Chula Vista
WHO will love living in Chula Vista?
Someone who doesn’t mind a longer commute if it means getting more square footage. Families are the perfect fit for the pristine terra cotta developments and single-family ranch homes that blanket East Chula Vista, Otay Lakes and Eastlake. Not only is Chula Vista the county’s second-largest city, but it’s also been recognized as its top safest city. Even better, Chula Vista is ranked as the third safest city in all of California! It’s easy to see why – the neighborhoods here are authentic planned communities, built from the ground up with storybook precision, complete with spacious boulevards, sprinkler parks, duck ponds and some of the county’s highest-rated schools.
WHAT will you see?
Most suburbs are pretty reclusive, without enough reasons for anyone other than residents to visit. Not Chula Vista. Surprisingly, it’s here where you’ll have a likely chance of running into future Olympic gold and silver medalists. That’s because they’re training at the Elite Athlete Training Center, one of only three in the nation explicitly built by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Get up close to animals in the nearby national wildlife refuge home at the non-profit zoo and aquarium, the Living Coast Discovery Center. Take a plunge during those hot summer months at SeaWorld San Diego’s Aquatica water park. Further south in San Ysidro, travel-savvy San Diegans check into the Cross Border Xpress – Tijuana Airport Terminal, the world’s first binational airport passenger terminal, where they find cheaper flights.
WHERE will you eat?
Chula Vista isn’t all suburban eats and convenient family-friendly spots, though trust us, there are plenty of that. The always-packed Taco El Gordo plates Tijuana-style beef tongue and spiced pork. There’s also a line at TJ Oyster Bar, where you’ll try smoked tuna tacos and garlic shrimp tostadas. The charming and historic 3rd Avenue in downtown Chula Vista has been welcoming some new, hip tenants including popular vegan Anthem Chula Vista and Groundswell Brewing. Tuesday evenings fill the void for adventurous eaters when the Otay Ranch Towne Center Farmers Market showcases food purveyors dishing up Ethiopian, Persian, Turkish, Jamaican, Filipino and Japanese food.
HOW will you spend your time?
Holding neighborhood BBQs and potlucks while the neighborhood kids play in a safe cul-de-sac. You’ll jog along wide, quiet boulevards and attend your kid’s soccer practice at sprawling parks. If that gets boring, there’s no shortage of cool bowling alleys, trampoline parks, go-cart race tracks, and jumpy house playgrounds to keep suburban life fun.
WHY will you love living here?
Two words: Space and safety. You’ll be drawn to the immaculate suburban scenery, the ample spaces for your family to play and gather, and the seemingly endless choices of places to eat and shop. Above all, you’ll love the sense of community. Here, neighbors look after each other and even set up private Facebook groups to keep everyone up-to-date on everything from suggested plumbers to planning the next block party.
