- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Chula Vista Nature Center
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Chula Vista
1000 Gunpowder Point Dr
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 409-5900
1000 Gunpowder Point Dr
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 409-5900
Nature Center Expanding Programs
Not only is the Nature Center NOT closing - we are…
More »
- Hours:
Tue-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
15 reviews for Chula Vista Nature Center
Another great place to take the kids. Plan to spend 3-4 hours, maybe a sack lunch with plenty of time to walk some short trails along the bay. Inside the center enjoy seeing some very interesting displays of local fish, snakes and birds. Two really large turtles are displayed near the front door, fabulous.
Funding support from the city of Chula Vista was lost in July '09. The membership costs are very reasonable and give the whole family access for a year. The staff is really working hard to make the center as interesting and fun as possible. I really enjoyed my visit, bought the membership and plan to visit often, love the bayfront trails. See you there!
People thought this was:
- Useful (14)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (13)
There are some pretty cool things going on here people!!
This little adventure begins with a nice little informational bus ride down the main road. It's nice cause the parking in their little lot is free. When heading down the road, to the center, you get to look at all the different marsh lands that surrounds the center. Once arriving, the friendly staff greets you off the bus and you can head into the center. The nature center has Eastern Pacific Sea Turtles to the left of the center before you walk into the center.
When walking into the center, you pay a nice little fee to enter. Note: they have a student rate here!! This little mini Sea World displays their animals in tiny little aquariums. I enjoyed the fact that they have a wide variety of different creatures here, but it seemed like the first tank to your left, has a lot of large fish, in a small tank.
The nature center also has snakes, spiders, and different birds here too. Eagles, hawks, and owls are all on display in the Eagle Mesa area. If you take a little walk down there, you will pass the Marshlands area and you can observe the different birds that they have. Over in the shark and ray area and pet some of the different bat rays and round sting rays. They also have different sharks on display too.
Overall, this is a small little nature center, but very cool to check out. The staff here is very friendly and really knowledgeable. Talk to them because they will fill you in on all the different animals.
People thought this was:
- Useful (9)
- Funny (8)
- Cool (9)
I have the most amazing memories from this place, from my fourth grade trip with brown paper bags stock piled with capri sun juice bags and lunch-ables :)
Even now as a nineteen year old I love to pay the Nature Center a visit
From taking a walk through the brushes all the way to the shore and watching all the little animals around us to going to the manta ray pool and pet them for a while, this place is for all ages and can't imagine Chula Vista without the Nature Center :)
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
It's a real shame that the Nature Center will be closing down. While it may be similar to the Birch Aquarium or Sea World, it's cheaper to check out and it services a community that is already lacking cool educational resources like this one. If you don't like the crowds and costs of Sea World and want some of the education factor, visit the Chula Vista Nature Center right now.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Comment from Charles G. of
Chula Vista Nature Center
9/17/2009
Good news - we are NOT closing. Continue to come visit,…
More »
went to this museum with my little princess on a school field trip, and i'm planning on going back with her and my son next time. it's a shame that funding is gone to keep this family friendly place open. i hope some good samaritan will step up. if SD can save the firepits, the CV Nature Center is really really worth saving. Mrs Quiros and Mr Arsenio are very nice.
People thought this was:
- Useful (7)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (6)
Comment from Charles G. of
Chula Vista Nature Center
9/17/2009
The Nature Center will stay open! A non-profit…
More »
This place is great. Sort of like a (very) mini Sea World. It only costs $6 per adult, although the price going up in July, I think. It was a cold day when we visited, so we couldn't stay as long as we wanted with our one year old. But we enjoyed it.
I was a little disappointed in the sea turtle exhibit. There was only one turtle and it didn't look like it had enough water in which to swim around. I kept walking around trying to find the real exhibit, but I guess that was it. (minus one star)
It would be a fun place to hold a birthday party, come to some of the activities when my daughter is older, or when they feed the birds.
