Tag: Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and Living Coast Discovery Center

Fall 2021 Tour: Episode 1 San Diego, California

On By LToddIn California, RV Travel, Travel4 Comments

Our Fall 2021 Tour kept us mostly within California. It was refreshing not to have long days of driving. Although visiting family and friends was the main purpose of our trip, finding things to do and see still played a role in our plans.

San Diego skyline, Coronado Bridge, and Sweetwater Marsh from our fifth wheel’s back window

We arrived at Sun Outdoors RV Resort in Chula Vista, California, on October 20, 2021, for a one-week stay. The Chula Vista RV Park where we stayed during our last visit to the San Diego area had closed permanently a week or two before our arrival. It was time to check out the new campground next to Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

View from the patio

The campsites had plenty of space and we liked the amenities and facilities. And the ticket for a complimentary frozen drink was a bonus. We missed being surrounded by the mature vegetation planted at the Chula Vista RV Park until we saw the view from our rig’s patio and out the back window. The view is what will keep bringing us back to Sun Outdoors.

Propane fire pits, chairs, and table come with the site.
A flotilla of sailboats danced in the Bay on most mornings.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is always a favorite activity of ours while in San Diego. I especially like the architecture, and with the vendors, musicians, galleries, and museums, we always enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies we find on our walks through the park.

Mitchell A Walker “Didgeridude”

Originally named the Commerce and Industries Building when built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the Casa De Balboa on the El Prado feature caryatids (weight-bearing features carved as human figures) or hermes elements under the eaves. Except here they are more ornamental than functional. The hermes depict naked women with arms overhead as if their presence holds up the eaves. Some of the women are shown kneeling, while others are shown from the waist up. How many people walk under those eaves in a day and never bother to look up at the faces staring down on them?

We ducked into the Museum of Photographic Arts to view the Aaron Siskind: Mid Century Modern exhibit (through May 1, 2022) and the 15th Annual Juried Youth Exhibition (through April 10, 2022). While I enjoyed Aaron Siskind’s photographs, there were plenty of works in the youth exhibit that blew me away. The crowded display and lighting in the youth room was perfect for viewing in person. Unfortunately, taking photographs of the art didn’t work out, so I have no samples to share.

“When I make a photograph I want it to be an altogether new object, complete and self-contained, whose basic condition is order.”
— Aaron Siskind “Credo” 1950
Botanical Building Lily Pond

Another 1915 Exposition structure is the Botanical Building with the lily pond out front. Constructed with lath (thin, narrow strips of straight-grained wood), it is one of the largest lath-built structures in the world.

Botanical Building and Lily Pond

It’s a great place to wander through to look at, or photograph, the various ferns, orchids, cycads, and other tropical plants and palms.

Explore in the shade
Staghorn Fern
Ready for Halloween

Designed after the Globe Theatre in London, the Old Globe Theatre was built in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition. The theater produces the annual Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas? musical along with 15 other productions during the year, of which many have earned nominations and 13 received Tony Awards.

The Old Globe Theatre

Heading west on El Prado toward Cabrillo Bridge, the California Building and Tower commands the attention of viewers with its intricately designed carvings, busts, and colorful tiles.

Splendid Afternoon on the El Prado

The building and tower were also built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and display a mix of Baroque, Rococo Gothic, Spanish Colonial, Plateresque, and Churrigueresque architectural features. Somehow, those styles blend well together to create the imposing structure.

Headed west

Once known as the Museum of Man, the Museum of Us has changed its focus to a more inclusive and respectful mission with recognition of the indigenous peoples who lived in San Diego before it became part of the United States.

Museum of Us
Headed east on Cabrillo Bridge
State Route 163 from Cabrillo Bridge

On the day of our visit, Korean Day at Balboa Park was in full swing, including live music, at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Harrison Albright designed the Italian-Renaissance structure for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. The pavilion is noted for its semi-circular colonnades, leaf clusters, and shell designs.

