If you already have a bike, then you can head directly to one of the two ferry landings in downtown San Diego.  The ferry at Broadway Pier is where Broadway ends at San Diego Bay.  This ferry can accommodate more passengers and they have bike racks on the lower level that hold more than 30 bikes.  This ferry ride is just a little longer, but the price is the same - just $5 each way.  You can purchase your tickets at the kiosk outside - just look for the signs.  There is no extra cost to take your bike on board.  This ferry leaves from Broadway Pier to Coronado every hour on the hour.  The return trip from Coronado leaves every hour on the half hour.  I prefer to take this ferry over the other one, but for some reason I can never time it right.  So if I miss it and don't want to wait another hour to leave, I just bike about 5-10 minutes along the bay to the Convention Center and catch the other ferry which leaves every 30-minutes.  

The other ferry to Coronado leaves from the Convention Center.  You can get there by biking on the path along the bay on the back side of the convention center.  And as I mentioned above, it leaves every 30 minutes at 25 and 55 past the hour.  On the return trip, it leaves Coronado at 10 and 40 past the hour.  Both ferries are operated by Flagship, so you can purchase a round-trip ticket and use your ticket on either ferry.  I just take the one that comes first on the way back.  Also, you can go directly to their website and now you can purchase a ticket online and show it on your phone. 

If you already have a bike, then you are all set.  If you need to rent a bike there are a couple of options.  When people come to visit we often rent electric bikes because it's fun and a good way to take in the views without it feeling like exercise.  I like to rent bikes from Pedego.  The store in Coronado is no longer open, but they have a new store in San Diego just across the street from the Broadway Pier.  It is in the Spring Hill Suites building next to Beach Hut.  They have always been very friendly and helpful.  They charge $25-$35 per hour or $75 for the whole day.  The only caveat here is that you have to take your bikes on the ferry, and the electric ones are quite heavy.  So another option would be to rent bikes from the Bike & Kayak Tours store at the Ferry Landing in Coronado.  I have never rented here, but I see their bikes on the trail all the time.  They have regular and electric rentals available.  You may want to call in advance.  They charge $69 per day. 

Okay, now you have made it to Coronado and you have a bike.  It's finally time to get started.  The dedicated multi-use path takes you along San Diego bay where you'll be able to see yachts, kayaks, swimmers, and people fishing.  Occasionally, you might be able to catch one of the big cargo ships or Navy ships going by which will make the other boats in the bay look tiny.  As you continue down the path, you'll see a park on the right where there will often be family's enjoying a picnic or people playing some soccer.  Watch out for the little kids here because they often jump out on the path with little notice.  Around the next curve you'll have a perfect view of the Coronado bridge.  The path will take you directly under the bridge and then you'll be right next to the Coronado Municipal Golf Course.  This has to be one of the prettiest municipal golf courses in the country.  The green grass on the course surrounded by palm trees, San Diego Bay and the Coronado bridge in the background makes it look like an artificial backdrop.  

As you make your way to the west side of the golf course, the dedicated bike path will come to an end for a brief period.  You'll need to cross the street and ride in the dedicated bike lane.  Don't worry about riding alongside traffic on this road though.  Traffic is usually pretty light and there are speed bumps along the way to keep cars from going too fast.  I have never felt unsafe here.  As you continue in the bike lane, you'll see some beautiful million dollar homes on your right.  As you approach the end of the golf course, you'll come to the Coronado Tennis Center.  This is where you'll need to make a decision.  Continue on the path and go to the Hotel del Coronado or head down 10th Street for a bite to eat on Orange Avenue.  The video above shows my January trip where I chose to eat.  If you go that route just stay on 10th until you get to Orange and you'll have a choice of many restaurants ranging from Panera and Which Wich to a ton of local establishments.  

