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Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial
Rating Details »
Categories: Parks, Local Flavor [Edit]
Neighborhood: La Jolla6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr S
(between Soledad Park Rd & Via Capri)
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 459-2314
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
65 reviews for Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial
SO clear and peacfull, it is one of my favorite places in San Diego for sure. If you are in need of clearing your head and feeling in touch with a greater being ther is no better place.
15 min of breathing is equal an hour of meditation !
I've lost count as to how many times I've been up here, but every time I do....it gives me a sense of peace and serenity. I've picnicked here, celebrated anniversaries up here, and just came up here because I felt like it.
The crisp fresh air, the gorgeous view of San Diego, the gorgeous beach views, and even parts of Tijuana. I find my landmark as to where I live from above by finding the Church of Latter Day Saints temple.
It takes a clear day to see everything, but when you do, it's totally worth it. If you're a big photography person like me, you'd come here for great photo ops.
Driving on the 5, I look up to find the cross and smile. It is a truly beautiful place and I think the cross and the Veteran's memorial is very fitting.
It's my little piece of heaven.
The most Gorgeous views of the City&Coastline can be found here. Perfect spot for all you Cupcakers out there. Lovely Vibes on the late night tip when Full Moon is out.
The best thing about it...It's Free!
"I reminisce, I reminsice..."
http://www.youtube.com...
(click on the link&let the song play to get the full effect of this review)
Some memories I have of this place, which can't be erased...
-Not being sober there 98.9% of the time
-Herbal Upliftment, Chronic Consciousness...
-Shotgunnin' Massive rips from her Birthday piece
-Massage'n the Mind&Soothin the Soul to some freshly selected feel good tunes(like these: http://www.youtube.com... http://www.youtube.com... http://www.youtube.com... )
-Not givin a fuck about anything or anyone else, cause the only thing that mattered in those moments was us.
-Steamy/foggy windows on the late night tip ;p
-Knockin out til the sun came up
:)
-Drinkin there alone on one of my Birthdays cuz I was goin thru withdrawls&was bummed that the person that I used to do all those things w/mentioned above, wasn't apart of my Life anymore.
It's true what they say...the Best things in Life are Free.
Savor all things good in Your Life. Appreciate what You got before it's gone.
Hopeless Romantic? Fuck Yeah.
Any shame in my game? Fuck No.
"Deja vu, tell you what I'm gonna do..
When they reminisce over you, my God"
Mount Soledad got that Soul.
Mount Soledad is another reason why I love San Diego so much. For my almost nineteen years of existence, it has taken me that long to get up here to this Mount Helix of the Northwest.
The drive up is beautiful with the transitions in houses from old money to new money. Finally reaching the top of the mountain is ample parking and plenty of space to walk around and admire the almost 360 views of San Diego. Where else can you watch the planes come in over East County and land downtown all at the same spot? Or see every stretch of beach around?
Views aside, the Veterans Memorial was one of the most moving things I have seen before. Personalized wall segments of photos of veterans and their achievements and time of duty served hit close to home with my own boyfriend in the military. The photos of the veterans really makes the war memorials a lot more real and makes you appreciate what they have done for the country. I don't understand how people could want to pull down the cross that sits above it when it clearly is an artful architectural aide to the memorial photographs....
Controversies aside, this is one of the most beautiful places ever. Bring a sandwich and a blanket and have a picnic overlooking beautiful San Diego.
So many wonderful memories here. I got asked out for the *first* time here by my *first* bf. We even engraved our initials on the exact bench we sat on the whole night..How's that for cheesy romantic?! hehe
Okay..well, the view is just breathtaking as everyone says, but it's especially romantic to spend the evening there with a SO...gazing up at the stars and the beautiful city lights. *siiiiigh*
I also went here for a Wedding ceremony...talk about picture perfect! You really do feel on top of the world here. Screams: "I'm the QUEEN of the world" @ the top of my lungs!!!
Be careful during the summer time though. I got mosquito bites like crazy up there. Make sure to have insect repellent if you decide to stay awhile. I learned my lesson the hard way.
I agree parking could be improved, but surprisingly I haven't had to wait for too long to get a spot. BRING A CAMERA!!! As much pictures as I've taken here, I have not gotten tired of the 360 degree view of San Diego. It's just that amazing!!!!
