by Eleanor S. Morris

SAN DIEGO, California - San Diego Bay in Southern California is a beautiful blue body of water ringed by cities, each offering exciting things to do. Begin with the Bay's biggest city, SAN DIEGO, by staying at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina with panoramic views of the bay and the city's downtown skyline.

Walk down to the Marina and enjoy the Bay's cool breezes aboard the Orion, once a private ocean-going yacht. She not only sails the Bay on harbor cruises, she also is available for sunset and evening cruises and whale watching excursions in season.

For some romantic history, go on over to Cabrillo National Monument and gaze up at the tall statue of mysterious Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Was he Portuguese? Spanish? His navigational log has been lost, but it's known that he arrived in the Americas by 1520 and was the first European to set foot on the silvery sands of San Diego Bay. The park's Visitor Center has information about the area's history, plants and animals, and other explorers.

From Sportfish Landing you can sail out into the Bay and try to catch yourself a marlin or some other big fish. If you're lucky, a photo of you and the fish makes a great souvenir of the adventure.

Another adventure is climbing aboard the Star of India, an 1863 square rigged bark whose hull and running gear are fully operational and ready for sea. She's moored at the Maritime Museum on the historic Embarcadero, a spectacular bayside promenade.

Don't miss Seaport Village there, with 75 waterfront shops and restaurants. In between dining on fabulous seafood at Harbor House, one of the many delicious eateries here, and shopping till you drop, take a flyer on the Broadway Flying Horses Carousel, an antique ride that will spirit you back to carefree youth days of youth.

On to CORONADO by way of a Water Taxi, speeding under the soaring, curved San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge. Not quite an island, Coronado is joined to the mainland by the slender Silver Strand. Stay at the Coronado Island Marriott, with 16 beautiful waterfront acres to enjoy while keeping close to the popular attractions of the Bay area.

An original way to see the island is via a pedicab ride. Choose a tour such as the Emerald Crown Tour or the Skyline Tour, or simply flag down a cab for a ride to the Ferry Landing Marketplace, Coronado Village Shopping or the Coronado Beach.

At CHULA VISTA visit the Chula Vista Nature Center at the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, bringing the ecology and natural history of the marsh and the surrounding wetlands and San Diego Bay to life. Chula Vista Bayside Park & Pier, surrounded by marinas, restaurants and shopping, has a fishing pier, picnic and game tables, bike paths and walkways.

IMPERIAL BEACH, south of Chula Vista and on the border of Mexico, leads west to Coronado along the Silver Strand. The Seacoast Drive at the foot of Evergreen Avenue heads to a vibrant beach park with picnic tables and an entertainment stage. In Dunes Park, another Seacoast Drive is a favorite of both locals and visitors. But for exercise take an invigorating walk along Imperial Park Fishing Pier--it extends out over the Pacific Ocean 1500 feet. Then refresh yourself with lunch at Tin Fish at the end of the pier.

For more details about playing on the Big Bay, visit www.thebigbay.com.