Big City Family Fun

Fun in the Sun at San Diego’s Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Loews Coronado Bay Resort, a family friendly resort in San Diego.
The Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers an escape with three heated pools and cabanas. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker 

Sunny San Diego offers families a year-round destination packed with oodles of activities that can keep the kids entertained for a week, like the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Legoland and even the Cabrillo National Monument. For families looking to enjoy all that plus some beach days, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is the place for you.

What I loved at Loews Coronado Bay Resort

  • The beachy feel of the spacious rooms that underwent a renovation in 2014.
  • The easy beach access and special programming with Silver Strand State Park.
  • The complimentary hotel shuttle to downtown Coronado.
  • Lots of charging stations in my room like the desk and next to the bed.

What I would like at Loews Coronado Bay Resort

  • For those with rooms in the 4000 or 5000 wing, it’s a long walk from the lobby.
  • It’s requires a shuttle bus to downtown Coronado.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort for Families

Loews Coronado Bay Resort, located at 4000 Loews Coronado Bay Road, is 15 miles from the San Diego International Airport on Coronado Island. Built in 1991 on a 15-acre peninsula, the resort is surrounded by the San Diego Bay and houses 439 guest rooms.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort a family friendly resort in San Diego.
The Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers beach access from its property and even offers loaner beach chairs and complimentary beach towels. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker 

Ideal for families, the Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers spacious rooms along with a host of activities for kids including an optional Living Coast Discovery Center, an outdoor pool complex and the Silver Strand State Beach across the street.

With several dining options on property, the fine-dining Mistral that showcases Southern California’s superior seafood. During my stay, I visited the Market Café that serves casual fare like salads and burgers along with Starbucks coffee.

 San Diego Bay
With views of the San Diego Bay, the deck is the place to enjoy a drink. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker 

Loews Coronado Bay Resort features the Sea Spa with 15 treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite, an outdoor treatment area and a Vichy rain shower. The Sea Spa is home to a Watsu pool with a flotation massage.

I found a full-service salon with a nail technician to assist in all style and color needs. Loews Coronado Bay Resort features a fitness center with various equipment and a locker room with a sauna. The fitness center offers classes as well.

My Room 

Loews Coronado Bay, a family friendly hotel near San Diego
I found the room at Loews Coronado Bay Resort relaxing with a calm color palette and lots of space. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker 

I enjoyed an upgraded king room ($$-$$$) during my recent stay. The rooms at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort feature a soothing color scheme reminiscent of water with a sand-colored upholstered headboard that matches the reading chair and ottoman.

The large balcony overlooks orange trees and I had a bit of a view. The desk offered plenty of plugs for charging and ample light for working. I found more plugs next to both sides of the bed as well.

The credenza offered space for storage, an in-room Keurig coffeemaker with fresh creamers, a mini-refrigerator and LCD TV. I found the closet a bit small but it contained an in-room safe, a terry robe and an iron and board.

The bathroom of the Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers an escape with its large whirlpool tub and separate glass shower. The stone vanity had lots of storage along with a large mirror with decorative scones and separate make-up mirror.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort, a family friendly hotel near San Diego
The bathroom offered a spa getaway feel with large whirlpool tub and separate glass enclosed shower. Courtesy photo

Family Fun at Loews Coronado Bay Resort

The outdoor pools work like a tractor beam attracting all the kids. Grab a chaise and let the kids splash the day away in one of the three heated pools or a whirlpool. I found reservable cabanas with waiter service for snacks and cocktails too.

The pool area does include an adult pool, might what to point that out to the kids. I know mine won’t read the sign.

Spending time with the family in San Diego? Coronado Island offers the best beaches and charming downtown streets to stroll. A quick ferry ride to downtown San Diego too.

A unique feature is the Living Coast Discovery Center for guests 5 to 12 to spend a half or full-day. The programming includes nature hunts, arts and crafts and beach exploration. The Living Coast Discovery Center is available throughout the summer and school breaks.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers extensive rentals of all sizes, a quick walk from the lobby. From beach cruisers to kids bikes, spend some time exploring the Silver Strand State Beach and beyond. I found a paved hike and bike path right in front of the hotel that I used to take a morning run.

Sliver Strand Beach
During my stay, the beach was all mine. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker 

I found several sizes of watercraft for rent, from wave runners to sailboats. Kayak and SUPs are also available for rent by the hour or day.

If the kids want to surf, Coronado Surfing Academy teaches lessons year-round. Reservations are required.

For a romantic cruise though the canals of Coronado Cays, a serenading gondolier pushes back from the dock. Loews Coronado Bay Resort has a private 80-slip marina as well.

I found three lighted tennis courts with a view of the bay for tennis lovers.

Silver Strand State Beach

If looking to explore, then grab a complimentary beach chair and beach towels (both located at the valet desk) and walk to Silver Strand State Beach (free admission, $8 to $10 parking fee). Named after the tiny silvery shells along its sand, the Silver Strand State Beach offers lots of room for kids to run or even fly a kite.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort, a family friendly hotel near San Diego.
The Loews partners with the Silver Strand State Beach for kid fun in the lobby and weekend Ranger walks. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker 

Silver Strand State Beach offers a Junior Ranger Program throughout the year on Saturdays. For adults, I joined a Nature Walk led by a California Park Ranger (Sunday afternoons). During my walk the ranger pointed out native birds and vegetation including several types of algae found along the beach. Then we crossed under Highway 75 using the tunnel and explored the San Diego Bay side of Silver Strand State Beach to see the various birds that inhibit the area.

The resort hosts California Park Rangers during the weekend for a kid’s science table. Kids can use their science skills to explore the exhibits and learn more about the Pacific Ocean.

Dining on Coronado Island

Loews Coronado Bay Resort does not offer a complimentary breakfast and as a Mom of three buying breakfast for the kids gets expensive. I usually throw little boxes of cereal into my bag and let the kids eat those.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort, a family friendly hotel in San Diego.
The Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers water views, sophisticated interiors and fine dining. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker 

During my visit I found a local grocery store where I stocked up on a few essentials since I was staying a few days. Boney’s Bayside Market, located at 155 Orange Ave., stocks the essentials and I found ready-made salads, yogurt and fresh fruit.

I took the complimentary hotel shuttle to downtown Coronado and enjoyed a special evening of s’mores. The San Diego-Coronado ferry ($4.75 each way) departs twice an hour for access to downtown San Diego.

Know before you go:

  • The Loews Coronado Bay Resort charges a $29/night for self-parking and $33/night for valet.
  • The resort charges a resort fee of $26/night.
  • Though families can get around without a car, having one is convenient.
  • Find complimentary water in the lobby and at the pool though the bottled water in the room is $8.
  • Uber to downtown San Diego was about $18. The shuttle to the San Diego International Airport was $16/each way.

Catherine Parker has a passion for travel and seen all 50 U.S. States. As a former flight attendant with one of the largest airlines, there isn't a North American airport that she hasn't landed in at least once. Since clipping her professional wings after 9/11, she combines her love of the open road with visiting architectural and cultural icons. She is based out of Central Texas dividing her time between writing and restoring a pair of 100-year-old houses. She shares her life with her three kids and her husband.

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