Coronado Beach regularly appears near the top of national best-beach rankings, and the accolade is deserved. The sand is unusually wide and flat, backed by low dunes, and has a faint golden sparkle caused by trace amounts of mica washed down from the mountains inland. The water is cold by Atlantic standards but swimmable from June through October, with consistent surf toward the south end.
The stretch directly in front of the Hotel del Coronado is the most popular, with lifeguard towers, volleyball nets, and beach rentals for umbrellas and chairs. Walk north for ten minutes and the crowds thin considerably. The beach is free and open to everyone regardless of which hotel you're staying at.