Hopefully, more great memories to come. YaY! =)
I lived here over a year and a half before I discovered this beauty...Little did I know that a little over a mile and a half up Mount Soledad there was an apex with a lovely Veteran's Memorial and the most phenomenal views of San Diego I think you can get anywhere.
Great to check out at any time of day, especially while the sun is setting. When Sea World puts on their fireworks show this is the best place to view them, and there are also many hiking trails that you can go exploring down the mountain on if you're feeling adventurous.
A definite must see for all.
It's listed here as the Veterans Memorial, but the glowing reviews come from turning your back on it. We live in a terrifically beautiful city, and Soledad's here to remind you if you ever forget.
This is the single-best view in town, and it has something for every preference, with equally good vantage points for the sea, the coastline, downtown, and La Jolla from any time of day.
It's a must-see for any visitor.
Where the hell am I?!!
That was the first impression that I had after leaving a bar Saturday night in PB. No I wasn't drunk. I just wanted to take the scenic route in my rental Mustang Coupe from PB towards La Jolla cove.
I was lost by the time I hit the fancy million dollar mansions. After parking the Mustang at the top of a hill I turned the lights on and stared at the map. Where the hell am I!?! As I sat there like a confused tourist I looked up and saw the view. Holy cow. So that's why everyone was parked here. I had to leave so I backtrack my way towards Garnett Ave and onto Highway 5 north towards La Jolla to make it to the Comedy Store on time.
The very next day I took my sister's hot roommate out in the Mustang coupe where she showed me a route that we could use to drive the Mustang to it's limit. When we arrived at "the cross" I told her, "Holy crap. I was here the other day." She laughed.. When we were at the top of the memorial she showed me all of San Diego including La Jolla, highway 5, the christmas tree with all the lights, MEXICO, and the stars above us. There were shooting stars and stuff. You know, that romantic shit..
Before we got into the car I gave her keys to the Mustang. When she turned on the headlights we saw a couple making out on the bench. I didn't even know that they were there in the dark. Good times..
I'm officially calling Soledad Memorial "The Cross" because there is a huge cross on the hill. If I'm ever lost I can find my way again at "the cross"
I have heard great things about Mt. Soledad, but haven't taken the time to go. Well today, I decided to check out the scenary and take in the views. This is definitely a place I will be taking all of my friends and family when they visit.
Mt. Soledad is absolutely gorgeous :)
The sight of the cross and all of San Diego surrounding it is truly incredible and incomparable to most views I've of seen of the city. Additionally, if you explore the area a bit you'll find some great views of La Jolla shores.
It's also quite romantic..I recall many months ago when my boyfriend and I attempted to watch the sunrise here. We failed.. but that doesn't mean you can't see it! We just weren't patient enough :P
All and all, breathtaking!
Beautiful, stunning views of San Diego. I love looking over the ocean and having a birds eye view of la jolla.
There is apparently some hiking trails over the edge of the cliff. The "trail" appeared to be about a foot wide which looked really scary.
It can be hard to find parking. But the view is amazing! I personally think the cross adds beauty to the place. And to think people wanted to take it down.
Oh yeah, I love to go there at night and look at the whole view of the city below. And the review below me is right ... bring your sweater. Your nips will get hard.
It was a beautiful night. The clean crisp air with the warm summer breeze made the weather perfect. As we walked up to Mt Soledad memorial to enjoy what could be the perfect date, I remembered I was there with my apartment mate and not my girlfriend.
Mt Soledad is the best place (without driving to the desert) to avoid light pollution for meteor showers and a great place to just go, grab some food and have a nice quiet time to enjoy the sites of SD.
As minty b. said, there is a small parking lot but if you're patient and don't mind walking, you can find a spot.
This is one of my absolute favorite places to bring out-of-town visitors. Even locals don't seem to realize that this monument exists. Seriously, get your butt over here -- pronto! -- and take a look. Bring a picnic basket, your friend or significant other, and enjoy.
The tippy-top of Mt Soledad features a giant cross and a tribute to San Diego's fallen veterans. After the requisite solemn moment, look around you and take in one of the most spectacular vistas in SoCal. On a clear day you can see towards Oceanside in the north and Tijuana in the south. I find it the most beautiful right after a rain, since that minimizes the smog/haze. It's also impressive in the morning, at that oh-so-special moment when the marine layer has just barely rolled out to sea, but you can still see foggy remnants sitting in the bottoms of San Diego's valleys and canyons.
