Chula Vista is a coastal city located just 7 miles from downtown San Diego in southern California. With a population of over 250,000, it’s the second largest city in San Diego County and offers plenty to see and do for visitors. From beautiful parks and nature reserves to fascinating cultural attractions, family-friendly activities, and exciting entertainment options, Chula Vista has something for everyone.
This article will highlight 12 of the top attractions that you don’t want to miss when visiting Chula Vista. We’ll cover family-friendly spots like the Chula Vista Nature Center and Aquatica San Diego as well as cultural destinations like the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center and Veterans Memorial Park. Plus, recommendations for places to shop, dine, catch live music, and more. Whether you’re planning a day trip or weekend getaway, be sure to add some of these attractions in Chula Vista to your California itinerary!
Family Fun Attractions
As a popular family destination, Chula Vista offers several kid-friendly attractions that parents and children alike will enjoy. Here are some of the top family-oriented spots in the city.
Chula Vista Nature Center
The Chula Vista Nature Center is one of the top attractions in Chula Vista for families and wildlife lovers. Spread across 115 acres, this nature preserve and environmental education center has interactive exhibits and wildlife enclosures showcasing the native plants and animals of Southern California. Visitors can observe natural wetlands and coastal sage habitats with birds, reptiles, fish, and mammals on display.
Some of the highlights at the Nature Center include the Shark & Ray Experience where you can touch and feed gentle rays, the Turtle Lagoon with five different turtle species, and the San Diego Marsh Discovery Station exhibit featuring migratory birds that frequent the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge just steps away. They also have an aviary, fish hatchery, and recovery center for injured, orphaned, and sick wildlife on-site. With walking trails, gardens, picnic spots, and regular educational programs, families could easily spend half a day exploring here.
Aquatica San Diego Waterpark
For family-friendly water fun, head to Aquatica San Diego. This beautifully landscaped water park next to SeaWorld San Diego is packed with kid-approved slides, rides, and splash areas. Their marquee attraction is the Taumata Racer high-speed racing and inner-tube slide. Other popular rides include the water coaster HooRoo Run with 360-degree revolving tubes, the Tassie’s Twisters bowl slide, and the walk-through aviary and turtle habitat.
Little kids will love the colorful Kookaburra Cove with mini slides and bubble jets while Mom and Dad can relax on a lounge chair at the Blue Lagoon wave pool beach entry. With private cabanas available to rent and dining options like waterfront eatery Waterside Grill, Aquatica makes for an excellent family day. Buy your tickets online in advance as this popular waterpark does reach capacity quickly in the summer months.
Cultural Attractions
In addition to the amusement parks and kid-centric destinations, Chula Vista has several cultural and historic attractions that make for worthwhile stops during your visit.
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
Sports fans and aspiring Olympians will appreciate this world-class training center located in the Olympic Training Center Chula Vista complex. The 155,000 square foot facility has a state-of-the-art fitness center, sports medicine clinic, recovery lounge, and apartments to host national teams and professional athletes for training camps.
Visitors can take a 1.5 hour guided walking tour to watch athletes like track & field stars, wrestlers, rugby teams, and Paralympic hopefuls practicing. You’ll also learn about the programs and partners here like the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Program for promising young athletes. The training center has hosted athletes prepping for over 20 Olympic games. With advance reservations, it makes for an inspiring and educational visit.
Veterans Memorial Park & Museum
To learn about Chula Vista’s military history and honor local service members, spend some time at Veterans Memorial Park & Museum. This waterfront park has memorial walls and sculptures honoring different branches of the military. The museum features historic artifacts, photographs, memorabilia, and rotating exhibits related to the military and regional veterans.
Around Veterans Day and Memorial Day, they host larger special events and annual celebrations here. On a nice day, visitors can explore the park trails, fishing pier, picnic spots, and playground after visiting the museum. They also have summer concerts and movie nights that community members and visitors alike enjoy.
Shopping Destinations
When you’ve had your fill of attractions and sightseeing, Chula Vista has some excellent shopping destinations where you can window browse and pick up souvenirs.
Las Americas Premium Outlets
For some discount designer retail therapy, head to the Las Americas Premium Outlets located right over the San Diego border. This massive open-air outlet mall has over 125 brand name stores like Adidas, Coach, Guess Factory, Kate Spade, Levi’s Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Puma, Skechers, Under Armour, and more.
Savings range from 25% to 65% off regular retail prices so it’s an excellent spot for grabbing deals on clothing, accessories, shoes, home goods, beauty products, and gifts. They have a food court, nursing lounge, and VIP Shopper Services for tax-free international shopping. The location right off the I-5 freeway makes it a convenient shopping spot for visitors and locals alike.
Otay Ranch Town Center
For more shopping and dining options, check out Otay Ranch Town Center, the largest regional mall in Chula Vista. Department store anchors here include Macy’s, JCPenney, and Target plus over 140 specialty stores and restaurants. Retailers cover categories like apparel, footwear, beauty and cosmetics, electronics and accessories, sporting goods, home furnishings, and more.
In addition to shopping and eating, they also have a modern movie theater, indoor carousel ride for kids, and community event programming. The contemporary open-air center makes for enjoyable casual strolling and browsing. Otay Ranch Town Center offers the widest variety of stores and eateries under one roof.
Places to Wine, Dine & Unwind
Between adventures exploring attractions, Chula Vista’s vibrant dining scene features many excellent eateries for wining and dining. And for some evening relaxation, there are great spots to sip craft brews or cocktails while listening to live music.
