One of the best ways to test whether you would like living on Coronado is to spend a weekend doing what residents do. Here is a loop that touches the main parts of island life without a schedule.
Saturday morning: the beach
Start early on the sand near the Hotel del Coronado. The beach is at its quietest in the morning, and the walk itself is the point. Continue south past the oceanfront towers of Coronado Shores if you want a longer stroll, then double back.
Saturday midday: the Ferry Landing
Head to the bay side and the Coronado Ferry Landing, where shops and restaurants sit beside Centennial Park's lawn, rose garden and small beach. It is a good spot for lunch with a view of the downtown skyline across the water.
Saturday evening: dinner on Orange Avenue
Orange Avenue is the village's main street, and it is walkable and lively at dinner time. If it is summer, check whether Spreckels Park has a concert, since the Summer Concert Series runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Sunday: bay and bridge views
Spend Sunday morning at Tidelands Park, which offers bay and bridge views, a playground and a fishing pier. Then take the ferry across to downtown for lunch and come back in the afternoon, or simply watch the boats from the shore.
What to notice
As you go, notice how much of the weekend happened on foot, how few times you needed the car and how the place felt at different hours. That feeling is what you would be buying.
If the loop appeals to you, Rudy can help you decide which part of the island fits it best. Hours, events and ferry schedules change, so check ahead before you go.