Chula Vista is a large city in San Diego County in Southern California. It was a farming and dairy city in the early 20th century. By the early 21st century the city had grown tremendously with the addition of several prominent suburbs and business districts.
Understand
[edit]Get in
[edit]
Map of Chula Vista
Chula Vista is accessible by car through Interstate 5, Interstate 805, Highway 125, and Highway 905. The nearest major airports are San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Tijuana International Airport (TIJ).
The San Diego Trolley Blue Line serves Southern San Diego County, running between Downtown San Diego down to the US-Mexico Border. Chula Vista has three trolley stations: Bayfront/E Street, H Street, and Palomar Street.
Private boats can dock at the local Chula Vista Marina.
Get around
[edit]Metropolitan Transit System runs several bus routes around Chula Vista, most of them connecting to at least one of the Chula Vista trolley stations.
See
[edit]- 1 Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive (parking lot is at the west end of E Street, across I-5 from the E Street Transit Center/Trolley station; once in the parking lot, wait for shuttle to take you through the marsh to the center), ☏ +1 619-409-5900. Daily 10AM-5PM. Situated in the midst of the marshes of the South Bay and something of a hidden gem is this fun nature center with lots of interactive exhibits on animals native to the San Diego Bay. Highlights include an aquarium with sharks and sea turtles, a touchpool with rays, an aviary where you can view shorebirds, and some birds of prey. Short trails lead out from the nature center through the marsh to the shores of the bay, where you can view some of the local wildlife. $14 adults, $9 seniors/students/youth, military 50% off, free for children 3 and under.
- 2 Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, 2800 Olympic Parkway, ☏ +1 619-656-1500. M-F 9AM-5PM (Sa hours vary by season). Training center for Olympic athletes. Tours available. Tours $10-45/ person ($45 tour includes buffet lunch).
- 3 North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. An amphitheater that is even larger than the Hollywood Bowl.
Do
[edit]While a majority of activities can be found in the city of San Diego, there are still several things for visitors to do.
- Since Chula Vista is surrounded by Silver Strand, it has only a harbor and no beaches. However many boaters and recreational fishers find this to be an interesting area to boat and fish. There is a boat launching ramp located at the J Street Marina Park, off the J Street I-5 offramp. The ramp has a large parking lot for vehicles with trailers, picnic facilities and restrooms. Care should be taken navigating in the adjacent areas of San Diego Bay as there are extremely shallow shoal areas. Refer to a current navigational chart prior to leaving the ramp area. Nearby is South Bay Anchorage, which is free to use, but a permit is required (permits can be obtained from the Shelter Island Harbor Police Office in Point Loma). In the vicinity are several parks and bike trails.
- In the east is Coors Amphitheater and Knott's Soak City, both in the Otay Valley. The redevelopment of the area occurred in 1997-8 and his since been a popular place for locals and visitors.
- 1 Sesame Place San Diego (formerly Knott's Soak City), 2052 Entertainment Circle, ☏ +1 619 222-4732. Water Park
- 2 Sky Zone San Diego.
- 3 American Legion Post 434, 47 5th Ave, ☏ +1 619-422-9309. A veterans service organization with a cantina.
- 4 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2111, 299 I St, ☏ +1 619-422-1262. A veterans service organization with a cantina.
- 5 Fleet Reserve Association Branch 61, 299 I St, ☏ +1 619-422-1262. A veterans service organization with a cantina.
- 6 San Diego Country Club, 88 L Street. Founded in 1897, a private golf club, that has hosted the U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Senior Women's Open.
- 7 Lower Otay Reservoir (Otay Lake), 1500 Wueste Road. W Sa Su sunrise to sunset. Owned by the City of San Diego. Open for fishing and general boating.
- 8 Rohr Park, 4548 Sweetwater Road. Surrounded by the unincorporated community of Bonita. Home to Chula Vista Live Steamers, offering train rides on the second Saturday and Sunday of every month.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Otay Ranch Town Center, 2015 Birch Road.
- 2 Westfield Shoppingtown Plaza Bonita, 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, National City.
- 3 Chula Vista Center, 555 Broadway.
- 4 Terra Nova Plaza, 394 E H Street.
- 5 Eastlake Village Center, 2244 Otay Lakes Road.
- 6 Downtown (Third Avenue). Third Avenue is at the heart of Downtown Chula Vista. Encompassing over 30 blocks, Downtown Chula Vista is a culturally rich neighborhood.
- 7 Seafood City Supermarket, 285 E Orange Avenue, ☏ +1 619-621-2050. 8AM-9PM. Supermarket specializing in Filipino and Pan-Asian groceries. Jollibee, Red Ribbon, and other bakeries and food vendors located in the food court area. Occasional "Late Nigh Madness" events occur at this location.
