Point Loma is a peninsula that guards the entrance to Coronado and the San Diego Bay. The hills provide panoramic views of San Diego’s coastline and the first Europeans to visit the area immediately saw its tactical potential. The Spanish built the Castillo de Guijarros in 1797, named for the cobblestones that were plentiful on this rocky outcrop. These stones were later used as ship ballasts by English-speaking sailors and the tip of the peninsula was dubbed “Ballast Point.” In 1852, roughly 1,400 acres of the southern portion of Point Loma were reserved for the U.S. military. It was first used by the Army as an artillery post, Fort Rosecrans, until 1959 when the land was transferred to the Navy.

Several organizations fall under the command of Naval Base Point Loma (NBPL), including: Third Fleet, Naval Mine and Anti Submarine Warfare Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), SPAWAR Systems Center, Fleet Intelligence Training Center Pacific, Tactical Training Group Pacific, Submarine Squadron ELEVEN, Commander Sealift Logistics Command Pacific, Submarine Training Center Pacific Detachment, seven submarines, a floating dry dock (ARCO), and the Navy’s Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Department (SARD). The headquarters for San Diego area Army Reserve components is located here as well—so there is hope, Army folks!

Even during the Fort Rosecrans days this was an enviable base, and there was never a shortage of applications for transfer or re-enlistment. It was jokingly referred to as an “old soldier’s home” because of the high rate of those who retired and stuck around to live out their golden years in sunny San Diego. Not much has changed. The mild climate, laid-back culture, stunning landscapes, and military-friendly atmosphere leads many to retire in the area. Orders to NBPL are a hot commodity and life in Southern California is dreamy. There are many privatized military housing facilities scattered throughout San Diego, and quite a few of them are coastal!

You won’t find traditional beaches on Point Loma, but it is home to some really great tidal pools. The peninsula is hilly with rocky cliffs, but the elevation provides breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and beautiful sweeping views of the San Diego Bay to the east. The hills of Point Loma provide one of the best vantage points to watch the annual migration of blue whales up the coast, and sport-fishing here is legit. The northern portion of the peninsula is home to some of the oldest, most prestigious neighborhoods in San Diego.