Chula Vista translated from Spanish as beautiful view is located 15 minutes south of San Diego and 7 miles from the Mexico border. Its close proximity to the City of San Diego and the beautiful beaches of Mexico make it an ideal location for overnight lodgings. Chula Vista enjoys perfect year round weather, a scenic harbor, shops, restaurants, Farmer's Market every Thursday, Chula Vista Nature Center and Onstage Playhouse. San Diego Zoo, Sea World and the many activities are offered in nearby San Diego.  Chula Vista is one the warmest Southern California beach locations.   Reasons to visit and stay in Chula Vista include its location between San Diego and Tijuana, affordable prices on hotel rooms and special events such as Imperial Beach Sand Castle Festival that fills hotel rooms throughout the region. Chula Vista is a short 5 minute drive from Imperial Beach. Things to do in Chula Vista include Downtown Farmer's Market held Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The certified, California grown farm fresh produce and flowers and hand made crafted gift items make this popular event a huge draw. It is located in downtown Chula Vista at Center and Third Avenue. Call: (619) 422-1982.   The Chula Vista Nature Center (once known as Gunpowder Point for the is a 316-acre wildlife refuge that the public can visit free of charge. The Nature Center's Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge includes educational facilities and serves the restoration and enhancement of the Sweetwater Marsh. Interactive exhibits document the history and ecology of Sweetwater Marsh and San Diego Bay, from intertidal mudflats to uplands. Exterior exhibits include a shark and ray tank, aviaries housing waterbirds, hawks and owls, bird watching platforms and drought tolerant gardens attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. There is a 1.5-mile trail system on the Refuge that features informational kiosks, a photo blind and benches.   OnStage Playhouse in downtown Chula Vista Arts Center is located at 291 Third Avenue, near F Street. onstageplayhouse.org Call (619) 422-7787. Plays include Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg, Book of Days by Lanford Wilson, The Odd Couple by Neil Simon and many more. U.S. Olympic Training Center is home to sports such as archery, canoe and kayak, rowing, soccer, softball, field hockey, tennis, track and field and cycling. There are free guided tours of the facilities. Location: 2800 Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91915 Call: 619-656-1500.   Coors Amphitheatre is an outdoor performing arts theater with reserved seating for 10,000 and additional seating for 10,000. It is the area's first major concert facility designed specifically for music. Location: 2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Call: (619) 671-3600. Knotts Soak City USA features 32 acres and 22 water rides -- all themed to the surf woodies and longboards of the 1950s. Open May through September, it is located at 2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Call: 619-661-7373.   Chula Vista Harbor offers access to southern San Diego Bay. The harbor includes two marinas, an RV park, and several restaurants. It is also home to Chula Vista Yacht Club and two waterfront parks. Various sport fishing, sight-seeing and whale-watching charters operate out of Chula Vista Harbor. Chula Vista Marina and RV Park is located at 550 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Call: (619) 691-1860.  chulavistamarina.com  California Yacht Marina is located at 640 Marina Parkway, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Call: (619) 422-2595. cymchulavista.com   The history of the area known as Chula Vista, can be traced back to around 3000 B.C., when Yuman-speaking people began moving into the area. Many of the Native American Indians in San Diego today are descendants of the Kumeyaay tribe who roamed in the region for hundreds of years. In 1542, three ships commanded by Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, sailed into San Diego harbor. Chula Vista became a part of a Spanish land grant known as Rancho del Rey or "The King's Ranch" in the late 1700's. When Mexico formed its own government in 1831, Rancho del Rey became known as Rancho del la Nation or National Ranch. The ranch encompassed the area now known as National City, Chula Vista, Bonita, Sunnyside and the Sweetwater Valley. Rancho del la Nation was used by the Spanish as grazing land for their cattle and horses until 1845 when it was granted to John Forster, the son-in-law of Mexican governor Pio Pico. Forster sold the ranch 10 years later and by the 1880's houses were built and the City of Chula Vista was created. Chula Vista became the largest lemon-growing center in the world with local farmers using over eight packing houses in the city. In the mid and late 1900's, housing overtook the rich farm land as pent up demand for homes increased in this popular paradise with its great weather and scenic bays. Today, the best examples of citrus trees can be seed in residential neighborhoods where lemons continue to grow easily in people's yards.   Nearby Cities Hotels: Alpine ,  Chula Vista ,  Coronado ,  Del Mar ,  El Cajon ,  La Jolla ,  La Mesa ,  National City ,  Poway ,  San Diego ,  San Ysidro ,  Santee ,  Solana Beach