21 Fun things to do in Chula Vista, California
Are you in search of the best and most fun things to do on your visit to Chula Vista, California? Then you are on the right page.
Chula Vista, which means “beautiful sunset,” is a city full of breathtaking sights and activities. The city, which is in California, has a population of a quarter of a million people and is one of the safest locations to live in the country according to statistics. There are miles of trails and coastline ready to be discovered, and the weather is fantastic all year long. Let’s look at the top things to do in Chula Vista
Everyone can find something to enjoy in Chula Vista whether you’re here for an exciting day trip, a beautiful weekend vacation, or going for an excursion with family and friends. There are actually so many things to do in Chula Vista that you might wish to extend your trip by one or two days!
Choosing which sights to visit or attractions to visit in Chula Vista might be difficult. Well, we’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Chula Vista to help you plan your next trip. Here are the top Chula Vista attractions to visit for a fun exploration:
Fun things to do in Chula Vista, California
1. Living Coast Discovery Center
The Living Coast Discovery Center is one of the major attractions places to visit in Chula Vista, California Living Coast Discovery Center is an environmental education facility with a variety of exhibits showcasing animals, birds, and marine animals. It is situated in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The Center’s permanent exhibits highlight local fauna and flora that can be found in San Diego Bay and Southern California.
The Center has several large exhibit areas, including Turtle Lagoon, which focuses on Eastern Pacific green sea turtles, and the Shark & Ray Experience & Sting Ray Touch pool, where visitors can see a variety of shark, guitarfish, and ray species. The permanent exhibits at the Center are centered on native animals and plants that are found in San Diego Bay and Southern California.
The Discovery Center Galleria, the Burrowing Owl Courtyard, the Shorebird Aviary, Raptor Row, Eagle Mesa, a native plant garden, and a composting demonstration garden are among the many displays. The Center also has 1.5 miles of hiking and mountain biking paths that lead to the San Diego Bay shoreline.
Address: 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910
2. Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center Is one of the major attractions places to visit in Chula Vista. The Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center is a 155 acres large high-performance training center for Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
The Center was the first of its kind and was opened in 1995. Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center offers a wide range of sports venues and support facilities for more than a dozen summer Olympic and Paralympic sports, as well as cross-training opportunities for sports like rowing, soccer, hockey, tennis, cycling, canoeing, and kayaking, as well as several winter sports.
The Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (CVTC) is accessible to the general public all year long for interactive activities, guided tours, and private events and functions. It also has an Elite Team Shop inside the Visitor Center that offers a large variety of one-of-a-kind apparel and memorabilia from Team USA and the various sports that are played in Chula Vista.
Address: 2800 Olympic Pkwy, Chula Vista, CA 91915
3. Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
Visit Mattress Firm Amphitheatre if you want to go have an entertaining time on your trip to Chula Vista. The Mattress Firm Amphitheatre is a 20,500-seat amphitheater and one of the bigger concert venues in the San Diego region is situated on 72 acres of former farmland and open fields.
The Mattress Firm Amphitheatre was built in 1998 and is now owned and run by Live Nation. It has previously gone by the names Coors Amphitheatre, Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, and Sleep Train Amphitheatre. The Mattress Firm Amphitheatre has 9,468 chair back seats and 10,024 lawn seats. Over the years, it has played host to a variety of concerts and performances, including those by the Counting Crows, Deep Purple, and the Spice Girls.
Address: 2050 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911
4. Rice Canyon Track
Rice Canyon Track is one interesting attraction you shouldn’t miss out on during your visit to Chula Vista. Rice Canyon Track is a 3.5-mile out-and-back trail for trail running, walking, and hiking that has light foot traffic.
The Rice Canyon Trail, a section of the California Riding and Hiking Trail (CR&HT), is situated in Chula Vista’s Rice Canyon Open Space Preserve and is surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes and flowering flora. There are a few picnic tables close to the parking area, which makes for a great place to have lunch, and the trailhead is situated close to the western end of the parking lot. The trail is well marked with yellow markers, is simple to follow, and is appropriate for hikers of all skill levels.
