Life in San Diego: Chula Vista
Oct 16, 2020 - Candela Delucchi
Meaning “beautiful view” in Spanish, Chula Vista is known for its miles of pristine coastline, luscious rolling hills, and vibrant San Diego sunsets that will leave you California dreaming. The second-largest city in San Diego County, culturally-rich Chula Vista embodies the spirit and diversity of the 271,000 locals who call it home.
Let us guide you through an extraordinary day in Chula Vista from a true local’s perspective.
Indulge in local cuisine
Start your adventure off with some fresh coffee from Grindhouse, an all day cafe located in Chula Vista’s historic Third Avenue Village. Pair your delicious brew with their veggie omelette or bacon cheddar breakfast sandwich for an unbeatable breakfast. If you’re looking for something more substantial, head down the street to La Bella Pizza Garden for a hearty Italian meal, crafted locally since 1955.
After your main courses, set out for the Chula Vista Brewery for their beer of the week, or stop by Shake and Muddle for one of their beautifully infused cocktails. Then, complete your culinary escapade by visiting Tocumbo Ice Cream shop for their decadent Canasita Michoacana dessert, made with 100% natural ice cream.
Shop ’til you drop with some retail therapy
Help your food to go down by walking through Otay Ranch Town Center Mall, an open air, family-friendly, lifestyle destination and shopping experience. Catch a flick at the movie theatre, or cruise into the mall’s weekly farmers market featuring products and organic produce from local artisans and farms.
From here, it’s easy enough to meet some friends for delectable appetizers, and root for your favorite sports team at NOVO Brewery, Karina’s Mexican Seafood, or Savoie Italian Eatery.
Or, take a “me” day and pamper yourself at Serenity Nails and Spa, or shop through clothing boutiques framed by the mall’s beautiful contemporary style architecture.
Say yes to the great outdoors
If you’re looking to bask in the glorious southern California sun, Chula Vista offers countless outdoor activities. Head to Chula Vista Marina View Park to admire the public art works and hop into a kayak to cruise the bay.
Animal lovers can visit the Living Coast Discovery Center to learn more about the region’s conservation efforts, as well as walk through Turtle Lagoon, Raptor Row, and the shark and stingray experiences. Now, they offer virtual wildlife encounters from the comfort of your own home.
If you’ve seen all the sea creatures there are to see, you could tour the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, a 155-acre state-of-the-art training facility for Olympic and Paralympic athletes. See how Chula Vista earned its name for yourself by catching the sunset on one of Otay Regional Park’s trails, home to one the most diverse trail systems in the nation!
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My favorite part about San Diego is that we are trying to be really good at everything.
Restaurants, coffee shops, beer, kombucha, etc. My favorite coffee roaster at the moment is Ilustre Specialty Coffees. They are the best at what they do.