- 8 Costco, 1130 Broadway, ☏ +1 619-205 1501. M-F 10AM-8:30PM; Sa 9:30AM-7PM; Su 10AM-6PM. This location has a Foreign Currency Exchanger.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Aqui Es Texcoco, 520 Broadway 5 & 6, ☏ +1 619-427 4045. F-Su 8AM-9PM; M-Th 9AM-9PM. Mexican restaurant featured on National Geographic, Travel Channel, and NPR.
- 2 Tacos El Gordo, 556 Broadway, ☏ +1 619-271-7222. Family-owned counter-serve restaurant with Tijuana-style food.
- 3 Joe & Ernie's Pizza, 2295 Otay Lakes Rd, ☏ +1 619-240-7980. Affordable local pizza of great quality. Their best offer is the combo meal, which includes two slices of pizza and a fountain drink. For students K-12, the combo is $6, and for adults, $8. They are also known for a wide selection of flavors. They offer takeout, dine-in, and local delivery.
- 4 Jochi Resto Grill, 289 E Orange Ave, ☏ +1 619-426-7804. 8:30AM-7:30PM. Filipino point-point joint.
- 5 Otay Mandarin Chinese Restaurant, 945-A Otay Lakes Rd (across the street, and east of Southwestern College main campus), ☏ +1 619-656-8080. Tu - Su 11AM-8:45PM. Family-owned Chinese restaurant, locally acclaimed for their salt & pepper chicken wings.
- 6 Lolita's Mexican Food (Lolita's), 413 Telegraph Canyon Rd, ☏ +1 619-585-0232. The original location of the Lolita's Mexican Food chain, a family-owned Mexican taco shop chain, one of four in Chula Vista (Bonita location is within the Chula Vista city limits), and five in San Diego County. One of the claimants of the creation of the California burrito.
- 7 El Patio, 410 Broadway, ☏ +1 619-422-9745. Mexican cuisine restaurant, open since 1954.
- 8 La Bella Pizza Garden, 373 3rd Ave. Family-owned pizza restaurant, open since 1955.
- 9 Mexipino Craft Restaurant, 1660 Broadway, Ste 14, ☏ +1 619 422 2044. Daily 8:30AM-3PM. Mexican - Filipino fusion restaurant.
- 10 MJ's Fusion Deli (MJ's Yogurt Time), 1550 H Street, #J (across the streets from Southwestern College and Bonita Vista High School), ☏ +1 619-600-3560. M W 9AM-3PM, Tu Th-Su 9AM-8PM. Filipino fusion cuisine and yogurt shop.
- 11 Homestyle Hawaiian (Mo's Island Grinds), 1558 E H Street (across the streets from Southwestern College and Bonita Vista High School), ☏ +1 619-271-7653. M - Sa 11AM-8PM. Second location of a local Hawaiian restaurant chain.
- 12 Aunt Emma's Pancakes, 700 E Street, ☏ +1 619-427-2722. 7AM-2PM.
- 13 Family House of Pancakes, 562 Broadway, ☏ +1 619-425-5133. 7AM-2PM. Opened in 1964.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Dock's Cocktail Lounge (formerly Dock's Dutch Lunch), 317 Third Avenue, ☏ +1 619-422-1566. 10AM-2AM. Established in 1933.
- 2 Silver Dollar (formerly Owl Buffet), ☏ +1 619-934-0555. Su 10AM-2AM, Tu-Sa 2PM-2AM, M closed. Established in 1934.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Best Western Chula Vista/Otay Valley Hotel, 4450 Main St, ☏ +1 619-422-2600.
- 2 Motel 6 San Diego - Chula Vista, 745 E St, ☏ +1 619-422-4200, fax: +1 619 585-8944.
- 3 Hercor Hotel. Relatively inexpensive "urban boutique"-style hotel, just a block from the light rail station
- 4 The Rambler Motel.
- 5 San Diego Metro KOA, 111 North 2nd Avenue, toll-free: +1-800-562-9877. Campground with numerous tent and RV sites available with 50 Max Amp full service hookups. Amenities include wi-fi, a pool/hot tub open year round, kitchen facilities, dog park, and a game room.
- 6 Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, 1000 H St, ☏ +1 619-310-9800.
Cope
[edit]Coin laundries
[edit]- 1 Sunny Coin Laundry, 600 F St.
Libraries
[edit]- 2 Chula Vista Public Library, Civic Center Branch, 365 F St, ☏ +1 619-691-5069.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Chula Vista |
| San Diego ← National City ← | N  S
|
→ San Ysidro → Tijuana |