Translating in Spanish as “Beautiful View”, Chula Vista is a bustling Southern California city between San Diego and Tijuana. Originally inhabited by the Kumeyaay people, the city was founded in the early 19th century as part of the newly declared Mexican Empire before becoming part of the United States following the Mexican-American War.
Things to do in Chula Vista
Travelling with kids? Spend a day cooling off at Sesame Place, a family-friendly water park that is the world’s first certified autism theme park. Its attractions are themed around “Sesame Street” characters and include the Cookie Climb, Bert’s Topsy Turvy Tunnels and Big Bird’s Rambling River. Live shows and parades are held throughout the day, as are storytime sessions and character photo ops.
You can learn about the native marine and birdlife of Southern California at the Living Coast Discovery Center, an environmental education hub that forms part of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Get up close to Eastern Pacific green sea turtles, leopard sharks and seahorses, as well as burrowing owls, snowy egrets and red-tailed hawks. Walking trails lead from the centre to San Diego Bay.
The eastern edge of Chula Vista connects to the Otay Open Space Preserve, which encompasses rugged hills and valleys that provide habitat for several rare plant species. Hiking, biking and horse riding trails wind along the shores of Lower Otay Lake while the adjacent Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center is frequented by Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Getting around Chula Vista
Chula Vista is around 20 minutes’ drive from the centre of San Diego and San Diego International Airport, which has flights to destinations across North America. The UC San Diego Blue Line travels along the western edge of the city and buses connect to attractions throughout Chula Vista.