San Diego, California is an exceptional city in many ways. This popular city offers a special reason for beach lovers without cars to come here: an in-town beach that is a short ferry boat ride from downtown. Stay downtown, and you can enjoy not only Coronado Beach, but also many of San Diego's other beaches as well as many other attractions.

Photo credit Joanne DiBona

Getting to San Diego without a Car

The San Diego International Airport is conveniently located near downtown San Diego on North Harbor Drive. Visit www.san.org for more information.

All of the airport’s terminals are served by The Flyer, Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Bus Route 992. Route 992 operates between the airport and downtown San Diego. Route 992 connects with Trolley, COASTER, and Amtrak stations. You can get a $5 Day Pass when you board the bus (children 5 and younger are free).

The Amtrak station is at the Santa Fe Depot, 1050 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101, near the intersection of Kettner and West Broadway in downtown San Diego. Many other bus routes (such as Route 7 to Balboa Park, Route 30 to La Joia, and Route 901 to Coronado) are just a few blocks away.

San Diego Trolley’s Blue Line, Amtrak, and NCTD’s COASTER serve the Santa Fe Depot. Bus routes 2, 923, and 992 serve the station

The Greyhound Bus Terminal is located at 120 West Broadway, San Diego CA 92101. The terminal is a few blocks from the Civic Center Trolley Station, and is currently served by local bus routes: 2, 7, 11, 15, 30, 50, 150, and 992.

Enjoying San Diego Car-Free after you Arrive

Local and regional bus and trolley service is provided by San Diego's Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). Most MTS bus and trolley routes operate seven days a week. (San Diego's light rail system is known as the San Diego Trolley.) Most bus routes cost $2.25 for a single ride (no transfers are available). A trolley ride is $2.50

Judy Leitner, MTS Marketing Manager recommends buying a pass:

A Day Pass will give you unlimited rides on the San Diego Trolley and most MTS Bus routes that serve the majority of San Diego’s popular visitor destinations. You can purchase your Day Pass (for 1-4 four days) in advance by ordering it online at the E-Store at www.sdtms.com. Otherwise you can buy a one-day pass when you board any bus. Multi-Day Passes are also sold at all Trolley Station ticket machines, at The Transit Store (Broadway at First Avenue in downtown) and at the International Visitor Center on Harbor Drive across from the Cruise Ship Terminal.

A one-day pass costs $5, two-day pass: $9, three-day pass: $12, and four-day pass costs $15.

Photo credit Joanne DiBona

For fare and schedule information, visit www.sdmts.com. Live customer telephone service is available between 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. weekends, by calling (619) 233-3004.

If you are in San Diego, you can call toll-free by dialing 511.

24-hour automated transit information is available by calling Info Express: (619) 685-4900

The most convenient area to stay, if you don't want to drive, is downtown San Diego. Here you can walk to trolleys and buses, and many amenities. Most attractions and shopping is either within walking distance, or just a short trolley or bus ride away.

Coronado Beach: Just a Short Bus or Ferry Ride Away

From downtown, just hop on Route 901 (departs every 15 minutes during weekday peak hours, every 30 minutes other times) or the Bay Ferry (departs every hour on the hour) for a 15-minute short ride on Route 904 (or about a one-mile

Photo credit Joanne DiBona

walk) to an exceptionally family-friendly beach. Coronado Beach has some of the whitest sand on the California coast, and wide beaches with gentle surf and no undertow. This makes it ideal for children and beginning swimmers or surfers.

Swim, surf, sail, body board, fish, or just fall asleep in the sun. Other activities here include beach volleyball, tide pool exploration, and kite flying. There is also a bike path south of the Hotel Del Coronado.

While you are here, take time to stroll through the elegant Hotel Del Coronado with its Victorian splendor and reminder of a more leisurely era (www.hoteldel.com). . Be sure to sample the many shops there.

To get to the Harbor Ferry terminal from downtown San Diego, take MTS bus 2 or 992 along Broadway to the Harbor Landing. The San Diego-Coronado Ferry operates hourly, seven days a week. The trip takes 15 minutes. The one-way fare was recently reduced to $3.25 per person. For more information, visit www.sdhe.com, or call San Diego Harbor Excursion toll-free at (800) 442-6847, or (619) 234-4111. (SDHE also operates one-hour and two-hour Harbor tours.) From the terminal, MTS shuttle bus 904 runs hourly and takes less than 15 minutes to reach the beach.

If the weather is bad, or you want a more direct route, MTS route 901 operates every half hour (every 15 minutes during weekday peak hours) from downtown at Broadway and Third Avenue, across the Coronado Bay Bridge to Orange Avenue near the Hotel del Coronado--a block from the beach. The trip takes between 30-40 minutes.)

If possible, take time to visit the Ferry Landing's dozen shops. Dr. Seuss fans may enjoy the permanent display of his illustrations at the Stephen Clayton Galleries (61) 435-6474, www.stephenclaytongalleries.

The Village of Coronado has a delightful small town atmosphere, and Visitor Center and Small Museum. The Museum is hosting (until Sept. 15, 2009) a special exhibit: "Ozily Yours,: spotlighting the life of L. Frank Baum (author of the Wizard of Oz and other Oz books) in Coronado and his writings.

Other Beaches You Can Enjoy Without a Car

MTS buses serve other beaches in and near San Diego. These include: Silver Strand State Beach: Route 901, Imperial Beach: Route 933, Ocean Beach: Routes 35 and 923, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach: Route 8 from (Old Town--a stop on the Blue Trolley Line), and La Joia: Route 30 (from downtown or Old Town).

Photo credit Joanne DiBona

For More Information:

San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.sandiego.org, or call 619-236-1212.

For Bus and Trolley route and schedule information, visit: www.sdmts.com, or call (619) 233-3004 between 5:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. weekends.

If you are in San Diego, you can call toll-free by dialing 511.

24-hour automated transit information is available by calling Info Express: (619) 685-4900

Do you have a favorite vacation stop where no car is needed? E-mail steveatlas45@yahoo.com. Please also include your contact information, and why we should spotlight this location. In subject line, say Car Free Getaway Idea for Future Article.

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Pubtrantravel welcomes Steve Atlas founder of carfreeamerica.org as its newest contributing writer.

Car Free at the Beach

20 Beaches You Can Enjoy Without a Car

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