charge. And visit it you should, as the Nelson House is an integral part of Old Poway Park and a beautifully restored historic home offering glimpses of Poway's past. It's nice that when the original land where the Nelson House was located, was purchased in 1990 to build eight homes on the parcel, the Nelson House was not torn down. Instead the old house was transferred to the City of Poway. In 1991 it was lifted off its foundation and transferred by truck to Old Poway Park on Midland Road. Nelson House was dedicated at a grand opening celebration on July 2, 1994. The Poway Historical and Memorial Society and city of Poway began rehabilitation of the Nelson House. The society has decorated the home with vintage furniture, some of which came from another pioneering family. I like to visit homes like this that feature life as it once was at the turn-of-the-twentieth-century California. The Poway of today is a lot different from the Poway of yesteryear but many things do remain the same. This family-friendly, neighborly, horse-loving North County enclave allows us at Old Poway Park to look back to a "simpler time, and to acquaint ourselves with the men and women whose sweat, tears, and laughter built and established Poway--our City in the Country," as www. Poway.org.states. 5 YELP STARS.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse - landmarks - Updated October 2026

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