Chula Vista

Enjoy endless waterfront fun, shoreline parks, nature and wildlife experiences, and exciting outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment in this bustling South Bay city.

Bayside activities include boating, kayaking, fishing, bike paths and more. The Chula Vista Boat Launching Ramp located on Chula Vista Marina has a large parking lot for vehicles with trailers, picnic facilities and restrooms. The marina itself provides boaters with a peaceful, quiet setting, no boat surge and spectacular sunsets.

Steps away, go for a stroll, a workout, or gaze at the gleaming San Diego Bay from either of two parks operated and maintained by the Port of San Diego. Bayfront Park offers picnic tables, a shoreline sidewalk and public art, in particular the sculpture "Konoids" by Kenneth Capps. Across the marina to the north, find equally beautiful Bayside Park. The facility features bike paths and bike parking, play equipment, a fishing pier and sandy beach, perfect for relaxing days. Both parks can be rented for special occasions, such as birthdays and wedding receptions. Check with the Port of San Diego for availability.

Not to be missed is a visit to The Living Coast Discovery Center, located 2 1/2 miles north of the marina. The aquarium and zoo provides each of its guests with an intimate nature experience. Hundreds of animal and plant species native to the San Diego Bay habitat call the center home. You can get up close and personal with green sea turtles, owls, hawks, sharks, jellies and stingrays. Children and teenagers can enjoy seasonal camps and overnight adventure opportunities and many other interactive experiences. The center itself sits on the 316-acre Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge on San Diego Bay. Aside from both indoor and outdoor exhibits of living animals, the nature center also features trails overlooking the estuary.

For an unforgettable live-concert experience, check out Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, a popular tour stop for top U.S. and international artists. The outdoor music venue accommodates approximately 20,000 people and is one of the largest in the state.

Other attractions include the Bayshore Bikeway, featuring pretty bay views, and shopping and dining at two outdoor malls — Otay Ranch Town Center Chula Vista Center — as well as the quaint Third Avenue Village in the city's historic district.

In spring 2018, the Port of San Diego and the city of Chula Vista approved the construction of a massive resort and convention center on San Diego Bay. The 553-acre Chula Vista Bayfront project will break ground in 2019, with plans for a hotel, the convention center, retail space, and 250 acres of wildlife habitat, parks, trails and bike paths. The 1600-bed hotel will be the first structure to appear in the project, with completion set for 2021. The project is expected to be the largest waterfront development on the West Coast. For more information, contact the Port of San Diego online or by calling (619) 686-6200.

Planning a trip to Mexico? Try the quick and easy CBX Cross Border Xpress. CBX is an enclosed pedestrian bridge exclusive for Tijuana International Airport passengers crossing the U.S./Mexico border. Spanning 390 feet, the CBX skywalk is the first ever to connect a facility in the U.S. directly into a foreign airport terminal. Passengers check in on the U.S. side of the U.S. — Mexico border, walk the pedestrian/passenger bridge across the border, clear Mexican immigration and customs, and catch their flights at the Tijuana International Airport. crossborderxpress.com