The Hotel Del Coronado has been a fixture in San Diego since the 1880s. It is the last remaining wooden Victorian hotel on the California coast and reminds tourists and residents alike of a bygone era. Considered one of the most unique and beautiful of America's resort hotels, "the Del" as locals know it is an imposing sight rising above the beach on Coronado Island.

Built in 1888, the hotel has hosted ten presidents of the United States--all of them have stayed there since Lyndon Johnson. Royalty has also guested at the hotel. The future King Edward the Eighth, visited the hotel as Prince of Wales in 1920. Speculation has always run high that he first met Wallis Simpson there since she was living on Coronado at the time. Hollywood royalty has also visited the Del often--Frank Sinatra was a regular.  Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon filmed the popular "Some Like It Hot" at the Del and it is as much a star of the movie as they are.

The hotel is still one of the favorite destinations of the famous and ordinary tourists. Recently renovated it is worth visiting just to see its historic architecture and to dine in one of its great restaurants.