Images of Cabrillo National Monument – Southern California, taken in April 2017.

Cabrillo National Monument, named after the Spanish explorer who was the first European to set foot on what is now the west coast of the United States, is a small park on the Point Loma peninsula overlooking San Diego. Its main attractions are the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and the tide pools along the rugged coastline on the Pacific Ocean side of the peninsula.

During my visit the whole area was awash with yellow flowers of several kinds, so dense in some areas it covered the hillsides like a blanket. Most interesting, as always, were the tide pools where I spent several hours looking for marine life exposed by the low tide. Unfortunately there were no sea stars here but there was an abundance of other interesting creatures.

During both World War I and II this area, to this day still surrounded by a US naval station, also served to protect the entrance of San Diego Bay. Some of the Fire Control Stations used to direct fire on any approaching enemies are still standing in the park as are other structures used during that era.