Coronado is a 15-minute ferry from downtown, with a wide beach, a historic hotel and free weekend concerts. The South Bay adds the Living Coast Discovery Center, bayfront parks and wildlife refuges. Border Field State Park is closed for flooding as of October 23, 2026.Checked October 23, 2026.
Places in Coronado & South Bay
Coronado Beach
A wide 1.75-mile sandy beach with year-round lifeguards.
ParksCoronado Parks and Dog Rules
Which Coronado parks allow dogs, and where dogs can run free.
Historic HotelHotel del Coronado
The 1888 seaside landmark, and its seasonal ice rink.
WaterfrontCoronado Ferry Landing
Bayfront shops and free weekend concerts at the ferry dock.
FerrySan Diego–Coronado Ferry
A 15-minute ferry across the bay, $9 each way for ages 4 and up.
MuseumCoronado Museum of History and Art
The island’s history museum, open Tuesday to Sunday.
LibraryCoronado Public Library
Weekly story times for babies through school-age kids.
Wildlife CenterLiving Coast Discovery Center
Bayfront wildlife center with raptors, turtles, sharks and rays.
Wildlife RefugeSweetwater Marsh Wildlife Refuge
A salt marsh unit of the San Diego Bay refuge, reached by shuttle.
Bayfront ParkHarbor Park in Chula Vista
A bayfront park with a beach, playground and fishing pier.
Bayfront ParkSweetwater Park in Chula Vista
A 39-acre quiet park with nature playgrounds and bay views.
Wildlife RefugeTijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
A free estuary refuge with boardwalks, trails and a visitor center.
ReserveTijuana River Estuary Reserve
A national estuarine reserve with trails, a visitor center and bird walks.
State ParkBorder Field State Park
CLOSED for flooding on October 23, 2026. Check before you go.
County ParkTijuana River Valley Regional Park
A big river valley park with 22.5 miles of trails and a bird garden.
County ParkSweetwater Summit Regional Park
A Bonita hilltop park with trails, play areas and a seasonal splash pad.
County ParkOtay Lakes County Park
A 78-acre hillside park above Otay Lake. Parking is $5.
Fishing LakeLower Otay Reservoir
A City fishing lake open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
DistrictDowntown Chula Vista
Third Avenue, a Sunday farmers market and a free Dia de los Muertos event.
City ParksNational City Parks
Las Palmas, El Toyon and Kimball parks, with a dog park and skate park.
Events in Coronado & South Bay
4 confirmed dates are on the Coronado & South Bay events page, from the organizers’ own pages.
What We Could Not Verify
- Border Field State Park and Friendship Park are closed for flooding and contaminated flood water per State Parks (read October 23, 2026). Ocean water there is closed to contact. Check State Parks and the County for the latest before visiting the Tijuana River Valley area.
- Not covered because official pages could not be read: Coronado Municipal Beach hours beyond the City page, the Coronado farmers market, Naval Base Coronado, Pepper Park and Kimball Park in National City, the Chula Vista and National City libraries, the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, Rohr Park and Eucalyptus Park.
- Our neighborhood list is our own grouping, not official boundaries.
FAQ
How do I get to Coronado without driving?
The Flagship ferry takes about 15 minutes from Broadway Pier or the Convention Center. One way is $9 for ages 4 and up.
What should I check before visiting the Tijuana River Valley area?
Current closures. State Parks reported Border Field State Park closed for flooding and contaminated flood water on October 23, 2026.
Sources
Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.