TravelWorld International Magazine Winter 2022

Sublime
peace
and
beauty in
The Del’s
inner
courtyard
The Del’s “At First Light”
holiday light show.
(The Del's world's first
modern Christmas tree)
Uniquely Californian wrapping paper at
Seaside Papery
Ornament for this
year’s theme
“Frosted by the Sea”
Lamb’s Players Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol”
Photo courtesy of Lamb’s Players
Reward yourself at Fuzziwig's Candy Factory
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ach year The Del
picks a theme for
their celebrations.
This year's theme is
“Frosted by the Sea”
heralding the return
of the two-story high Christmas
tree in the hotel lobby after a
coronavirus hiatus. Each year
ornaments are made for this
tree for that year’s theme. The
most controversial theme to
date “Winter of Whimsy” in
2017, had this huge tree in
the lobby upside down. This
garnered national attention
and somewhat comically was
dubbed a “War on Christmas”
by Fox and Friends.
The whole town of Coronado is alive
and welcoming during the holidays.
There are numerous unique local
restaurants as well as a Chipotles.
Downtown features a string of boutique
shops to explore for that perfect
holiday gift that you can then wrap in
novelty paper featuring surfboards,
mermaids, Chihuahuas, and more
from Seaside Papery. Finally, reward
yourself with some saltwater taffy from
Fuzziwigs Candy Factory.
Ready to sit down for awhile? Enjoy
a new take on Charles Dickens “A
Christmas Carol” at the Lamb’s Players
Theatre in the middle of downtown
or listen to a Holiday Cabaret at the
nearby Coronado Playhouse.
As my friend and I head back to my car
we stop under the towering Norfolk
Island Pines lit with huge strings of
dancing lights on the front lawn of
The Del to experience the wonderful
"First Light” holiday lightshow set to
orchestrated music that repeats every
half hour from 5pm to 9pm. These
spectacularly lit trees include the
same Christmas tree made famous in
1904. As my friend and I looked up,
mesmerized at the dazzling light display,
I felt transported to a world of holiday
wonder. Then, it occurred to me that L.
Frank Baum had long stays at the Del
and wrote the “Wizard of Oz” books
here. You can’t really get more magical
than that!
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