I've only come up here by car, but I always admire the dedicated cyclists who huff their way here on two wheels. There are only 3 practical access routes:
1) From the north -- Hidden Valley Rd & Via Capri. Very steep and scary. My 4-cylinder Mazda makes unhappy noises when I go this way.
2) From the south -- Soledad Mtn Rd. Relatively shallow grade.
3) From the west -- Nautilus St. Somewhere in between those two extremes.
Even in the middle of the day on a weekend, it's easy to come here since there is a spacious parking lot at the base of the access road to the monument.
Highly recommended.
I grew up in San Diego. The first time I ended up at this spot I was in high school. Unfortunately it wasn't me getting some action, that was happening in the front seat while I was in the back seat. I tried to see some of the view but that meant seeing what was happening up front. No thank you. Instead I tried to force myself to sleep and plugged my ears.
When I finally got to experience Mount Soledad in the fullest I was in college. The 360 view is absolutely breathtaking. You can see a good amount of that specific area of San Diego and one of the things that draws so many people to SD: the ocean.
It's a place that I would always take tourists to see. It's a place that I will still go to when I visit San Diego.
Just remember to bring a sweater. It gets a little windy sometimes.
Great views on a sunny day / cloudless night.
The memorial itself is kind of a downer, but the views should cheer you up.
They are still debating whether to take down the cross as it is a religious symbol on public grounds.
I just love this place, this place feeds the soul. There's nothing more beautiful than nature, you'll find more stunning views and this, but this has a touch of reality, you can see cars, people, I-5, Hotel la jolla among the ethereal views of the mighty sun sinking in the horizon of a calm yet never ending ocean. Perfect place to practice your kissing technique if you haven't already....and if you suck your woman will forgive you.
if you're in a good mood; maybe you got the job you wanted, a problem you solved, a funny joke you heard, maybe your girlfriend/wife just called to say she loves you....come here, sit on one of the benches and see how the waves come and hit the pier
But if you're in a bad mood; maybe you just broke up, maybe you just got laid off, maybe there's something that's eating you up from the inside and you just wanna say it loud, maybe you're just alone in a city with many acquaintances and no friends, maybe you grew up somewhere else and feel a little homesick and miss someone who speaks your language; buy yourself some treats you like with a coffee, climb up the stairs, sit by the cross and look at the sunset....I can't promise you'll be happy when darkness falls, but I can promise you'll be mersmerized for that little time when mother nature will numb your pain.
This is one of my favorite places to go in San Diego. Over the 5 years that I lived there I would make the therapeutic drive up the hill at high times and at low times. Great for wooing a prospective man-friend, showing some out of towners, some meditation, or some playful debauchery (see joyful photo attached).
Just before dusk in the beginnings of Spring and this place is blanketed with magical fog. When that burns off you can see all the way to Torrey Pines all the way back to OB and even Mexico on a clear summer day. Stunning.
Things to know:
1.) Bring a sweater. This lookout spot can get a tit nipply.
2.) Auto Gate closes at 10pm but you can still park outside and walk in.
3.) I've seen cops up here about 30% of the time, so indulge in your illegal practices (you delinquent) prior to getting up to the memorial.
Skedaddle already.
A Must Sight See for all you photographers. This place is a must go to bring any out of town visitors so they can see a view of San Diego and La Jolla beach area. This place is just amazing! Bring a jacket if you decide to go up there when the sun sets it will get a little nippy!
There are a lot of things to do in San Diego on the cheap. Some cost only a few dollars while others cost nothing at all. Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial is one of those things which costs you nothing at all except the price of gas to get you up the hill.
We were lucky to get there on a relatively clear day. From the top of the circular stairs you can see the whole of San Diego and more. It's very windy up there so don't let the sunshine fool you. I was very cold standing on top there even though the sun was blazing down on me.
Along the wall you can see images of veterans past and present with little blurbs or something about them. There are husband and wives, regular servicemen and women and dedications to a whole battalion.
I would never have known about this had I not found it on yelp.
Cycling rides are about the journey, but the best rides are also about the destination. Most often, that destination involves Belgian Ale, but the Mt. Soledad ride gives you the best vista of the city.
During the day: breezy, yet still muggy and warm most times, the stiff breeze from the beach dying down to a slight stirring. Once you get going in earnest, say up Nautilus, it only reminds you that if it were in fact a real breeze, you'd be cooling off, and not smoldering inside, while pouring out hot sweat. Oh, you could kick back and make it casual and it'd just take a long long time, but that takes genes that most of us 'enthusiasts' lack.
