The Silver Strand is the narrow strip of sand that connects Coronado to the mainland, running seven miles south to Imperial Beach. A dedicated bike path follows the entire length, separated from the highway, making it one of the more pleasant cycling routes in Southern California — flat, windswept, with ocean on one side and bay on the other. On weekday mornings you will share the path mostly with military personnel from the nearby naval bases.
Silver Strand State Beach sits about halfway down the strip. The Pacific side has bigger surf; the bay side is calmer and warmer, popular with windsurfers and kayakers. The whole area has a wild, slightly desolate quality that contrasts sharply with the groomed resort beach up at the Del.