Panoramic View Points in San Diego, California

San Diego, California is a seriously beautiful city, though, walking among its streets, some of its beauty isn't as easily appreciated as when you can see the wider view from an elevated look out points. Here are a few great spots around downtown area where you can enjoy a really good 360 (or close to it) degrees view of the area and get a glimpse into what it would be like to be one of those wind-surfing California gulls that patrol over our sky:

1. Cabrillo National Monument: located at the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula that forms the western part of the San Diego bay, the view of the bay from the Cabrillo monument is breath-taking on a clear day. Being right by the water, though, means that most of the time it is best to visit this beautiful national park in the afternoon (it is plagued by morning fog). It is possible to get here by bus #84 (check the MTS site for schedule), which would exempt you from the parking fee... though it comes with the disadvantage of not being able to visit the famous tidepools at the bottom of the cliff (park rule doesn't allow walking on the single road leading down to it).

Be sure to visit the old Pt. Loma lighthouse and the keeper's house museum, too. I'm afraid you won't be able to see out of the lighthouse windows since they had barred the top level and sealed all the rooms with display glass window. To the southwest of the lighthouse is a great whale viewing platform, though. There are a few coin-operated binoculars there. If you visit between February and March, the northward migrating whales pass pretty close to the shoreline. Click here for a video clip from Cabrillo National Monument.

2. Cowles' Mountain: At 1,592 feet, Cowles Mountain is the highest point within the City of San Diego. Located in the San Carlos neighborhood of the city, its main hiking trail is one of the most popular in the area, with a 360 degree view from the summit. It is a part of the Mission Trails Regional Park and used to be known as S Mountain because students from San Diego State University (SDSU) nearby had made it a tradition to paint a giant white S on the side of it. There hadn't been any re-painting since the late 1980s when Mission Trails Park was designated as a protected area, though.

The most popular hiking trail up Cowles Mountain can be reached at Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. A visitor's center is located there with information, restrooms and water. There is no fee for using Mission Trails Park. Click here for a video clip of Cowles' Mountain.

3. Mt. Helix: Located between La Mesa and El Cajon, east of downtown area, this 1365 ft (416.05 m) hill named after the snail Helix aspersa offers a great view of the downtown, especially at sunset. The top, with its white cross and an outdoor amphitheater is accessible by car, though parking is limited. The place is open daily from sunrise-sunset, and there are a few hiking trails and friendly benches for you to perch on while enjoying the view. No smoking allowed anywhere, though. Mt. Helix is visible from I-8; take a right at the Severin/Fuerte exit, and then right on Mount Helix Drive. Follow the sign. Click here to see a short video clip from top of Mt. Helix.

4. Mt. Soledad: is really more of a hill (only 822 ft tall) overlooking the ritzy communities of La Jolla and Pacific Beach. It is more well known than the two previous view points because of the controversial memorial cross (dedicated to veterans) on the top of it (it stands on public land, and so is subject to violation of the Establishment Clause in the constitution). The view from Mt. Soledad isn't all that great compared to the other places on this list. The Veterans Memorials (where you'll be standing around on) is not the highest point on the hill, but the radio towers across the street to the west are (so there's some view blockage there). Also, being close to the ocean front, this place is usually obscured by fog ('marine layer', as the locals would call it) in the morning hours. So, your best bet is to come in the afternoon.

There is plenty of parking up top. Those who are driving up there in a car that has one of those electronic anti-theft device thingy that shuts off ignition should make sure that they know how to manually override that function to restart the car, though. The radio towers across the street from the Veterans Memorial Cross tend to mess with the thing. The first time I drove up there I got stuck and had to all in a tow because I didn't know how to manually override my stuff. It really put a damper on the experience! Click here to see a video clip from top of Mt. Soledad.

5. Bertrand's at Mr. A's: This high end Mediterranean -American restaurant at the very top of (one of the ugliest) the building in Banker's Hill just north of downtown is decidedly out of my price range. But if you can afford a $130 dinner for two without difficulty, visiting this place is a must if only for the spectacular 360 degrees view of the area (you can track commercial airliners as they make their final approach to the airport all the way from Balboa Park to the runway.... at eye level. You can even see both North Island NAS and Pt. Loma peninsula in the distance. The restaurant is at 2550 5th Ave, just 2 blocks north and west of Balboa Park.

6. Beach Trail to Flat Rock at Torrey Pines State Reserve: This flat top ocean stack jutting out over the surf and separates Torrey Pines State Beach to the north from Black's Beach (the only nude beach in the area) to the south is a magical spot to spend a low-tide afternoon at. Not being particularly high, you are pretty much restricted to a little over 180 degree view out over the Pacific Ocean and up and down the beach. This is an ecologically preserved area, so there is no motorized boating... After a fairly easy hike down there from the Torrey Pines Lodge (where the rangers' HQ is) or up the beach trail to the bluff above it (there is a set of stairs near the rock that serves as beach access). I'm afraid you aren't allow to bring food and drink (other than bottled water) here, but with the sort of view you'll be seeing and with the roaring surf in your ears, chances are eating would be pretty far from your thought sitting there and presiding over the coast!

7. Top of the Hyatt Lounge: Opens daily from 3-10PM, this lounge at the top of the Harbor Tower at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel on the bayfront has a view to kill for. You don't even have to go into the lounge to enjoy at least 2 slices of it (there's no law against hanging at either side of the hall way and having a look out the large windows). If you do go into the lounge, though, the view is really neat. You get to look right down onto the bucolic Seaport Village and the bay, seeing clear into Mexico to the south and beyond Pt. Loma over the Pacific Ocean, making for a really romantic sunset for you and your date (which really takes a lot of the pain out of having paid $4 for a can of diet Coke for the privilege of hanging around there unharassed). Click here for a video clip from the Top of the Hyatt.