So, depending on the way up you take, you suffer intermittently (Mt. Soledad Road), steadily (Nautilus), or risk blowing out your kneecaps (Via Capri - Hidden Valley). Once you get to the top, however, you're treated with a sweeping vista of San Diego.
The beauty is quite different every time you go. Dawn, dusk, slightly foggy, late night new moon, doesn't really matter. Anything other than full cloud cover or rain presents a very different face of the city.
Dress in layers. Bring a camera, some desire to observe, and your capacity for introspection.
This is one of my favorite places in San Diego. Every once in awhile, I will come here during the evening (probably with a beanie, a sweatshirt and a blanket, as it can definitely get chilly) and lie in the grass and look out over San Diego. It's a great place to bring friends out of town, or a date you're hoping to score with.
Because after some time spent here, it's likely you will.
There has been a lot of press about the Mt. Soledad Memorial because of that damn cross. You know what? The cross is beautiful, but it's not what attracts people to this monument. People come to see the views, and cross or no cross, they're beautiful. Come alone, with a date or with friends, it doesn't matter. Mt. Soledad remains one of the favorite places for this native San Diegan.
I decided to spend my last sunset in San Diego at Mount Soledad. Lucky for my date and I the place was deserted.
What a spectacular view of the city, the bay, the ocean, the mountains, the pier and the heavens. The view is breathtaking.
What a perfect place to put my arm around my lady and tell her how much she means to me. I picked a bench on the south side of the cross. While she was getting comfortable I came back with a bottle of Barolo and two glasses. Although we couldn't see the sunset we knew it was there, because we could see the beautiful pallet of orange, pink and baby blue scorching the heavens. I sat there and admired how the evening's breeze played with her curly locks.
We could see the glowing lights of Downtown San Diego,where we first met; the La Jolla pier, where we first held hands; and fiesta Island, where we first shared a kiss. I gently turned her around and pointed. I told her I wanted to marry her there one day. "The Mormon Temple?" ..."Oh, we'll find another nice church."
Once again I found myself mesmerized and staring at her. I couldn't believe her mouth had not stopped yapping one second since we got here. As the the sun sunk in the Ocean the bottle of Barolo was gone and the evening was crispier. I covered my date with my coat while she grabbed a bumper and relieved herself.
This could happen, the view sets the mood for it, but you'd have to be very cheesy to pull it off. And I just can't. I did see an Asian couple sitting on that bench earlier. The dude brought out a bouquet of roses and wrapped himself around her until the bugs broke up the cheesy scene and ran 'em off to their cars.
I did spend my last Sunset in San Diego here. I drove up with dinner and something to drink. I sat down on the bench after taking some pictures and sketched what I saw. Great place to get inspired.
I would have definitely been up here more often if I knew the view was this amazing, and it's free!
Oh, yeah, there's a huge white cross and a nice memorial for our veterans.
Absolutely breathtaking views. Lots of parking available and it is a definite must see. Any out of towner I bring here is amazed at the beauty of the city I live in!!!
The only problem is a small parking, but it has a great 360 degree view of San Diego!! Make sure to pick a clear day and get there early to beat other crowds to get a parking. Also don't forget to bring your camera!
Great date place, beautiful view. Easy parking.
Short, sweet, to the point: get there.
I was fortunate enough to have grown up near this historic landmark in San Diego. The first time I ended up at this spot I was in a limo for a friends bday when I was twelve. The second time I rode my bike up there was when I was a freshman in high school and I have been doing so ever since. The trek up to Soledad is probably the best workout you can get besides the heartbreak climb up Cowles Mountain. Some of the hills you have to bike and/or drive up to get to the place can be unforgiving depending on which way you are coming from but well worth the effort.
The panoramic view at the top of Mount Soledad is absolutely spectacular and breathtaking. You will find yourself lost in amazement and wonder as you take in the scenery that surrounds you: well maintained green landscape, torrey pines trees swaying blissfully in the ocean breeze, the soft milky white clouds floating leisurely above, and beyond all this the Pacific Ocean outlining the coast of San Diego.
