On your way to or from the Cabrillo National Monument, definitely plan to discover Shelter Island. It’s one of two man-made peninsulas on romantic San Diego Bay. This tropical paradise is filled with tall swaying palm trees and majestic views of romantic San Diego Bay. While it’s home to classy yacht brokerage firms, boat builders, classy hotels, impressive bay view restaurants and impressive yacht clubs, it’s totally noncommerical in appearance.

Instead, it’s a great place to ride a bike, stroll along or drive up and down Shelter Island Drive and enjoy the views. You can also launch a boat for free for a day of boating or fish off the public pier. Not even a fishing license is required to fish here. Shelter Island typifies the best of the best about San Diego.

One of Shelter Island’s biggest attractions is the live summer concert series at Humphrey’s Restaurant (14). Featured are nationally acclaimed singers and musicians such as Diana Ross, The Beach Boys, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, Chris Isaak and many more. They perform outdoors under the stars and it is a spectacular event. In fact, Humphrey’s has won the San Diego Restaurant Association’s Gold Medallion Award for Best Live Music Venue/Restaurant for 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010. For tickets call (800-745-3000).

Their restaurant is also a crowd pleaser. It’s called Humphrey’s Restaurant (14) at 2241 Shelter Island Dr. (619-224-3577). While dining you can enjoy a postcard-perfect view of yachts on the bay. Humphrey’s is highly acclaimed for both its excellent modern global cuisine and outstanding live entertainment. A true show stopper is their Sunday Champagne Brunch, which many San Diegans describe as being the best in San Diego. See Restaurants. As for a perfect place to stay, look no further than Humphrey’s classy hotel located next door to their restaurant. It’s called Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn & Suites (14) at 2303 Shelter Island Dr. (619-224-3411).

A popular restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for over 66 years is Red Sails Inn (12) at 2614 Shelter Island Dr. (619-223-3030). It’s a local hangout for yachtsmen and San Diegans alike. Enhancing their delicious seafood and steak selections is a picturesque harbor view of America’s Cup Harbor. Add attentive service, nautical decor, a cocktail lounge and patio dining, and you’ll have a memorable dining experience.

No less impressive is the spectacularily remodeled Bali Hai Restaurant (15) at 2230 Shelter Island Dr. (619-222- 1181). It undoubtedly offers the most romantic view of the city, especially at night. Seeing huge cruise ships entering and leaving the harbor is a breathtaking experience. Also impressive are the delicious seafood, exotic tropical drinks, tantalizing steaks, chicken and more, all served with a Hawaiian flair. And if you you are looking for a place for a birthday, wedding reception or any special event this is the place.

Not to be missed is perhaps the best seafood and steak restaurant on Shelter Island, and it doesn’t even have a bay view. Yet Fiddler’s Green (12) at 2760 Shelter Island Dr. (619-222-2216) is one of the most recommended restaurants in San Diego. This is because it’s a nautical-themed restaurant with a warm, friendly atmosphere, great steaks, delicious prime rib and fresh seafood. And owner Steve Rock is almost always on hand to greet you with a welcoming smile. This is a great restaurant with a more than 50-year tradition behind it.

H&M Landing (11) at 2803 Emerson St. (619-222-1144) is located near Shelter Island in Point Loma. H&M Landing is the oldest and most established firm with the most boats and the widest range of sportfishing trips available. This sportfishing leader offers deep-sea fishing trips from 1/2 day to 18 days in length and can provide you with all the tackle you need. They operate exciting whale watching cruises in winter and summer. Present their coupon for $5 off on 1/2 and 3/4 day fishing or whale watching trips for up to six people.

Liberty Station, which was once the nation’s largest Naval Training Center has been transformed into a shopping, dining, residential and recreational playground that is fast becoming the new love of San Diegans. This 361-acre playground is a great discovery. Liberty Station (10) is also the hidden hub of San Diego art and culture and shopping. What’s so interesting about these Spanish-style buildings is not the beauty they show, but the treasures they conceal. Tucked away inside this gorgeously landscaped complex is a host of shops, art galleries and more.

Liberty Station is also home to more than 20 restaurants, 2 hotels and the most highly attended church in San Diego County which is The Rock Church. Plus, Liberty Station is also home to an executive golf course. Whether you’re looking for art from an international artist or a great meal, Liberty Station is the place.

One of the most interesting art galleries at Liberty Station is the Visions Art Museum (17) at 2825 Dewey Rd. (619-546-4872). On display here are contemporary quilts and textiles like you have never seen before. From three dimensional sculptures to those woven in contemporary art styles, these unique quilts are true works of art. Admission is ($5). The gallery is open Tues.–Sun., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. They have a rotating exhibit that displays new and fascinating quilts every two months. They also offer workshops and educational programs for both children and adults.

Also housed in Liberty Station is The San Diego Watercolor Society (17) at 2825 Dewey Rd. (619-876-4550). They have 100 watercolor paintings on display each month. You can view fabulous pieces painted by San Diego’s best watercolor artists or enroll in the workshops they teach. Their gallery is open Wed.–Sun., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is free.

Liberty Station is also home to one of San Diego County’s oldest golf courses, the Sail Ho Golf Course (21) (619- 222-4653). It was built in the 1920s by A.G. Spalding and was used by sailors as part of their fitness programs. It is a nine-hole course featuring redesigned fairways, a clubhouse and a pro shop. Across the street is the new Corvette Diner (7) a throwback to the 1950s.

