By Mark Goodkin
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Chula Vista Nature Center
The Chula Vista Nature Center is a hidden gem, isolated from the main part of Chula Vista, on the Sweetwater Estuary, along the west banks of the San Diego Bay. The nature center showcases many of the plants and animals of the estuary and bay. I visited the nature center in April on a nice, sunny day.
To get to the Chula Vista Nature Center, you leave your car in a parking lot a few hundred yards from the nature center and take a shuttle. The nature center is fenced in, with a gate opening only for the shuttle and designated cars. The nature center can’t be seen from the parking lot, so the ride was filled with anticipation. We traveled through a section of the estuary, and finally, we could see the spacious buildings and outdoor exhibit areas.