On a clear day you can see as far north toward Oceanside and south toward Tijuana. On cloudy afternoons and evenings at sunset, you can still see the tip of the orange ball of fire mounted on the vast horizon. You can also see highway I-5 down below toward the north,and the 310 ft tall Sea World Skytower, Shelter Island, and Lindbergh Field a little farther to the south east.
If you are planning your next trip to San Diego or you are a local who hasn't made it over yet, be sure to make Mount Soledad your next visit.
Gorgeous views on a clear day. Gotta 'love' the ACLU for trying to get them to take down the cross.....so dumb!
Freakin BEAUTIFUL!
If you can, try and catch a sunrise here. Its amazing.
There has been (and, I'm sure, will continue to be) much controversy regarding the cross, but all of that aside...
The best view in San Diego, hands down. Whether you make the trek up the mountain for a sunrise, midday view, sunset, or nighttime glimpse, prepare your eyes for a spectacular sight. Visitors and those new to San Diego, take note: move Mount Soledad to the top of your to-do list. It's free and guaranteed to make for a most memorable experience.
I think you can see Mexico on a clear day, but I never have. The view is amazing. Bring a bowl if that's your thing, best spot.
minus one star for the cross and the whole lack of seperation of church/state thingy.
Mt. Soledad is on my top 3 favorite places in San Diego. I've been reluctant to review Mt. Soledad, one, because I'm stuck up and always try my hardest to be the first to review something, and two, because a lot of people who do review Mt. Soledad try to argue their point-of-view on whether the cross should be ripped out or not.
Here's my take:
-Would I come to Mt. Soledad if there was no cross present? Probably, though I will say I'd be saddened a little bit if it was all of a sudden missing, not for religious reasons, but because the cross definitely takes part in my memory of Mt. Soledad, because it's been there for as long as I remember.
-Would it hinder my visits to Mt. Soledad if it was a gigantic Star of David or some other religious symbol or a variety of different ones? Heck no, I don't come to Mt. Soledad to stare at the cross. I can appreciate other religions, and honestly, the main purpose of the cross for me was to rest my back against it's fence when I wanted the fully-extended view (though I don't know if you can still do that, I haven't climbed up there in a long time.)
-What's the most important aspect of Mt. Soledad? For me, it's standing there, taking in all of San Diego, the pretty twinkling lights, the winding roads seen from the mountain, the swirling sky blanketing over the city, the breeze that sweeps over you as you take in and appreciate something beautiful, the feeling of being so small and yet powerful over the world at the same time.
I guess either way it might not matter.
My dude was shocked and appalled at my confused expression when he mentioned Mount Soledad in a casual conversation. At the time I'd been living in San Diego for well over a year. It wasn't long before he hijacked my car and drove me up through the La Jolla-ish hill neighborhoods and up to the Memorial.
It was a beautiful day, so the hilltop was naturally crawling with tourists, but the popularity of the spot doesn't detract from the experience. The view is just incredible. I'm a terrible judge of distance, so I have no idea how far one can see from there, but other reviewers cover that. It's far though. We sat on a park bench and just basked in the sun and the view.
I think it's a lovely place for a memorial, and San Diego is the perfect city to hold it. I'm not one to confuse statues, images, monuments, or memorials with the establishment of a national religion, so I am able to enjoy the memorial and the serenity of the view without any political distractions. It's a great place to sit in quiet contemplation alone or with a friend.
I'm not particularly religious... spiritual is probably a better word for my belief system. I was baptized Catholic, so I guess i"m catholic. Through my upbringing, I'm sure that some catholic memes have made their way into my persona. I'd be a hypocrite to say otherwise.
Still... give me a break. If we can't have a cross on Mt. Soledad, what's next? Should we get rid of all religious symbols even on houses of worship? After all, I don't want to be subjected to your belief system because mine is the only true religion and you belive in a bunch of lies. As a matter of fact, let's strip any name attached to a holiday with religious undertones. There shall be generic holidays 1 through 30 and you may choose which ones to believe in an celebrate.
Anyone hear of tolerance? So yes... there's a huge christian symbol atop Mt. Soledad. It's history... Let it be. What would tearing it down truly accomplish? Are you trying to rewrite history?
Those who attempt to forget history are doomed to repeat it. Take a look at what's going on around the world right now... Put on FOX, CNN, PBS, or whatever source of news you wish to follow and ask yourselves? Crusades 2.0?