Warning: Be careful to keep your valuables out of sight in your car if you park in the shuttle parking lot. Some tourists who parked next to us got their jeep's window smashed, as they left their windshield-mounted GPS in plain sight. Like us, they were only gone an hour. Some security at that lot would be nice, but there is none that I know of. It was sad that these people will leave San Diego with a bitter taste.
I hope their experience at the Nature Center helps rinse the bitterness out.
fun in our own backyard! this place is great and very educational for the kiddies. they have amazing animals and beautiful birds. make sure to stop by, it's a beautiful place!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
DO NOT CLOSE DOWN THIS PLACE !! The city is trying to close down the Nature Center because they say it costs too much to run it. For God's sake, don't ! I haven't even heard of this place until a few months ago from Biology Lab. San Diego County is the most diverse when it comes to all kinds of species (fact) !
It is somewhat similar to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Ranch but the variety of marine life is way smaller. Still very interesting, though. They have more animals housed outside though such as owls and eagles ! Eagles, dude ! You only see those in zoos but this little nature center had it all, from birds to fishes to sharks and rays.
It is a wetland that is home to thousands of species and yet they're trying to close it down ! It's only 5 bucks for SDSU students. You park your car in a lot, the shuttle then takes you to your destination. There were also trails for hiking but I didn't have time for this. Visit it ASAP and protect it.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (2)
I was a tutor here back when I was in high school. I was late one day and missed the bus that takes you on that long road to the nature center so I bucked up and walked it. It was a great summer, I was surrounded by nature and teaching the importance of it to children everyday. Ah.
It is one of my favorite places in San Diego that doesn't involve food/alcohol. I wish more people knew about this place. Because if they did, they'd be as furious as I am at the San Diego City Council for trying to cut it out of the city budget.
Come visit!
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (2)
The nature center is a lovely opportunity to see our local ecosystem represented in a way that is very child friendly and digestible in a few hours.
I used to drive all the way from PQ to take my toddlers there because we could take the trolley in to the center and then suddenly be in a place where they could get very close to nature. The bat rays and the birds are displayed in a very nice and accessible fashion. I also like the fact that at the end of your visit you can go to the shop and see local artists. I still have some Goyotaku art on my walls from my last visit with the kids.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Cool (1)
One of my favorite things about this place is the amazing bird exhibit. There are several birds of prey housed in adjacent cages with very informative signage. In addition, the Center raises endangered Clapper Rails and has a special juvenile enclosure for them to mature in before they are released.
There is an awesome bat ray touch tank, and a very impressive shark tank. This place even has sea turtles! I've worked at a few interpretive nature centers, and this one surely has something for everybody.
The only draw back is that it is out of the way for me, and you have to park and take a shuttle in. However, as Evan said, this is to minimize the impact of development near the coastline. If you are a fan of public transportation, you can take the trolley right there and walk in!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (1)
Great place for kids!!! Definitely worth it
Second the notion of Evan. This is a great outing for groups of kids and adults, or just adults.
It is convenient for those who live in South Bay, and admission is reasonable ($3-6 depending on your age).
The Center offers a different view of the bay, some small walks, and a neat live bird collection. I had never seen a bald eagle before...
Also: for nature buffs who have already visited the Chula Vista nature center, you may want to check out the Tijuana Estuary Visitor's Center in Imperial Beach.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (3)
An AWESOME, little-known nature center, at least partially because the center itself is not visible from the road. You need to park in the lot outside and wait for the shuttle to come get you (so they can minimize the impact of a parking lot on the coastal land). A trolley station is also nearby for those inclined to public transit.
Beautiful facility that exhibits primarily local fish and birds. They also have a large outdoor sharktank where you can see small sharks, guitarfish, etc. up close. Clapper rails and golden/bald eagles also reside here. The curating staff is very friendly. I have seen coyotes with their pups on the surrounding land, along with terns hovering looking for food. The paths to the coastline are very quiet and serene.
Definitely a worthwhile two hours or so.
People thought this was:
- Useful (4)
- Cool (3)
come here all of the time with my little sister. its small which is cool if youre like me and enjoy reading all of the captions/descriptions of every exhibit. my favorite part would be the shark and ray exhibit because petting the rays is SUPER!!!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (4)
