Breathtaking views mingle with the early history of San Diego, which began when Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo arrived in 1542. His statue dominates the tip of Point Loma, which is also a vantage point for watching migrating Pacific gray whales en route from the Arctic Ocean to Baja California December through March. A tour of the restored lighthouse (1855) illuminates what life was like here more than a century ago. National Park Service rangers lead walks at the monument, and there are tide pools at the base of the peninsula that beg for exploration. Free 30-minute films on Cabrillo, tide pools, and the whales are shown on the hour daily from 10am to 4pm. The drive from downtown takes about a half-hour.