Move Over San Diego! Nearby City Is California’s New Summer Vacation Hotspot
Arizona plates have already taken over San Diego highways, which suggests just one factor – it is the unofficial begin to summer season.
However this summer season might be completely different than the remaining as fairly probably essentially the most extremely anticipated resort in America is ready for a smooth opening Might fifteenth, adopted by the official blue-ribbon chopping the next days.
A whopping $1.3 billion was spent to convey not solely the biggest resort on the West Coast, however the first-ever resort to Chula Vista, a lesser-known metropolis sandwiched between San Diego and the Mexico border, and one of many final remaining swaths of untouched land in Southern California for a secluded, paradisal escape.
As many vacationers search out ritzy stays in Coronado and Del Mar and family-friendly enjoyable in San Diego’s Mission Seaside, it is truly Chula Vista that is destined to be California’s new summer season trip hotspot with the grand opening of Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center.
Chula Vista? The place?
Most frequently, San Diego vacationers keep central in and round Balboa Park or enterprise west to close by seashores or north to small seashore cities or Legoland in Carlsbad, however few vacationers even think about Chula Vista until they’re passing by to have a wild night time in Tijuana simply throughout the border.
South Bay, because it’s identified, hasn’t been a specific draw to outsiders until they’ve seen a viral taco stand on TikTok, skilled a traditional drive-in theater, or wished to see the well-known “wall”.
Chula Vista boasts an attractive bay with lush inexperienced parks and a vibrant marina, however no correct seashores. Imperial Seaside, the southernmost seashore within the U.S., is extra identified for its hazardous circumstances resulting from sewage run-off from Mexico somewhat than how its postcard boardwalk and the one different South Bay seashore, Silver Strand, is a state-run seashore with entry charges, and even so, there’s nothing the state can do to mood micro organism from spreading north.
As such, the South Bay did not have a lot of a promoting level till this month. In reality, essentially the most notable promoting level earlier than the Gaylord’s soon-to-be grand opening is Seven Mile On line casino, a few blocks away, which will get its identify from the 7-mile drive to downtown San Diego.
So, the Gaylord is definitely one of the crucial handy resorts to San Diego vacationers regardless of being in a special metropolis.
“That is Chula Vista’s decade. We could have billions of {dollars} invested within the Chula Vista Bayfront over the following a number of years […] and we’ll be doing a considerable improve on eating, designing, and facilities that the town has by no means had earlier than.
– Chula Vista Mayor, John McCann
The Gaylord Pacific: A Vacation spot Unto Itself
Based on San Diego Journal, the Gaylord Pacific is ready to debut 12 restaurants. Sadly, it is not all-inclusive, however friends could have an array of choices from the dry-aged specialists at Previous Hickory Steakhouse with sweeping bay views, sushi to-go at Taiyo so that you snack poolside or gasoline up for a sunny day spent floating the lazy river, and even Growlers Sports activities Bar & Taproom, boasting a 75-foot television display to look at the massive sport in peace away from noisy kiddos.
Gaylord has one thing for everybody, however it’s undoubtedly family-friendly, with its 4+ acre water park that includes slides, a wave pool, and a large water playground.
Not that you’d ever wish to depart the resort grounds, simply final month, Sweetwater Park reopened to the general public with miles of pedestrian walkways and bikeways lining the scenic bayside — the proper place to absorb the sundown if you happen to do not care to make the 20 minute drive to San Diego’s Sundown Cliffs.
The Gaylord provides a variety of lodging, from customary rooms with mountain, marina, or Pacific views to 89 spacious suites, together with the luxurious Presidential Suite with an ocean-view balcony well worth the sky-high value alone.
Grand opening weekend charges are as little as $350 per night time, whereas mid-summer charges are within the $500s.
What Else To Do In Chula Vista
As a resident of Chula Vista, I’ve to say I like residing right here! Out of all of the locations I’ve lived in San Diego County, this metropolis is my favourite.
Quite than observe the vacationers who flood the Gaslamp Quarter, try Chula Vista’s Third Avenue District, a pint-sized drag of breweries, dive bars, cafes, meals vans, taco outlets, and my favourite restaurant within the metropolis, Lime in the Coconut.
Consuming in Chula Vista is a loophole to your tastebuds to take pleasure in genuine flavors of Baja without having a passport. There are quite a few hole-in-the-wall taco stands serving Tijuana-style tacos and mulas like well-known Tacos El Gordo, or you may examine Jalisco flavors to Baja’s with newly-opened El Pastor Del Rica, owned by champion boxer Canelo Alvarez.
However Chula Vista is not only a place to eat; it is a extremely underrated place to discover the outside. The additional East you go, the extra you will wish to come again to the coast to chill off in the course of the summer season months.
One in all my favourite native secrets and techniques is Mountain Hawk Park within the Eastlake neighborhood of Chula Vista.
It boasts panoramic Otay Lake views backdropped by the staggering Otay Mountain vary.
Prepared For Your Journey? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here
↓ Elevate Your Journey↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No adverts, VIP Content material, Private Journey Concierge, Large Financial savings, Every day Offers, Members Discussion board & Extra!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: The place vacationers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even discover like-minded journey buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your electronic mail tackle to subscribe to Journey Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox.
This text initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.