A Healthy Holiday
Victorian travelers were drawn to The Del ’ s Southern California location , known for its health-inducing sunshine and restorative ocean air and water . An 1888 Del brochure detailed the advantages of Coronado , proclaiming , “ Coronado has the most equable temperature known among the dwelling places of civilized men on the face of the globe . Here we breathe the true elixir or life and fear none of those insidious maladies so prevalent and fatal in most localities .” Released from the confines of wintertime city living ( where diseases spread quickly ), Victorians actually regained their health by the sea .
They were also the first generation to connect outdoor physical activity with health , and were quick to take advantage of all The Del offered . Suggested activities in the brochure included :
• A walk along the beach before breakfast
• Sunning on the south veranda afterwards
• A spin before dinner or afterwards
• Dip into the surf
• Gather beautiful shells found on the beach
• Hire a donkey for a jog along the shore
• Taste the luxury of a hot seawater plunge bath
• Enjoy about the best things of life generally