Address: Chula Vista, CA 91910
5. Village Walk at Eastlake
The Village Walk at Eastlake is one of the hidden gem attractions you should check out on your visit the Chula Vista. Village Walk at Eastlake is a charming shopping village with a great selection of specialty retailers, brand stores, a variety of dining establishments, coffee shops, and a full range of amenities and services that is situated in the Eastlake neighborhood of Chula Vista.
The facility contains extensive places for year-round special events and celebrations, as well as pleasant outdoor areas with winding strolling paths, water features, a pond with koi and turtles, a children’s sandbox, and a majestic clock tower.
A visit to Village Walk at Eastlake with your family is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Chula Vista, California.
Address: 884 Eastlake Pkwy #1627, Chula Vista, CA 91914
6. Memorial Bowl & Park
The Memorial Bowl, which was constructed during the Great Depression, is located in Chula Vista’s Memorial Bowl & Park, a stunning urban park. The Bowl initially featured a big water feature, but it has since been replaced by a stage where outdoor plays and concerts are staged. Memorial Park offers a beautiful venue for special events like private weddings with seating for up to 700 guests and graduations from nearby schools.
Address: 373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910
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7. Aquatica San Diego
Aquatica San Diego is a section of SeaWorld’s WaterparkTM. This beautifully designed waterpark has a lot of awesome amenities and facilities such as fast sea rides and thrills, engaging animal encounters up close, and the opulent amenities of a chic beachfront resort.
The South Pacific-themed waterpark has one of Southern California’s largest wave pools, a sizable sandy beach for sunbathing, and dozens of water-based slides and rides, like the HooRoo Run®, which has two enclosed slides and two open-air slides with a combined 80-foot drop. The aquarium offers tours, up-close encounters with dolphins and penguins, marine life presentations, and a souvenir shop with a selection of items with a nautical theme.
Address: 2052 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911
8. North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
The North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista is one of the largest outdoor performance venues in the state which holds over 20,000 people. The venue has a “rain or shine” policy, and because of its affiliation with Live Nation, it often hosts a wide variety of top performers from the United States and throughout the globe. Over the course of its more than 20-year history, the facility has continued to support the Chula Vista community while delighting its visitors. Since many events sell out well in advance of the shows’ dates, it is best to get tickets in advance to guarantee availability.
Address: 2050 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911, United States
9. Zorbas Greek Restaurant & Buffet
The lively family-run Zorbas Greek Restaurant & Buffet offers traditional Greek cuisine buffet-style as well as sporadic live entertainment including belly dancers.
Since it was founded more than 25 years ago by Pashalis Koutzimbis, Zorbas Greek Restaurant & Buffet has been serving traditional Greek cuisine to the neighborhood. Customers keep coming back to enjoy the restaurant’s garlicky tzatziki, meaty gyros and souvlaki, lamb kleftiko, dolmades, and fresh seafood like calamari and octopus.
The restaurant offers live entertainment in the form of belly dancing and traditional Greek dancing, and it emanates the atmosphere of the lovely Greek islands, complete with a wonderful terrace and breathtaking views. Every day of the week, Zorbas Greek Restaurant & Buffet is open for lunch and dinner.
Address: 100 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910
10. Chula Vista Marina View Park
Chula Vista Marina View Park is one wonderful attraction you shouldn’t miss out on during your visit to this city. Chula Vista Marina View Park is a public space with lush lawns and tall trees, lots of picnic tables, unusual public art, vibrant play structures, and charming arbors for romantic moments.
The park has numerous contemporary facilities, and there is also a small wading pool with fountains that keep the water clean. The Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista worked together to create the Chula Vista Marina View Park, which may be used for special events and celebrations while providing stunning views of the city and bay.