Can't you focus on the beauty that makes this world so breathtaking? Can't you simply go up to Mt. Soledad, look at the view of La Jolla to the West or Downtown to the South, look at Mother Earth and do exactly like her... look *THROUGH* the cross. Pretty soon you won't even know it's there.
It was so nice up here... makes me want to just jump off the top to spread my wings and fly...
This is probably where Fergie went to be with herself and center, clarity, peace, serenity... yeah, her lyrics don't make sense to me sometimes either.
Mt. Soledad has one of the best views you can find here in SD.
Its just nice to come up here during the day to see our beautiful city during a nice sunny clear day and at night to see the lights in America's Finest City!
I've been coming here for years just to relax and soak in the view. Good place to go when you wanna clear your head or just want some time alone to think.
I moved to San Diego in September. I knew nothing about the place and knew no people to hang out with. So basically I used Yelp to find sweet spots to visit and learn about my new city.
Mt. Soledad was one of the first places I went to, and the very first time I actually felt like I was part of the community. Kids come here with their parents and run around on the grass, couples spend romantic time together, people come alone (ahem) to marvel at the spectacular almost-360-degree view and check out the memorials... it's overall a really nice place to visit.
I sat on one of the benches facing out toward the ocean and read a book. When I was there a few people asked me to take their picture, it was really funny to be reading and listen to the people behind me debating on whether to disturb me to take their picture. I'm glad they did. A few kids dared each other to ask me if I wanted pine nuts (? I know, silly), which they eventually did. A girl sat on a bench near mine and sobbed for a good ten minutes. I was dying to go over to her for consoling, but I thought maybe she'd like to be alone. She disappeared down the hill where I assume there are trails, then emerged a while later looking tired but cried out, I think. I couldn't believe how lively and yet serene it was there, and I was very grateful for the exposure to the community as I had been feeling rather isolated.
I definitely recommend a visit to this place. It's beautiful.
This is the most peaceful place, ever. I love the view, especially at night. So beautiful. It's worth the drive...I love drifting the streets. It's absolutely free, except for gas!
Very good spot to go when you're sad, or just want some time to yourself. Or with someone else! ;]
This is one of the places I miss the MOST in San Diego. I lived in I-House at UCSD my 4th year, and without a doubt this place topped the list of places I made sure I brought all my international friends to. The 360 view is breathtaking and I could never take enough pictures of it, despite being up there many times. We always had fun pointing out landmarks we knew, especially Geisel Library at UCSD. I had a goal to watch at least one sunset from there before I graduated, and I accomplished this during my 4th year...kinda. Lucky me, it was an overcast and cloudy day, and we didn't get to really watch the sun go down. Shucks!
Ah, Mt. Soledad...I miss it so much...the drive down from the mountain towards La Jolla is AMAZING too. I went to a church (Coast Vineyard) up on Mt. Soledad and got to drive down the mountain back to school every week...I really miss that.
Hands down this so called mountain offers the best panoramic view of San Diego. The name is misleading, because it's really a hill, not a mountain. I guess Soledad Hill Veterans Memorial just didn't sound catchy enough.
I've been here twice now. The first time my boyfriend tried to take me here, the place was closed for the evening. They close the gates when it gets dark. And beware: cops patrol the area. To get up the hill, you have to pass through a lot of nice houses. They say this is part of La Jolla, but I think its too far south of La Jolla proper, which really is technically a suburb of San Diego as much as they hate to admit it.
The first time we technically visited the memorial, we visited around mid afternoon. Parking was easy, although it is a tourist spot. But it's a hard to get to tourist spot which acts as a crowd control. You need to know how to navigate the hillside neighborhood to get up there. Even on a nice autumn day, it was still a bit chilly up there since it can get windy.
The cross is large, but rather unremarkable. I'm actually amused with all the hoopla over some folks trying to have the cross removed because it's on public property. I realize that we are supposed to have separation of church and state, but really, this is a memorial. Give it a rest!
What really sets this place apart from other vistas in San Diego is the 360 degree view you can get of San Diego County when you climb up the steps leading to the cross. Climb up and soak in the view. You can walk around the perimeter of the park to look at different sections of San Diego more carefully.
It's too cold and windy for a picnic up here, but a good place to just wander about for about 30 minutes or so. We went again back in December and the wind chill factor really was noticeable. I should have brought thicker clothing than just a sweater.
Mt. Soledad is definitely a place to visit if you are into panoramic views. The best part is that it's free.