Calling Liberty Station home is the new Harbor Square (9), a bayside shopping plaza at 2560 Laning Rd. Shops and restaurants include Oggi’s Pizza, Subway Sandwiches, Sushiya Japanese Restaurant, Los Primos Mexican Restaurant and even a Starbucks!

Yes, a real crowd pleaser in Liberty Station is Sushiya Japanese Restaurant (18) at 2558 Laning Rd. (619-224-0100). This popular sushi bar and casual Japanese restaurant is well-known for its delicious hand rolls and beautifully presented combination plates. They also serve several kinds of sake and Japanese beer in addition to seven flavors of mochi. They are open daily for lunch and dinner. An added plus is their San Diego Bay view. Harbor Square is conveniently located just off Harbor Drive near the airport, Harbor Island and Shelter Island. Use their coupon to save $10 off orders $50 and more or to Buy One Sashimi, Get One Free.

Liberty Station is home to the beautiful 200-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel (8) and a 150-room Hilton Homewood Suites (8). A wonderful place to dine is Twentyfive/92 at the Courtyard by Marriot. Both hotels are ideally located on the waterfront affording hotel guests beautiful views of the bay and downtown San Diego. Both are excellent venues for weddings, wedding receptions and reunions.

The Sports Arena (1) is the commercial hub of Point Loma. Here you’ll find lots of big specialty stores like Home Depot (3) and Dixieline Lumber. Plus there’s a huge Ralph’s supermarket (3), a Sports Chalet, a Target, a Big Five Sporting Goods, Big Lots (4), See’s Candies (4) and a whole lot more.

The big attraction though, is the Valley View Casino Center (1), formerly the San Diego Sports Arena at 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. (619-224-4171). It is a year-round local attraction in more ways than one. Yes, it’s home to touring attractions like the ice follies, sports events, rodeos, family shows and rock concerts. Yet the biggest attraction is Kobey’s Swap Meet (1) (619-226- 0650). This swap meet is the largest in the county. It is held every Fri.–Sun., 7 a.m.–3 p.m. Admission ranges (.50–$1). Many vendors accept credit cards. For added savings use their 2 for 1 coupon.

Also in the Sports Arena area is the one and only Phil’s BBQ (1) at 3750 Sports Arena Blvd. (619-226-6333). This local favorite serves the best tasting mesquite grilled chicken and ribs you have ever had. The best place to enjoy breakfast in the Sports Arena area is Country Waffles (5) at 2323 Midway Dr. (619-223-2225). They serve fantastic breakfasts.

The Sports Arena is also home to the center city’s Midway Drive Post Office at 2535 Midway Dr. (5) (619-758-7101). What’s good about this location is that they have an after-hours window here for service Mon.–Fri., 3:30 p.m. –11 p.m.

Close by is San Diego’s best and only German-American restaurant Kaiserhof Restaurant (2) at 2253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. (619-224- 0606) . To get there travel west on Sports Arena Boulevard until it becomes West Point Loma Boulevard, and take a left at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. This restaurant is famous for its authentic German cuisine and popular biergarten. It’s open for lunch Fri.–Sun. and dinner nightly except Monday. Also popular is their happy hour Tues.–Fri., 4 p.m.–7 p.m.

The biggest attraction in Point Loma happens to be on the windswept tip of Point Loma. It’s the third most visited national monument in the United States.

A tranquil view from Point Loma of the yachts on America’s Cup harbor at sunset. It’s called the Cabrillo National Monument. From this vantage point high above the ocean, you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the city of San Diego and beyond. On a clear day you can see the Mount Palomar Observatory 50 miles away. This picturesque monument is dedicated to explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who discovered San Diego. Don’t leave San Diego without visiting this monument and its incredible view.

Cabrillo National Monument is at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr. (619-557- 5450), which is at the tip of Point Loma. The best and least confusing way to get there is to follow Rosecrans Street to Cañon Street, turn right; go to Catalina Boulevard and veer left. The monument is open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and there is an entrance fee of ($5) per car, or ($3) for walk-ins and cyclists. The fee includes access to the 160-acre national park, including the Cabrillo Monument, the old lighthouse, hiking on the bayside trail and visiting the tide pools.

Today the Old Point Loma Light House still stands watch over San Diego, sentinel to a vanished past. The National Park Service has refurbished the interior to its historic 1880’s appearance -- a reminder of a bygone era. Ranger-led talks, displays and brochures are available to explain the lighthouses interesting past.

Shelter Island features four of the most distinctive hotels, fine restaurants and hundreds of colorful yachts and marinas running as far as the eye can see. These four resort hotels and the surrounding waterfront community have come together to form “Shelter Island Village.”

H&M Landing (11) at 2803 Emerson St. (619-222-1144) is located near Point Loma 183 Shelter Island in Point Loma. H&M Landing is the oldest and most established firm with the most boats and the widest range of sportfishing trips available. This sportfishing leader offers deep-sea fishing trips from 1/2 day to 18 days in length and can provide you with all the tackle you need. They operate exciting whale watching cruises in winter and summer. Present their coupon for $5 off on 1/2 and 3/4 day fishing or whale watching trips for up to six people.

Stephanie Jezek is San Diego’s preferred Realtor for buying homes in Point Loma and Ocean Beach. Feel free to contact her via phone (858-243-3495).

For your local banking needs, Pacific Marine Credit Union is one of San Diego's most trusted banking institutions, with over 50 years of service and multiple locations throughout San Diego to serve you. Pacific Marine Credit Union membership is open to everyone.