Where: Southern California, San Diego
at the end of Point Loma, directions on website
Cost: $5 per vehicle, good for one week
Website: http://www.nps.gov/cabr/
Hours: Daily, 9AM to 5PM
How to get there: Car, bus possible
When visited: Summer 2008

Located at the end of Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument is a great way to see some tide pools, catch a view of San Diego’s harbor and learn a little history.

The tide pools are best at low tide, so be sure to check the tide chart before going. Bring sandals with a good grip or shoes you can mess up. The rocks are wet and slippery, and there are no hand holds. Definitely not stroller friendly. The crabs, mostly tiny, seemed to have no problems with it.

The visitor center was nothing too exciting, but if you’re into the Spanish exploration of the Americas there is something to be learned. The old lighthouse was more interesting. The keeper’s house is open and in a shed behind the house is an exhibit about the light in a lighthouse.

While the tide pools are reliably interesting, the view isn’t. Fog can roll in at any time, and then roll out just as suddenly. Depending where you are, you can see the Pacific or the San Diego harbor. If you’ve got time for one, the harbor has more going on in it.

There isn’t much shade here, so plan accordingly. The bathrooms at the visitor center have changing tables in the men’s room, so I figure the same in the women’s room.