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Bucket List: 15 Best Places to Visit in Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista lies in San Diego County, Southern California. The city was laid out in 1888 and was named for its “beautiful view.” The city dwells between coastal mountains and San Diego Bay, where visitors are welcomed with loads of outdoor activities and beautiful mountain and marine views. Chula Vista’s most crowded months are May through July, when the temperature is relatively warm and comfortable.
Living Coast Discovery Center
The Living Coast Discovery Center is in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It is an environmental education center that focuses on animals and plants native to San Diego Bay and Southern California. Animal exhibits in the Center include the Shark & Ray Experience and Sting Ray Touch Pool which lets visitors get close to sharks, guitarfish, and sting rays; at the same time, the Turtle Lagoon has Eastern Pacific green sea turtles. Other exhibits are an Aviary for Birds of Prey, an Owl Courtyard, and an Eagle Mesa. The Center has 1.5-mile pedestrian and bicycle trails that run through San Diego Bay.
Location: 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Mountain Hawk Park
The Mountain Hawk Park is a 12-acre park that opened in 2006. The charm of Mountain Hawk Park is the panoramic views of the mountain and Otay Lake. The park has several amenities, including a basketball court, children’s playground, picnic facilities, and pedestrian and bicycle trails that wind up the mountain. Mountain Hawk Park is also dog-friendly, with cleaning stations and pet fountains around the park.
Location: 1475 Lake Crest Drive, Chula Vista, California 91910
Chula Vista Bayside Park
The Chula Vista Bayside Park is a waterfront public park with a fishing pier that overlooks the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge and the San Diego skyline. Park amenities include picnic facilities, a children’s playground, pedestrian and bicycle trails, and bicycle parking. Visitors can swim or kayak off the beach and take kayak tours to Sweetwater Marsh.
Location: 999 Bayside Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Chula Vista Marina View Park
Chula Vista Marina View Park is a public park located along San Diego’s South Bay. The Marina has been ranked as the best marina in Southern California. The Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista operate the park. As a public marina, locals and visitors can use the fishing pier. Visitors can admire the view of the San Diego Bay as they stroll the promenade or try the waterfront restaurant called Galley at the Marina. Other than that, the picnic tables under the towering trees create a relaxing atmosphere that visitors can relax.
Location: 550 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Memorial Park
Memorial Park is an urban park home to the Great Depression-era Memorial Bowl. The Bowl was an honor to the country’s fallen heroes and used to be the park’s water feature, but it was removed and has been replaced with a stage for outdoor concerts. The park can accommodate up to 700 people and is often used as a setting for special events like local school graduations and birthday parties.
Location: 373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Otay Valley Regional Park
The Otay Valley Regional Park is operated by the County of San Diego and the cities of San Diego and Chula Vista. The park represents one of the major open space areas within southern San Diego County, and it links South Bay with the lower Otay Lake Reservoir. The park has multiple pedestrians, bicycle and equestrian trails, and recreational activities like birdwatching or jogging. Owners can also take their dogs hiking in the park.
Location: 2369 Beyer Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92173
Rice Canyon Trail
The Rice Canyon Trail is 3.5 miles of hiking, walking, and running trail suitable for all levels. The trail is located in the Rice Canyon Open Space Preserve and is part of the California Riding and Hiking Trail. The local flora and natural scenery greet hikers, walkers, and runners. Owners can bring their dogs to the trail but must keep them on a leash. To keep visitors within the trail, yellow signages are posted.
South Bay Salt Works
Founded in 1840, the South Bay Salt Works was a salt factory now owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The former salt ponds are gradually being turned into wildlife refuges and marshlands as a habitat for the birds. Visitors can take a walk around the salt ponds and watch endangered and threatened migratory birds make the factory their home.
Location: 1470 Bay Boulevard, Chula Vista, California 91911
Sesame Place San Diego
Sesame Place San Diego is a children’s theme park and water park. It is the first of its kind, with only two Sesame Place parks in the entire country. Around the theme park are 18 Sesame Street-themed rides, including climbing walls, a swinging carousel, and a roller-coaster. The waterpark has waterslides, a lazy river, and a giant wave pool. Families can visit the park and walk the classic Sesame Street neighborhood, where children can see characters like the Cookie Monster and Elmo.
Location: 2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Eucalyptus Skateboard Park
Formerly known as the Len Moore Skatepark, the Eucalyptus Skateboard Park is a city-owned park where teenagers and adults can use roller skate, skateboard, or go BMX biking. Park ownership was recently transferred to the city, so local children can enter the park for free. City officials also hold regular skate classes at the park to promote skating safety to the children.
Location: 1301 Oleander Avenue, Chula Vista, California 91911
California Motorsport Adventours
California Motorsport Adventours offers ATV and dirt bike tours around the Baja Peninsula. This also includes exploring the natural terrain of the Baja Peninsula and Guadalupe Valle. These tours can last for three to two days and even a 5-day tour for 6 hours daily. Motorsport Adventours also has specialty tours that include wine tasting and evening spas. All tours provide essential riding safety gear, park entry fees, and vehicle fuel.
San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge
The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge protects endangered, threatened, migrator, and native species in the middle of a highly urbanized coastal environment through habitat management techniques. The Refuge covers 2,620 acres of land and water and consists of the Sweetwater Marsh and South San Diego Bay Units. The Refuge is surrounded by the cities of National City, Chula Vista, San Diego, Imperial Beach, and Coronado.
Visitors can take guided tours in the Sweetwater Marsh and the Sweetwater Bird Walk. The Refuge also has multiple walking trails, such as the Bayside Birding and Walking Trail, which is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly.
Location: 1080 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Bay Bridge Brewing
Bay Bridge Brewing is the first craft beer company in Chula Vista with an industrial-style tasting room. The beer company was founded in 196 by Doug and Jim and has produced well-balanced beers, including Rolling Hills Irish Red, Star of India IPA, and Bill of Rights Red IPA. Bay Bridge Brewing specializes in Classic Ales, and visitors can see the brewery’s tasting room every weekend.
Location: 688 Marsat Ct. Suite B Chula Vista, CA 91911
Village Walk at Eastlake
The Village Walk at Eastlake is a shopping village with a wide selection of specialty shops, dining options, and amenities. Some of these include Petco, Sprouts Farmers Market, Hooked on Crab, TJ Maxx, and Trader Joe’s. The village has paved walkways, spacious outdoor areas for special events, a children’s playground, and water features like a Koi Pond.
Location: 884 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91914
Third Avenue Village Farmers Market
The Third Avenue Village Farmers Market is a California Certified Farmers Market that has been open for two decades. It is operated by the Third Avenue Village Association and San Diego Markets. Residents and visitors can purchase fresh produce, baked loaves of bread, pastured eggs, and flowers from California farmers in the more than 60 tents set up on Third Avenue and Park Way. The market also has specialty products and an international food court. The Third Avenue Village Farmers Market is open every Sunday.
Location: 353 Third Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910
How to get there
Chula Vista is accessible via land, sea, or air. Cars can enter through Interstates 805, 905, 125, and 5. Visitors with private boats can dock at the Chula Vista Marina. The San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) are the nearest international airports to Chula Vista. Several bus routes around Chula Vista via the Metropolitan Transit System.
Our Top Hotel Picks for Chula Vista, CA
Chula Vista CA Travel and Tour Packages
Searching for the best hotels, resorts, and affordable flights in the nearby Cities? Check out our list of cheap Chula Vista CA hotels and resorts via Agoda, Booking, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
Also read:
- Best Hotels In San Diego, California
- How To Plan The Ultimate San Diego Getaway
- Best Things To Do In San Diego, California
