Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was the first European to set foot upon the West Coast of America on September 28, 1542, in the San Diego Bay. Today the Cabrillo National Monument commemorates this historical moment, located along the southern most tip of Point Loma.
The park is stunningly beautiful and encompasses many fields of activity for all interests, below are some places to help you start your exploration.
History
Learn about the journey of Cabrillo and his crew through film and exhibits inside the visitor’s center.
Find the dazzling fourteen-foot tall statue of Cabrillo weighing 14,000 pounds, donated by the Portuguese government in 1939.
Moving forward from the sixteenth century to more contemporary times, Point Loma was and continues to be a strategic location for the United States military. Discover gun batteries from World War I and II and enter the old radio station to hear the story behind the remains.
Identify ships in the harbor of the Eleventh Naval District, one of the largest ports in the country.
Lighthouse
On the highest point of the monument stands Old Point Loma Lighthouse, affording a sweeping panoramic vista.
Built in 1855, the lighthouse was only operational for 36 years due to its poor visibility from fog and low clouds. Now the structure serves as a museum where visitors can view its living areas and learn about historical context, while admiring the 19th century architecture.
Whale Watching
If visiting in the winter months, December – March, bring a pair of binoculars and head to the Whale Overlook. Established in 1950, this was the first public viewing station to look for whales in the world. Gray whales migrate along the Baja California bays, mating and nursing their young.
Hiking
Signs will direct you to the entrance of the Bayside Trail near the lighthouse, quiet down a paved road. It is a 2.5 mile roundtrip hike which descends 340 feet on an old dirt military road, which at its terminus must be climbed back up.
This is a less visited section of the park with tremendous ocean views and a wonderful display of native vegetation. 
Pass by historical searchlight shelter and power plant built for WWI and II, and end overlooking Ballast Point – the very spot Cabrillo is believed to have landed. Note – trail closes at 4:00 PM.
Tide pooling
If you plan your visit right, towards the end of autumn into winter and at a negative one or lower tide, you will be treated to incredible world-class tide pools.
Take the Coastal Trail, a one-mile roundtrip hike that leads to the most ecologically rich community in the monument.
Be prepared and check the tide charts, enter two hours before low tide through two hours after.
Pass by exquisitely shaped sandstone bluffs, while the trail is short it can be steep in areas so wear appropriate shoes.
A world of wonder awaits, colorful anemones, furtive crabs, and bizarre barnacles.
Geological formations can be as unique as the aquatic life, fueling the imagination.
Minimize your impact on this special marine environment by leaving no trace.
Good to know:
+Visitors pay a fee unless they have the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass
+Closing time is taken very seriously, visitors must be out of the by 5:00 PM