Best of 2001: Best Natural Beach Meadow

Coronado Municipal Beach
where Ocean Boulevard meets
Ocean Drive, Coronado

Up near the fire rings on Coronado's North Beach, sand hills protecting a little-visited depression from the wind and waves have allowed nature to create a natural beach meadow that has carpeted the sand, drawing on fresh water from a nearby stream outlet. The result: seaside plants like Dune grass, New Zealand spinach, sea rocket, beach morning glories, and silky beach peas can pop up and dot the little prairie. Birds, squirrels, and other life have returned. Biggest sensation: a big-eared jackrabbit, whose ancestors ran rampant before the island was settled, was recently seen cavorting here at sunset. Further south, the Silver Strand Restoration Project has gotten wonderful results, too.