Third Avenue Village
For a unique dining experience, spend an evening wandering Third Avenue Village, Chula Vista’s original downtown district going back to 1911. The pedestrian-friendly spot centered on Third Avenue is packed with boutique shops, art galleries, wine-tasting rooms, cafes, and restaurants, many with charming al fresco patio seating.
Popular picks include La Bella Pizza Garden for artisanal pies baked in a wood-fired oven, Aqua Terra for high-end seafood and steak overlooking the Chula Vista Marina, and Rocket Pizza for build-your-own pizzas with creative toppings. Save room for homemade ice cream, chocolate or cheese at Third Avenue shops like Ice Opps, Chocolat or The Cheese Store. The village also hosts free summer concerts, street fairs, farmers markets, and classic car shows.
Callahan’s Pub & Brewery
For crafted beers and fun pub fare, locals recommend Callahan’s Pub & Brewery located in the Telegraph Canyon area. Touting itself as the first brewpub in San Diego County, Callahan’s opened in 1989 and has perfected its menu and beer recipes for over 30 years now. They brew a dozen of their own beers on-site like Dawn Patrol Pale Ale, That 90’s Show IPA and Disaster Piece Brown Ale along with guest taps.
Pair your pint with some loaded nachos, buffalo wings, fish and chips, blackened shrimp tacos or their popular Classic Burger. There’s plenty of outdoor patio seating and an expansive dining room with hardwood floors and surf décor. Callahan’s has trivia nights, karaoke, sports viewing parties and live music featuring local bands on weekends making it a top pick for kicking back.
Outdoor Recreation
In addition to amusement parks and cultural attractions, Chula Vista’s parks, trails, golf courses and marinas offer plenty of ways to enjoy the sunny California weather during your visit.
Chula Vista Marina & Bayfront
For dining and views along the waterfront, make your way to the Chula Vista Marina and Bayfront Park. Spread across over 200 acres, the area has walking and jogging paths with benches gazing across San Diego Bay towards the Coronado Bridge and downtown skyline. The marina has nearly 900 slips to accommodate private boats along with bait and tackle shops, fuel dock, pump-out station and launch ramp for small crafts.
Visit one of the waterfront restaurants like Pacifica Breeze Cafe or Aqua Terra for some seafood while enjoying the scenery or pack a picnic lunch. Make sure to snap some photos at the statuesque public art installations found throughout the bayfront like the Native Interpretive Garden and Friendship Park celebrating Chula Vista’s sister city relationships.
Otay Valley Regional Park
Nature lovers will enjoy stretching their legs on the trails winding through Otay Valley Regional Park. As part of a larger open space preserve, this recreation area spans over 3,300 acres with an extensive multi-use trail system welcoming hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians. Along with the action sports, visitors come to observe wildlife like great blue herons, barn owls, mule deer, bobcats and golden eagles that call this habitat home.
The park has camping facilities available with permit reservations too. Entry and parking is free so it makes for a nice easy outdoor option to counterbalance some of those more crowded attractions elsewhere in Chula Vista. Just be sure to carry plenty of water on warm sunny days here.
Salt Creek Golf Club
To work on your golf game on a championship course with stunning terrain, book a tee time at Salt Creek Golf Club, named among Golf Digest’s Top 100 Public Golf Courses. Designed by Tom Weiskopf, the 18-hole, par-72 course stretches nearly 7,000 yards across rolling hills overlooking the Otay Lakes Reservoir. With its memorable vistas and challenging play for all skill levels, this public course has hosted prominent tournaments like the SCGA Amateur Championship yet remains moderately priced compared to other top-ranked layouts.
Before the round, be sure to practice your short game and putting on their well-kept practice facility. The country club style Fringe Bar & Grill overlooking the 18th hole makes a relaxing spot for replenishing post-game.
Entertainment & Performing Arts
When you’re ready for some nightlife entertainment during your time in Chula Vista, the city offers some excellent live music venues and performing arts theaters to check out as well.
OnStage Playhouse
To take in a play or musical production, locals recommend OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista’s resident live theater company over the past 30 years. This intimate 90-seat black-box theater located down an alleyway downtown provides an up-close experience for enjoying comedies, dramas and musicals with talented casts and quality sets and costumes.
Fan favorites usually pull from recognizable titles like Steel Magnolias, Spamalot and The Marvelous Wonderettes stringing together classic hit songs. With affordable ticket prices, free parking and concessions available including beer and wine, it makes for an enjoyable night out for visitors and community members alike.
Conclusion
From wildlife encounters to waterparks, outlet deals to theater shows, Chula Vista truly offers memorable attractions for travelers of all types. Families will love immersive days spent at the Nature Center, Aquatica and Third Avenue Village while culture vultures will appreciate tours at the Elite Athlete Training Center and Veterans Museum. And outdoorsy visitors have plenty of recreational options with parks, trails, golf and marinas ready for exploration.
With its coastal location and friendly community vibes, Chula Vista earns its nickname “Lemon Capital of the World” by serving up endless options for creating sweet vacation memories. Hopefully this guide gives you some “juicy” ideas on great spots to check out that suit your style during your California escapes. Whether you’re staying just for the day or using it as your home base to also explore San Diego, adding some of these Chula Vista attractions to your itinerary guarantees a fulfilling and refreshing time.