The Living Coast gives Chula Vista a close look at the marsh

Chula Vista’s bay side is a habitat story as well as a view across the water. At the Living Coast Discovery Center, families can get close to the plants, birds, reptiles, fish, and coastal habitats that make the south end of San Diego Bay special.

The center opened in 1987 as the Chula Vista Nature Interpretive Center. Today it is a nonprofit zoo and aquarium on the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. That setting is the important part. The refuge protects about 2,620 acres of land and water around San Diego Bay, including the Sweetwater Marsh and South San Diego Bay units.

Sweetwater Marsh gives the visit a real sense of place. Coastal salt marshes and mudflats used to be a much bigger part of the bay’s edge. The refuge protects some of what remains, along with habitat for endangered, threatened, migratory, and native species.

The practical detail is access. The Sweetwater Marsh Unit has limited access, and refuge trails are reached by shuttle from the Living Coast when service is available. Dogs are not allowed on the refuge. Check the center’s current days, hours, tickets, and shuttle details before making the trip.

That little bit of planning is worth it. Chula Vista is growing and changing along the bay, and this stop helps people see the quieter living edge of that same waterfront.