Seaport Village and Beaches

San Diego Metro KOA

Chula Vista, CA

January 12, 2024

Harbor Drive in San Diego

Wednesday's destination was Seaport Village.   It's a fun outing...we can walk, shop, eat and never have to move the jeep and it's less than 10 miles from the KOA.  

The walk along the harbor passes by store fronts, patio cafes, a very green park with trees and picnic tables and benches, and a marina on one side. The beautiful bay with various size boats going out or coming in, Bay Bridge, Coronado Island and the Navy shipyard are on the other side.

Fun stores to browse...

 

A beautiful green park...

Looking toward Bay Bridge which connects San Diego and Coronado Island...

Looking toward San Diego...

 

Navy shipyard across the bay...

Getting closer to the marina...

Passing by the marina, we always take time to read the names of the sea going vessels..."Snaphappy" was our favorite this time...

The history of Seaport Village's reclaimed land can be traced as far back as 1782 when sailors aboard a pair of Spanish expedition ships anchored in the bay.  As the story goes, the sailors began to fall ill from scurvy and were buried there.  Then in the 1930s, train tracks were laid along Harbor Drive when the land was converted into a railroad yard to ship goods and materials to San Diego.  

It wasn't until the late 1970s that someone had a vision for Seaport Village which officially opened in 1978.  Today it is a 14 acre waterfront complex with lots of color, a laid-back vibe, and unique shopping and eating choices.  

And while there, don't forget to look up or you might just forget you are right smack dab in the middle of downtown...beautiful San Diego !

Walking and shopping sure makes me hungry.  Our lunch choice was Edgewater Grill...they serve brunch until 3:00 !  It was little chilly for the outside patio, but we had a very nice window table with a really nice view of the bay.  

Joe patiently waiting while I washed my hands...

The service was stellar and the food was yummy.  Joe chose fish and chips served on a bed of mixed greens with fries and malt vinegar.  I had brunch...not a surprise...and chose crab Benedict with local crab, poached eggs, house hollandaise, english muffin, avocado, and breakfast fries.  I ate every morsel ! 

We did make one small purchase...

Friday's destination was Mission Beach.  We joined Ronnie and Carol for a much needed beach walk...I was in heaven!  Our walk began at a grassy knoll somewhere at Mission Beach and ended past the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach.  Some of the walk was sandy ocean and some on the boardwalk where beach reparation was in progress.  

One of the last of San Diego's beach communities to be developed, Mission Beach got its start in 1914.  It is built on a sandbar between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay. 

 

Mission Beach...glistening rocks

This family friendly beach spans nearly 2 miles of ocean front.  A boardwalk runs along the beaches on both the ocean and bay front areas.  Since our arrival and thru this morning there has been a high surf advisory with winds gusts up to 45 mph and breaking waves between 12-18 + ft. high with water finding its way to nearby boardwalks and roads.  Piers were closed and I even read that the sea wall at the Children's Pool in LaJolla has damages as well which is not good for the seals and sea lions who birth their pups this time of year.  

I have always enjoyed the challenge of capturing waves as they roll over...

I'm guessing this surfer feels the same. 

Crystal Pier, first built in 1927, is an 872 ft long wooden pier.  

It is usually open to the public for fishing, people watching or just relaxing to the sounds of crashing waves, but that portion of the pier was closed due to the high surf.   But, Crystal Pier Hotel and Cottages were open for rentals. Imagine a night of sleeping over the ocean... 

Each cottage features a private deck on the pier...

Also built in 1927, the hotel primarily features original cottages...restored, renovated, and rustic...a reminder of days gone by. 

Past the pier, the glistening rocks disappear and we enjoyed the shore birds and their funny antics scooting in and out, chasing each other and probing for tasty morsels.  Lots of Marbled Godwits... 

and Willets.

Back at Belle,  we had a really nice rainy Wednesday night.  Rain in Belle is awesome especially when it's a good steady rain and no winds are involved. 

The three of us enjoy the flowers and the grass here at the KOA and get plenty of walks around the resort.     

Of course an afternoon nap is nice too !

I'll close with a few photos...

Until next time,

 

HAPPY TRAILS!

Camp Helen State Park

Live Oak Landing
December 30, 2017
Freeport, FL

What a real treat and surprise Camp Helen turned out to be !  Joe and I both agreed, we saved the best for last...maybe its because we had visited Grayton and Topsail State Parks on previous visits. Don't misunderstand, both those parks should be on anyones list of absolutely gorgeous places to visit when planning a trip to South Walton Beaches.  But, Camp Helen (actually in Bay County with a Panama City Beach address) had a charm all it's own.  It is surrounded by water with Lake Powell on the east and north, a salt marsh on the west and the Gulf on the south.  

Lake Powell is the largest of the 15 named coastal dune lakes.  In an earlier post I had stated Western Lake at Grayton SP was the largest...and it is in Walton County.  But Lake Powell takes the trophy for being the largest of all at 767 acres (it is actually in both Walton and Bay counties).  Hwy 98 runs right over the shimmering blue water. 

 The trail that meanders through the park is called the Oak Canopy Trail. It is divided into 2 sections...the north trail that runs under the Hwy 98 bridge to a marsh and the south trail that leads to the beach, a marsh, and an oak canopy forest.  We opted for the south section.   

After following the lake, we enjoyed the marsh area.  One lonely duck is all we saw.  








At the intersection we went left towards the beach.  There wasn't a wooded walkway like in the other parks...just lots of rope and signs designating "protected areas" for dunes and nesting.

The first thing that caught our eye was the old pier.

 
  

But the most exciting thing that caught our eye was an outfall.  Yes ! Lake Powell and the Gulf of Mexico had a mixing of waters and oh was it a beautiful sight to see.  Lake Powell winds it's way to the gulf...

  

 Shorebirds were having just as much fun as we were.

A Willet

A couple of banded snowy plovers

 We spent a long time walking the beach and looking for sand dollars.  Joe found one about the size of a quarter but I forgot to get a picture.









  

The next section of  trail actually took us under the oak canopy.  Do you see the entrance?   

Saw Palmetto lined the way.

The sharp teeth along the stem give the plant it's name.

We heard a lot of birds, but it was hard to find them among the thick branches. 
















Camp Helen has history.  Robert Hicks purchased 185 acres in 1928 where he built a summer home for his wife Margaret.  Avondale Mills (of Sylacauga, AL) bought the property from the Hicks family in 1945 as a resort camp for employee families (1945-1987).  In 1996, Florida purchased the park and opened Camp Helen in 1997. 

The horse stable became the Camp Director's office and a place for the employees of the mill to make their own beds and linens.

Camp Helen SP is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The last section of trail is a walk/tour of the historic grounds.  


Some buildings that have been renovated like the stable, the water tower and pump house and the rainbow cottages.

The Hicks family built the tower in the 1930s.  

   

The Rainbow cottages were built in the 1930s by the Mills for employees.

Other buildings, like the kitchen, are definitely showing their age.

This building was a general store and gas station for guests visiting the Hicks property.  It became the kitchen for the Mills employees.  A dining hall was attached to the back.  The belfry was originally on the stable, but moved to house the bell to announce meal times. 

 We had such a leisurely, pleasant day...a sunny day in-between rainy and yep, cold days.  Florida takes great pride in their state parks and it shows.  There are 175 award-winning state parks, state trails, and historic sites in the Sunshine State.  Other state parks in this area include Henderson and St. Andrews in Panama City Beach, Henderson in Destin, and Eden Gardens in Santa Rosa.  Also Point Washington State Forest offers primitive camping and trails to walk, bike or drive.

So, until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !