San Diego Strolls: Historical, Pleasant & Pragmatic Spanish Landing Park

Open your San Diego deck and pull out the Harbor Island and Spanish Landing card. While Harbor Island offers a front-row seat to the bustling bay, Spanish Landing is a quiet spot--even on weekends--perfect for those seeking to escape crowds.

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On the rare occasion that the San Diego International Airport’s cell phone lot is full, I drive across North Harbor Drive to Spanish Landing Park and wait for my visitor’s arrival from there. Though the name should give it away, I only recently took the time to read about this California Historical Landmark.

Spanish Landing Park is where the Spanish expeditions led by Gaspar de Portolá and Junipero Serra landed in 1769. This landing commenced the founding of Alta California for the Spanish Empire.

Take a Walk

From Harbor Island Drive to the North Harbor Drive bridge, it’s almost exactly one mile. The entire walk is flat, making it perfect for all ages and abilities to enjoy a stroll along the water’s edge. 

Cyclists and skaters are allowed on portions of the path, so be prepared for some traffic, although Spanish Landing Park tends to be fairly quiet – even on weekends. 

Cancer Survivors Park

As you approach Harbor Island’s Sheraton San Diego Resort, you can’t miss the sculptures of Cancer Survivors Park. Funded by the Bloch Foundation (both its construction and continued maintenance), this park is one of many across the country meant to give a subconscious message that death and cancer are not synonymous. 

From the Bloch Foundation: “To newly diagnosed patients, it is meant to give hope and courage. To those in the process of fighting the disease, it is meant to give directions and determination. To those who have not had cancer, it is meant to reduce fear.” 

The park at Spanish Landing features a mosaic tile dome, as well as the sculpture “Cancer…There’s Hope,” which is the last sculpture created by world-renowned artist Victor Salmones.

This article originally appeared in the San Diego Sun as part of the "Walking In The City" column. Read the original version here.