Things to do
Things to do in Chula Vista
The second largest city in the county — a bayfront under construction, Third Avenue, and the eastern master-planned half.
Things to do
Living Coast Discovery CenterFamily
A nonprofit zoo and aquarium inside the Sweetwater Marsh unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, focused on native species such as sea turtles, rays and raptors. It opened in 1987 as the Chula Vista Nature Interpretive Center.
1000 Gunpowder Point Dr
Third Avenue VillageShopping
The city's historic downtown strip of independent restaurants, bars, shops and OnStage Playhouse, and the setting for the Lemon Festival and Starlight Parade.
Third Ave between E and I streets
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training CenterSports
A 155-acre training complex beside Lower Otay Reservoir that opened as a U.S. Olympic Training Center in 1995 and was bought by the city in 2017. It still hosts Olympic and Paralympic athletes and offers tours.
2800 Olympic Pkwy
Sesame Place San DiegoFamily
The only Sesame Place on the West Coast, a 17-acre theme and water park for young children that is a Certified Autism Center.
2052 Entertainment Cir
North Island Credit Union AmphitheatreArts
An outdoor concert venue with reserved seating for about 10,000 and a lawn, running major touring acts roughly from late spring into fall.
2050 Entertainment Cir
Chula Vista Bayfront and MarinaPark
Two marinas, sportfishing charters, an RV resort and waterfront parks along the south bay, now joined by the Gaylord Pacific resort and new public open space.
Marina Pkwy
Otay Valley Regional ParkTrail
A multi-agency river valley park with about 8.3 miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, plus fishing ponds.
2155 Beyer Blvd, San Diego (ranger station)
OnStage PlayhouseArts
A small community theater on Third Avenue that produces six or more plays a year.
291 Third Ave
Len Moore Skate ParkSports
A city-run street and competition skate park with free drop-in sessions.
1301 Oleander Ave
Otay Ranch Town CenterShopping
An open-air shopping center that opened in 2006 with REI, an AMC theater and more than 100 stores in the eastern part of the city.
2015 Birch Rd
Eat & drink
Aqui es TexcocoBarbacoa restaurant
A Tijuana family business that opened its Chula Vista location in 2008 and is known for lamb barbacoa slow-braised for about eight hours.
Tacos El GordoTaqueria
The Tijuana-style taqueria draws long lines for adobada shaved from the trompo.
La Bella Pizza GardenPizzeria
A family-owned Third Avenue pizza house operating since 1955.
Italianissimo TrattoriaItalian restaurant
An Italian-owned Third Avenue trattoria known for handmade pasta and tiramisu.
Chula Vista BreweryBrewery
A Black- and veteran-owned craft brewery on Third Avenue.
Thr3e Punk AlesBrewery
A local brewery pouring core beers and collaborations, with its own podcast studio.
Mexipino CraftMexican-Filipino restaurant
A menu that fuses the city's two largest immigrant food traditions.
Annual events
Lemon FestivalAugust
A free one-day street festival on Third Avenue celebrating the city's citrus history with lemon-themed contests, two stages and vendors; the 2026 edition was August 15.
Starlight Parade and FestivalEarly December
A holiday parade on Third Avenue; the 62nd annual edition is scheduled for December 5, 2026.