The Seven Bridges Hike (the first three) – Start at The Hawthorne Historic Inn –
2121 1st Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 619 227 1632
From the front door of our fully furnished and equipped apartments: This 5.5-mile hike/bike includes San Diego's best sights: Balboa Park , and the charming neighborhoods of Hillcrest, North Park, and Banker's Hill. Easily accessible to bikes, and you'll be passing coffee shops, restaurants etc, as well as a dozen museums, the Zoo, beautiful gardens and everything else Balboa Park has to offer.
Start at our front door – 1st and Hawthorne and head north – uphill. You will soon cross the 1st Ave Bridge. Stop and enjoy the panoramic views the canyon 100 feet below the bridge;. Notice it was built 11 years after The Hawthorne Historic Inn. You are staying in one of the oldest buildings in San Diego.
Next up – My second Favorite – The Quince Street Bridge
Keep on heading up 1st Avenue for another block, then turn right onto Quince Street and continue until you reach the 236-foot-long bridge crossing 60 feet above Maple Canyon. The wooden-trestle affair was constructed in 1905 for pedestrian access to the Fourth Avenue Trolley Station. Once you've crossed the bridge, turn back and cross it again.
The Spruce Street Bridge (my 1st Favorite) is next on our bridge hike/bike.
It is a pedestrian only suspension bridge. That’s why it’s my favorite. You really forget the city while walking across. Early in the day you might see a fox in the canyon below.
Head one block west and make a right onto Second Avenue. Turn left when you reach Spruce Street and continue west to this iconic, gently swaying and incredibly beautiful
suspension bridge built in 1912 that crosses Kate Sessions Canyon. For sure, this is now the time for some selfies. When you stand on this suspension bridge you would never guess you are in the second largest city in California. And that you are only a mile from the Hawthorne Historic Inn.
So far you have only hiked about one mile from the Hawthorne Historic Inn. You can head back and on the way enjoy the beautiful gardens at the Self Realization Institute. It’s address is 3072 1st Avenue . You can’t miss it. Established in the early 1900’s by an Indian Yogi who attended the Chicago Worlds Fair. Take a stroll through the grounds and gardens. IT is a beautiful and idyllic spot.
Now it is time to head back to the Hawthorne Inn. What about the rest of the seven bridges tour? That will be coming in another blog.
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