If you continue on the path to the Hotel del, then cut back over at the Tennis Center and use the dedicated path on the left side. The path will take  you to Orange Avenue where you can walk your bike across the street and then walk and lock your bike up in the hotel parking lot at one of the racks.  Then you can explore the hotel and get a bite to eat.  Read my entry on Coronado to learn more about the famous Hotel del Coronado.  

If you don't want to stop at the hotel on this trip or if you just stop for a bit and continue, come back to this same point to continue south on the dedicated path toward the Silver Strand and Imperial Beach.  

Now you're heading out of town.  You'll see the Coronado Naval Amphibious Base on your left side with SR 75/Silver Strand Blvd on your right.  Beyond that is the Pacific Ocean.  Just a little further down the path you'll see a pull off area which is the Silver Strand Nature's Bridge to Discovery.  You can stop here for some photos of San Diego Bay, the Coronado Bridge and the San Diego skyline.  At this point, you've traveled about 7 miles, so you can decide if you want to continue.  If it's a breezy day and I'm tired, I will turn back here.  But if it's nice, I continue on.  

About three more miles down the path, you'll come across the Crown Cove Aquatic Center and Silver Strand State Beach.  You'll need to look closely for the signs on the bike path so you can cut through.  Then follow that path through a tunnel that takes you underneath the highway.  When you emerge, you'll be at Silver Strand State Beach.  You'll see a lot of RV's parked here.  There are bathrooms, picnic tables or you may choose to rest on the sand and put your feet in the ocean water.  I usually come over here for the view, walk around for a few minutes and then get back on my bike.  At this point you've traveled 10-miles.  So you can turn back now and make it a 20-mile round trip and be proud of where you've gone (unless you cheated and used one of those electric bikes).  On my most recent trip I continued south along the path and my way all the way to Imperial Beach.  

As you take the final curve around the south end of San Diego Bay, you'll want to keep an eye out for a concrete wall on your right side that has a mural of dolphins, whales and flamingos.  Follow this path to take you to a street light at Rainbow Drive to safely cross the roadway.  Take Rainbow Drive to Palm Avenue. On Palm Avenue you will have a bike lane and for a portion, you'll have a sharrow.  This is where it the lane is designated for both cars and bikes.  Generally, the traffic isn't moving too fast here, so I feel pretty safe.  But if you prefer, just head one block in either direction to take the side streets.  Take Palm Avenue to Seacoast Drive and head south.  Watch for cars here as you'll be sharing the roadway with motorists.  There will be some shops and restaurants on either side.  Just a couple blocks down will be the Imperial Beach Pier.  There are bike racks to lock your bike so you can stroll around.  There is an ice cream shop at the pier and there are public beach bathrooms, just beyond that.  If you've made it this far, it's worth a walk to the end of the pier or perhaps you may want an ice cream or a cocktail.   

Now it is time to head back.  At this point, you've traveled 15 miles.  If you bike all the way back the way you came it will be 15-miles back for 30 miles round trip.  If you continue on and bike on the east side of the bay it is still 15-miles for a 30-mile round trip.  But if you find yourself too tired, there is a third option, which is what I did in January.  I biked to the the Chula Vista Palm Avenue Trolley station and took the trolley back to downtown.  This was the first time I took this route and I found it a little scary - so let me tell you how to do it safely.  As you get closer to I-5, Palm Avenue traffic can get busy and fast and it's not the best place for bikes.  So take the side streets.  You can take Elm Avenue all the way to Saturn Blvd.  Turn left on Saturn and cross Palm Avenue there.  Once you cross Palm Avenue, take the sidewalk.  You may choose to walk your bike through some of these intersections.  I don't normally advise to ride on a sidewalk, but this is the safest way through the I-5 on ramps.  Continue on the sidewalk until you get to the Palm Avenue Trolley Station.  There are no racks on the trolley, so you'll need to stand with your bike or sit at one of the seats by the door.  By the time you board the trolley, you have ridden 18.6 miles.  So it was a good ride and you deserve to take the fast way home.