On a 14-acre peninsula along the shores of Mission Bay, Bahia Resort Hotel is an event venue, conference center, and 313-room resort at 998 W Mission Bay Dr in the 92109. William and Anne Evans founded Evans Hotels and opened the Bahia in 1953 as the first commercial lessee on Mission Bay, starting with just 52 rooms on what was then an undeveloped tidal mudflat. The Evans family envisioned a beach hotel where few others saw potential, and their gamble helped catalyze the commercial development of the entire bay. Today the property operates under third-generation family leadership, with Grace Evans Cherashore serving as Executive Chairwoman. Oceanfront dining elsewhere on the bay is easy to reach, and JRDN Restaurant at Tower23 on the boardwalk serves upscale plates with sweeping Pacific views. The resort's signature Dockside 1953 restaurant, named for the founding year, sources seafood sustainably from local fishmongers and serves tropical-themed plates with panoramic bay views. Guests can board the Bahia Belle, a 200-passenger Mississippi-style sternwheeler that has cruised Mission Bay since 1961, or the larger William D. Evans, a 450-guest sister ship launched in 1986 and named for the resort's founder who passed away in 1984. The Bahia's 20,000-plus square feet of function space hosts everything from 10-person board meetings to 900-guest galas, with every room featuring natural light and bayfront panoramas. Couples planning a rehearsal dinner or reception can also explore the waterfront setting at Oceana Coastal Kitchen nearby on Mission Bay. Lush tropical gardens, a secluded beach, free parking, and pet-friendly policies for dogs up to 50 pounds round out a property that TripAdvisor has named a top-ten resort in America for value.