Coronado Beach is routinely ranked among the best beaches in the United States, and the distinction is well-earned. The wide, flat expanse of fine white sand stretches for nearly two miles along the Pacific side of the island, backed by low dunes and anchored at its southern end by the Hotel del Coronado. The sand has a faint silvery shimmer, a result of mica deposits that catch the light — a detail unique to this stretch of coast. Lifeguards staff the beach year-round, and amenities include public restrooms, outdoor showers, and metered street parking along Ocean Boulevard. It's the centerpiece of Coronado's identity and the reason many visitors come to the island in the first place.