Address: 900 Marina Pkwy, Chula Vista, CA 91910
11. Chula Vista Heritage Museum
The Chula Vista Heritage Museum is dedicated to displaying and honoring the history and community of Chula Vista, and as such, it meticulously and painstakingly crafts changing exhibits that are housed in the city’s public library. One of their exhibits, “RUTH: Remember Us the Holocaust,” honors South Bay immigrants who survived the Holocaust. Another exhibit highlights the heritage of the Chula Vista fire department.
The museum also provides online virtual programming that focuses on various facets of the town, from notable personal tales to local wildlife and animal life. The public is welcome to visit the museum and its displays whenever the library is open, and admission is free.
Address: 365 F Street, Chula Vista, California 91910
12. South Bay Salt
The South Bay Salt Works is a salt manufacturing facility that has been operating since 1871 in the South Bay area of southern San Diego. The South Bay Salt Works, originally known as the La Punta Salt Works operations, was the only source of salt for Southern California until it was acquired and given the new name Western Salt Company in 1902.
Western Salt Company went on to become the second-largest producer of salt in California during the 20th century. Since it was founded, the South Bay Salt Works has gathered more than a million tons of salt by evaporating water from the Pacific Ocean. The salt ponds serve as a resting place for migratory birds that are endangered or otherwise threatened, and in 2011 two of the salt ponds at the plant were converted back into marshlands so that the birds would have a place to live.
Address: 1470 Bay Blvd, Chula Vista, CA 91911, United States
13. Community Congregational Church
The Community Congregational Church is a self-managed religious organization and a member of the United Church of Christ. It was established in 1953 by eight friends who wanted a place for straightforward, non-liturgical worship.
The Church has services every Sunday morning in the Sanctuary or Chapel with the goal of fostering Christian fellowship and uniting people in the name of Christ. The Lead Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Johann J. Bosman, and Pastor, The Rev. Jennifer Testa Hrynyk, are in charge of the church. Each service is followed by a welcome reception for visitors and regular attendees. The church also provides youth fellowships, concerts, choir practice, adult education seminars, and special programs and activities.
Address: 276 F St, Chula Vista, CA 91910
14. California Motorsport Adventours
You are surely going to enjoy the exhilarating ATV and dirt bike trips of the Baja Peninsula are offered by California Motorsport Adventours.
The company provides a range of tours, including those that let customers experience the Baja Peninsula’s breathtaking natural scenery and topography as well as other thrilling activities like wine tasting at a renowned winery in the Guadalupe Valle and dining on fresh lobster at an Oceanside restaurant. All excursions come with knowledgeable tour guides, necessary riding safety equipment such helmets, goggles, and gloves, admission fees to OHV off-road parks (if necessary), drinking water, and fuel for the vehicle.
Address: Chula Vista, CA
15. Italianissimo Trattoria
The lovely restaurant Italianissimo Trattoria is located on Third Avenue and offers a wide selection of both domestic and foreign wines in addition to a menu of traditional Italian cuisine. The family-friendly restaurant, which is open for lunch and dinner, features a menu bursting with tantalizing Italian specialties, including handmade pasta smothered in hearty sauces, wood-fired pizza with a variety of toppings, fresh seafood dishes, savory desserts, as well as sweet and meaty entrées.
Calamari in spicy tomato sauce, mushroom ravioli, shrimp farfalle with asparagus and cherry tomato sauce, and traditional Margherita pizza are some of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Excellent choices of international and domestic wines, as well as other delectable spirits and beverages, are served with the food.
Address: 323 Third Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910
16. Chula Vista Bayside Park
Chula Vista Bayside Park is a small waterfront public park on the east side of San Diego Bay featuring paved walking trails, picnic tables, and a fishing pier. The park has a small sandy beach as well as a number of trails for bicycling, walking, running, and skating, bike parking, fitness stations, and play equipment for kids of all ages.
