Arizona plates have already taken over San Diego highways, which implies just one factor – it is the unofficial begin to summer time.
But this summer time shall be completely different than the remainder as fairly presumably essentially the most extremely anticipated resort in America is ready for a gentle opening May fifteenth, adopted by the official blue-ribbon slicing 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 hunt down ritzy stays in Coronado and Del Mar and family-friendly enjoyable in San Diego’s Mission Beach, it is truly Chula Vista that is destined to be California’s new summer time trip hotspot with the grand opening of Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center.
Chula Vista? Where?


Most usually, 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 take into account Chula Vista except they’re passing by to have a wild evening in Tijuana simply throughout the border.
South Bay, because it’s recognized, hasn’t been a specific draw to outsiders except they’ve seen a viral taco stand on TikTook, skilled a basic 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 Beach, the southernmost seashore within the U.S., is extra recognized for its hazardous situations because of sewage run-off from Mexico reasonably 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 Casino, a few blocks away, which will get its title 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.
“This is Chula Vista’s decade. We can 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 town has by no means had earlier than.
– Chula Vista Mayor, John McCann
The Gaylord Pacific: A Destination Unto Itself


According to San Diego Magazine, the Gaylord Pacific is ready to debut 12 restaurants. Unfortunately, it isn’t all-inclusive, however visitors can have an array of choices from the dry-aged consultants at Old Hickory Steakhouse with sweeping bay views, sushi to-go at Taiyo so that you snack poolside or gas up for a sunny day spent floating the lazy river, and even Growlers Sports Bar & Taproom, boasting a 75-foot television display to look at the massive recreation in peace away from noisy kiddos.
Gaylord has one thing for everybody, nevertheless 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 need to go away 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 Sunset Cliffs.


The Gaylord gives a variety of lodging, from customary rooms with mountain, marina, or Pacific views to 89 spacious suites, together with the luxury Presidential Suite with an ocean-view balcony well worth the sky-high worth alone.
Grand opening weekend charges are as little as $350 per evening, 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 really like dwelling right here! Out of all of the locations I’ve lived in San Diego County, this metropolis is my favourite.


Rather than observe the vacationers who flood the Gaslamp Quarter, take a look at Chula Vista’s Third Avenue District, a pint-sized drag of breweries, dive bars, cafes, meals vehicles, taco outlets, and my favourite restaurant within the metropolis, Lime in the Coconut.
Eating in Chula Vista is a loophole in your tastebuds to get pleasure from 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 evaluate Jalisco flavors to Baja’s with newly-opened El Pastor Del Rica, owned by champion boxer Canelo Alvarez.


But 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 need to come again to the coast to chill off in the course of the summer time months.
One of 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.
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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 inside the publish.