I have been telling individuals for a very long time that they are experiencing San Diego all incorrect.
When you pull right into a seaside lot and see nothing however Arizona and Nevada license plates, congrats, you have gone full vacationer — we locals are chuckling behind your again.
There are pockets of San Diego that not often see outsiders. Becoming in LA’s huge shadow, many do not notice how huge a metropolis it’s, not to mention the county.
Vacationers are inclined to flock to Coronado, La Jolla, and Del Mar, however not often do they ever head south to a area often known as South Bay.
My hometown of Chula Vista has by no means been often known as a hotspot, however it’s come a great distance, particularly as town’s first-ever resort opened doorways final 12 months — a lot to locals’ chagrin.
However now it is able to pop off with much more new sights, vibrant tradition, and constant rankings as one among America’s most secure cities.
San Diego’s New Day Journey
For the primary time in historical past, San Diegans and Chula Vistans can journey between every metropolis by ferry as a substitute of navigating the chaos of each the 5 and 805 freeways.
Like I mentioned, Nevada and Arizona plates…want I say extra?
After an thrilling ribbon-cutting on June 1, the primary jaunt throughout the San Diego Bay departed the Chula Vista Marina into Fifth Avenue Touchdown behind the world-renowned conference middle in downtown San Diego, famously internet hosting Comedian-Con.
However essentially the most thrilling side is vice-versa — vacationers having the ability to hop aboard the ferry to Chula Vista to expertise one among California’s most underrated cities.
It isn’t your common small-town suburb; practically 300,000 inhabitants reside right here (together with yours actually).
Beholding the closest on line casino to downtown, Seven Mile On line casino, aforementioned Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, and a thriving third Avenue strip of classy eating places, breweries, meals vans, and cafes, you are lacking out when you do not try Chula Vista lower than 10 minutes from the bustling Gaslamp.
You possibly can e-book tickets right here for the Flagship Ferry’s historic trip here. Costs are $15 one-way from San Diego.
Be aware: Ferries should not wheelchair accessible for this route.
Ensure you double verify travel alerts and tourist fees earlier than your journey too.
Gaylord Nonetheless Has Rooms To Fill
“Why Chula Vista?” was a typical query when it was introduced shovels would hit the filth to construct the gargantuan Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center now towering over the bayfront.
I want I had a greater reply, however I used to be within the camp supporting it. There’s no such factor as dangerous press, and a lift to the native financial system by no means hurts — particularly if it means my taxes can lastly cease disappearing into potholes that by no means get mounted.
Quick ahead greater than a 12 months, and the Gaylord hasn’t taken off as anticipated. Excessive costs don’t assist, and neither does the situation: in contrast to San Diego’s northern seaside cities, there’s no actual seaside on the Gaylord.
And even when there have been, realizing South Bay luck, it’d most likely include the identical micro organism warnings plaguing elements of Coronado currently.
It may be busy, however not as busy correctly, even as soon as providing an affordable Resort Move to entice guests and locals for a staycation to combat off the lowly evaluations.
I visited as soon as — I believed it was a masterpiece. However I see why it is off-radar for the standard San Diego vacationers, being far faraway from another motion, although the brand new ferry offers another excuse to provide it a shot, even when simply to attempt one among its many eating places.
A Buzzing Marina With Aquatic Thrills
Close to the Gaylord, essentially the most up-and-coming spot in Chula Vista, Bayside Park is now dwelling to a towering resort and a newly reopened Kayak Cafe, tag-teaming with Chula Vista Watersports.
Previously, Chula Vista was largely off-limits for thrill-seekers except you constitution a ship, however now you’ll be able to hire kayaks, take pleasure in an eco-tour, or perhaps a paddleboard lesson (see ya quickly?).
Each Kayak Cafe and CV Watersports maintain good Google evaluations up to now, as extra guests expertise the delights of South Bay with so many gems hidden in plain sight, together with their web site on J Avenue’s Marina Pier beginning June twentieth.
Insider tip: order the nachos and thank me later.
As for one more thrilling glow-up, the long-vacant Vogue Theater has lastly been bought and set to be revamped as an leisure venue, certainly to place downtown Chula on the map once more, and that comes after the World Cup watch social gathering anticipated to attract 25,000 individuals.
Chula Vista Could not Really feel Safer
I am not simply saying this as a result of I reside a stone’s throw from the police station; I am saying it as a result of it is true.
In any respect hours, Chula Vista feels remarkably protected from the far corners of East Lake with among the prettiest mountain views within the county to bar-hopping Third Ave after a taco run.
The numbers again it up too.
Our Safety Index displays San Diego, which is seeing a rating of 84/100:
Chula Vista was ranked the twenty third most secure metropolis fin the complete nation for 2026 in an insightful WalletHub study and it is lengthy been the declare to fame that it is the ‘second most secure metropolis’ statistically in California.
Leave a Reply