Along with kayaking and guided kayak tours in the nearby Sweetwater Marsh, visitors can go swimming and stand-up paddleboarding off the beach. The park has numerous contemporary facilities, and in addition to hosting special events and gatherings, it also offers breathtaking views of the city and the water.
Address: 2050 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911
17. Xtreme Adventures
Xtreme Adventures is a family-run business that provides thrilling driving excursions in exotic and high-performance vehicles. Visitors can experience driving high-performance cars like Lamborghini Huracans, Porsche 991 GT3s, and Ferrari California Twin Turbos on the autocross course at the exotic automobile theme park.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable exotic car driving experience, qualified and amiable instructors ride along and offer supportive tips and guidance. All necessary safety gear is given, and experiences are available for drivers of every skill level.
Address: 2050 Entertainment Cir, Chula Vista, CA 91911
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18. Aunt Emma’s Pancakes
Aunt Emma’s Pancakes is a family-run business that was founded in 1959 and has been serving pancakes with pride ever since. The restaurant serves around 24 distinct kinds of pancakes, from sweet to savory, along with other sweet dishes like waffles and crepes. Making pancakes from scratch with the best local ingredients and Aunt Emma’s secret recipe ensures a delectable experience with each bite. The restaurant’s signature pancakes include banana pancakes made with fresh bananas and dusted with powdered sugar, pumpkin pancakes with pumpkin puree, whipped cream, and powdered sugar, and buckwheat pancakes with whipped butter and gluten-free syrup. Aunt Emma’s Pancakes is open for breakfast and lunch every day of the week.
Address: 700 E Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910
19. Tacos El Gordo de Tijuana
Tacos El Gordo de Tijuana is an exquisite restaurant you shouldn’t miss out on your visit to Chula Vista, California.
Tacos El Gordo de Tijuana offers classic Mexican meals and beverages in a welcoming atmosphere. Tacos El Gordo de Tijuana, which has been around for more than 40 years and has multiple locations across the nation, takes great pleasure in serving up wonderful, authentic food and offering top-notch service.
The original Tijuana menu offers dishes produced with the finest and freshest ingredients, premium meats, freshly made corn tortillas, and homemade salsas and guacamole. Favorites include a variety of fountain drinks along with tacos, mulas, tostadas, quesadillas, and suaderos. Tacos El Gordo de Tijuana is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week.
Address: 689 H St, Chula Vista, CA 91910
20. Border Field State Park
Border Field State Park in San Diego County has a half-acre binational park known as Friendship Park. Despite its name, the park, which is located near San Diego and Tijuana, includes the border fence that separates the United States from Mexico. It is closely watched by U.S. Border Patrol agents every day of the year.
The U.S. Border Patrol monitors the entrance, but there are no restrictions on access from the Mexico side. In the city boundaries of Imperial Beach in San Diego County, Border Field State Park is situated close to the Mexican community of Playas de Tijuana and offers pristine beaches and coastal environments.
Address: Border Field State Park, 1500 Monument Rd, San Diego, CA 92154
21. Family House of Pancakes
Family House of Pancakes is a relaxing, family-friendly eatery that offers breakfast, lunch, and supper. The eatery, which opened in 1964, is open all year round and serves a variety of traditional dishes, including pancakes and egg plates for breakfast, fresh salads for lunch, and prime steaks and burgers for dinner. It also offers senior, holiday, and children’s menus. There are two Family House of Pancakes restaurants, one each in National City and Chula Vista.
Address: 562 Broadway | Chula Vista, CA
Final Thought
With those travel tips in mind, you should start planning your trip to Chula Vista, California as soon as possible.
You’ll find yourself occupied for hours and hours every day no matter what activities you choose from this list because Chula Vista, California is filled with opportunities and experiences. You might even consider extending your trip by one or two days!
Ensure you use this list as a guide when planning your list of things to do when you visit Chula Vista, California.
