Discover South Bay San Diego - From Chula Vista to TijuanaPublished : 03/28/2008 by Elizabeth Engelman
Growing up in the South Bay area of San Diego I was well aware that most visitors, as well as some locals, overlooked the area to visit the more exciting San Diego attractions.
From Del Mar to La Jolla and Downtown, and even Little Italy, San Diego was always abuzz with new entertainment offerings around town. Well, everywhere except the South Bay.
Just as the Gaslamp has evolved over the years, so too has the South Bay. With new stores and restaurants opening every week, the north is beginning to finally see the potential I always knew existed for the south.
Discover the revamped South Bay San Diego, from dining to nightlife and a reconnect with nature with Hot Ticket, Wine Styles, and Tijuana Estuary and Chula Vista Nature Center.
Hot Ticket in Chula Vista
One of the new businesses in old downtown Chula Vista is a wonderful Chicago and New York inspired restaurant, Hot Ticket. This downtown restaurant stands out not only for the shiny black and red sign out front but for the amazing décor and friendly atmosphere.
The retro feel of the chrome sausage cart fits right in with the low key menus that come in three-ring-binders. The food ranges from hot sandwiches to omelets and pizzas. They also have a full café-style beverage selection including lattes, smoothies and Italian sodas.
The owner sat down next to us to take our orders and was extremely gracious and inviting. I ordered the Baja Carne Asada Pizza. Served on thin crunchy crust with carne asada, beans, chipotle sauce, cilantro and avocado it was the perfect Mexican-fusion blend of flavors to reflect the South Bay area. My friend ordered a different kind of pizza served on thick bread instead of crust. The Ku-Ku-Ru has chicken, bacon chips, olives, with a white garlic sauce and mozzarella cheese.
The food was a refreshing change from the usual taco shops and sushi restaurants that seem to make up the majority of the area’s eateries.
Hot Ticket
277 3rd Ave.
Chula Vista, CA 91910
619.621.5200
Wine Styles in Chula Vista
Nightlife in the South Bay has always been non-existent, which is why Wine Styles is such a wonderful and necessary addition to the area. Wine Styles has over 100 locations across the United States and is the only place in the South Bay to provide wine tasting.
The atmosphere is laid back with no signs of pretentious wine snobbery. Seven wines are tasted and the types range from the classic Merlot to the lesser known Taminer and Barbera. All of the wines were wonderful and none were more than $25 a bottle.
Wine tasting is offered every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6-8pm for $15. If you’ve yet to experience wine tasting, it’s recommended you arrive early and secure your spot. Having a one-on-one explanation of the swirl-sniff-taste process made the whole evening feel more personal. The wonderful staff really helps to make the experience fun as well as educational with questions like, “Does the smell of your wine remind you of any colors?”
By 7:30pm the place was crowded and the mingling took precedence over the wine. Within the convenient mall location, there is an assortment of restaurants to choose from to continue the evening with cuisine.
Wine Styles
2015 Birch Road #1601
Otay Ranch Town Center
Chula Vista, CA 91915
619.397.5533
Tijuana Estuary and Chula Vista Nature Center
Two of the most unexpected and underutilized places in the South Bay are both inexpensive ways to get back to nature. The Tijuana Estuary is a peaceful alternative to the overcrowded beaches in the summer. Every Sunday guests can opt for a guided bird walk, but the trails are always free to explore. The estuary is a wonderful place to take out of town guests to show a different side of the area.
The Chula Vista Nature Center is like a smaller scaled Sea World. There are sea turtle, jelly fish and an array of fish on display as you first walk in. The best attraction is the Sting Ray aquarium where people can pet and play as they swim around. At 3pm the sharks are fed which draws a large crowd. The majority of the species at the center represent the local eco-system. Both places offer a chance to get away from the regular San Diego activities and reconnect with the natural beauty of the area.
Tijuana Estuary
301 Caspian Way
Imperial Beach, California 91932
619.575.3613
Chula Vista Nature Center
1000 Gunpoint Dr.
Chula Vista, CA 91910
619.409.5900 |
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