Over The Bridge We Go...

by Hattie Foote

I love shopping locally; I know the importance of it, as my husband owns a small business himself. While Coronado has a good variety of stores that provide our basic needs, it is inevitable that we must travel OTB (over the bridge) to run some errands. And we locals will be very dramatic about it, as if we’re making a 50-mile trek in a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail. Any time we leave the house, my kids demand to know if it’s OTB or not, which determines the amount of whining I’ll be receiving.

The fact of the matter is, I spend a lot of time in the Sports Arena area. I go to the car wash there; my HomeGoods, Target, and Old Navy trifecta are all there. Our family favorite, Pho Point Loma & Grill, is also there. Everything you need that you may not be able to get on island is a short 14-minute drive away! Sports Arena can be a, how do I put this, colorful experience. One evening, we were driving home from dinner, and my precious, innocent seven-year-old son announced in awe, “We just passed a nude dance studio!” My husband almost swerved off the road, my daughter was shouting at him to look away… it was a scene. On the bright side, we were very pleased he was learning to read so well— love our Coronado schools! Years ago, there was a man who would bring his pet wolf, yes, WOLF, named Silver, to Target and have a service animal vest on it. I even have a picture of me and Silver somewhere; it’s one of my favorite Sports Arena stories. My kids are also fascinated with Koby’s “Swamp Meat.” I haven’t had the heart to inform them that it’s called Koby’s Swap Meet!

A trip to Sports Arena is not complete without a stop at Animal Kingdom. We made the grave mistake of getting our daughter a leopard gecko for Christmas; she named it Baby Gorgeous. I, in turn, became the not-so-proud owner of a leopard gecko and was constantly

at Animal Kingdom buying the fresh worms it required. I must confess, when we went out of town last summer, Baby Gorgeous went to the pet sitter, and we agreed upon an adoption when we returned. Turns out reptile life was not for us. But pet or not, Animal Kingdom is a great alternative if you aren’t in the mood for the San Diego Zoo! Plus, there is an In-N-Out across the street, so make an afternoon out of it!

Liberty Station is where I spend a lot of time, and I’m happy to do so. Recently, I was on my biweekly Trader Joe’s run, because I swear these kids are going to eat me out of house and home this summer, and the cashier asked me where I lived. When I said Coronado, you would have thought I said Temecula. He exclaimed that he couldn’t believe I drove that far for groceries. I was surprised because I see my friends and neighbors there constantly! Fourteen minutes is not too far for the gourmet wares of Mr. Joe! Liberty Station is so family friendly, we are big fans of Tappers Mini Golf at the Loma Club. The Lot theater is a fun date night spot, and just down the road is Cabrillo National Monument. It has the most stunning trails with epic views of Coronado, a perfect way to start a weekend morning. Hot tip: there’s a drive-thru Dunkin’ Donuts on the way, so we let the kids get a sugar fix to keep the momentum going on hikes! And on the way back, stop at Point Loma Seafood for a beer and fried clams. It’s a classic spot to get seafood in San Diego, so casual and fresh! One of the many great things about Coronado is its proximity to all the wonderful places San Diego has to offer. It can be nice to get off the Rock, but even nicer to come home. I hope your long days of summer are magical. Enjoy them, because fall is around the corner! And when I say fall, I mean locals’ summer!