Ballast Point, San Diego

When visitors to the Cabrillo Monument venture onto the patio behind the visitors’ center, they will look down onto Ballast Point. Few people know that San Diego was the first city discovered on America’s west coast, and it is believed that Cabrillo first set foot at this point onto the city later named San Diego. Cabrillo landed at Pt. Loma in 1542, and he set a pile of stones where he landed. From Ballast Point, visitors can view the city of San Diego, as well as see the mountains of Mexico across the San Diego Bay. - Erick Pettersen