Visiting Imperial Beach, California | cbs8.com

IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif —

Join CBS 8 Mornings Live from Imperial Beach!

CBS 8 is live from Imperial Beach all morning on Friday, August 16! as the community prepares for the Sun & Sea Festival featuring amazing sandcastles along the coast. Make sure to tune in to CBS 8 and the CW San Diego or stream live on CBS8+ from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for live coverage. The CBS 8 team will be out in the community sharing all the things that make Imperial Beach a great place to live and visit.

Known for its beaches, big waves and being the “Most Southwesterly City in the Continental U.S.”, Imperial Beach was founded in 1887. At first, it was a coastal summer retreat for people from the Imperial Valley, giving the city its name. Imperial Beach grew in size when about 2,000 laborers came to the area to help build the Hotel Del Coronado. They decided to stay in Imperial Beach, making it their permanent home.

While the beaches are currently closed to swimmers, IB has always been known for its big waves. The Tijuana Slew called to surfers for generations. In the 1940s the waves became a testing ground for mainlanders going to Hawaii. Surfers from all over the US would come to IB to surf what was at that time considered the biggest waves off the continental US. One of those surfers was Bob Simmons, who’s known as the father of the modern surfboard and moved to IB in 1950.

And it’s not just the waves bringing people to the beach, it’s also the sand. For years, sandcastle sculptors have flocked to IB for sandcastle competitions that started back in the 1960s. Imperial Beach also held the US Open sandcastle competition for about 30 years, starting in 1980 and the fun continues today. The Sun & Sea Festival takes place in IB every summer

Imperial Beach now has a population of about 25,000 people. While it has evolved over the years, it is still beloved by locals and tourists alike.

There are many diverse things to do and see in Imperial Beach including several opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature. CBS 8 is highlighting 8 great spots you need to check out.

Head to Imperial Beach Pier for panoramic sunset views, amazing restaurants and parks the whole family can enjoy. Picnic and play basketball at Dunes Park or check out the iconic “Surfhenge” at Portwood Pier Plaza.

Stop by El Tapatio for a delicious bite to eat. This family-owned Mexican restaurant has been serving fresh and genuine Mexican food to the local community since 1979.

This local favorite spot claims to be the oldest bar in Imperial Beach. Ye Olde Plank has been around since the ’60s, but the building dates back to 1886. Stop by for a drink and a bite to eat.

The museum honors 25 prominent shapers, including nine from right here in San Diego. Starting at Third Street and ending at Seacoast. Drive, you can take a walk through surfboard history.

Follow a map and check out all the beautiful murals, statues and sculptures throughout Imperial Beach. It’s all presented by the Imperial Beach Art Bureau.

This spot has been serving up sweet treats since 1967. Try out their fan favorites, cinnamon rolls, cake donuts and chocolate and glazed donuts

Enjoy guided horseback riding on Imperial beaches, scenic trails and pony rides are also available for the kiddos to help make their dreams come true.

Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

The estuary is one of the few salt marshes left in Southern California. It’s also a great place for bird watching as a key stopover point for over 370 species of migratory and native birds.

The Bayshore Bikeway is an alternative way to ride through Imperial Beach. Cyclists are able to pedal along the Silver Strand and enjoy the view of the San Diego Bay, but it’s not a short ride. It’s a 24-mile stretch depending on where you’re starting. The path is popular among Imperial Beach residents, but many San Diego cyclists also travel from other areas to bike the route.

Cyclists can start downtown for the full loop. Just take the Flagship Coronado Ferry from downtown. You’ll start your ride upon docking at the Coronado Ferry Landing. From there, you can start pedaling south. This is the beginning of a 13-mile ride to the south end of the San Diego Bay.

The bicycle path surrounds National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Coronado and Barrio Logan. San Diego leaders are already looking into extending the path to San Ysidro. They hope to make it a comfortable trip to the border for commuters who choose to bike their way to their destination. 

View the path map on Google>>

If you’ve ever been down here to Imperial Beach in the past 100+ years, chances are you’ve probably seen this place. The building has been around since the 1880s in IB. It’s been a cafe, a marketplace and a surf shop. It has been a bar since the 1960s.

Ye Old Plank Inn and the building is full of history and regulars.  “This one’s been through two floodings and survived both. We are only closed for four hours a day, from two o’clock in the morning to 6 a.m.  At six, there’s a line for people to get our 25-cent coffee,” Ye Old Plank owner, Marty told CBS 8. “We’ve been such a staple in Imperial Beach and we try to be the best ambassadors that we can.”

The bar is full of military memorabilia which is near and ear to Marty who served in the Navy for 25 years.  “The patrons when they come in, love the memorabilia,” Marty said. “They’ll say ‘I remember coming in this bar in the nineties, I remember coming in this bar in the eighties.’ It’s very nostalgic to see a family that comes in. You have three generations of people that have had their first drink at the Plank.”

When asked about the consistent beach closures in the area, Marty said, “Well, the beach may be closed but the businesses aren’t right now. We’re being resilient.”

WATCH THROWBACK: Beating the heat at Imperial Beach in San Diego County 1985