So here’s a tip when visiting Balboa Park: Don’t forget to look up at the buildings and their ornamental details. What you find may be a whimsical surprise.

Next Up: The San Diego Zoo

Safe Travels

Summer 2021 Tour: San Diego, California, Episode 1

On By LToddIn California, RV Travel, Travel4 Comments

It was Wednesday, June 2, 2021, and time to roll down the road to see how far we could go. California planned to remove most pandemic restrictions on June 15, allowing most businesses to open at full capacity and vaccinated persons to remove masks in most situations. We had our eye on New Mexico even though the state had not yet announced changes to their COVID restrictions. A week or so in San Diego would be sufficient time to see how the situation progressed, and we could visit with our son Kevin and his better half Bailey.

We made a stop at Castaic Lake RV near Magic Mountain for the night and arrived at Chula Vista RV Resort the next day. On June 4 we went to check out the fitness center, vowing to keep our fitness routines intact while on the road.

I was pleased to meet the yoga teacher who asked if we were attending the class. “Well, I wasn’t, but I will now,” I said. “Let me get my mat.” For the next week and a half, except weekends, it felt like I had a personal yogi teaching me new poses and critiquing my form since I was the only person who showed up.

Why had we not found Chula Vista RV Resort sooner?

Chula Vista RV Park was definitely a step up from the RV park in La Mesa where we usually stayed while in San Diego County. Staying in La Mesa may be more convenient, but the rumble of semis at all hours of the day and night was always a nightmare. Had we found a quieter place to stay for future trips? Not so fast. Read on.

What will happen to the beautiful palm trees and other vegetation?

Chula Vista (Beautiful View)

Chula Vista is the second largest city in San Diego County with a population of 268,000. The city’s 52 square miles is composed of a variety of coastal landscape, canyons, rolling hills, and mountains. We were disappointed to learn Chula Vista RV Park would soon close since it was in the way of the 535-acre Bayfront Project. The new project will eventually include residential options, a hotel, and conference center. Another RV Park, Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay, recently opened near the Sweetwater Marsh to take its place.

Chula Vista’s vibrant historic downtown on Third Avenue between H and E streets invited us to park the car, stroll through the Chula Vista Memorial Bowl and Park, and continue on the street past restaurants serving Mexican, Italian, Asian and American fare. Other businesses and shops include jewelers, clothing and accessories, gifts, salons, spas, and others.

We saw several of these on the sidewalk. A bike rack, perhaps?

We parked near the 3.8-acre Memorial Park where there is lush green grass, lots of trees, an amphitheater, swimming pool, play equipment, and gymnasium.

No water in the creek during our visit
Clumps of flowers dotted the grassy area
The amphitheater sets the stage
Jacaranda trees were in full bloom
Welcome to Third Avenue in Downtown Chula Vista
Culichi Town coming soon to compete with the plethora of other Mexican restaurants in Chula Vista
Buildings on Fourth Avenue

Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge and Living Coast Discovery Center

Kevin and Bailey thought they’d seen it all in San Diego County until we found a new place for them to explore. We arrived about an hour after the Living Coast Discovery Center opened and boarded the shuttle that took us to the center. There we found an aquarium with an assortment of sea creatures, aviaries with birds of prey and other birds, a composting display, and various trees and plants. For those who find the San Diego Zoo too large or expensive, they should consider the Discovery Center. The views of Sweetwater Marsh could not be beat, so we ventured along the native pollinator garden and the trail leading out to the bay. My favorite part was the giant sea turtle at the front of the center.

Touchdown Turtles
Sea Creatures Sculpture at the center’s entrance
Cans, plastic bottles, and other trash fill the turtle’s shell
Octopus through the looking glass
Compost demonstration and garden center
Yes, take my photo, please
Can’t you see I’m trying to sleep here? Go away.

Bailey and I took turns taking our group photos at the entrance to the Native Pollinator Garden. It would have been difficult to get the arch in a selfie. The garden had an excellent display of different plants and shrubs, and they were all abuzz with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Bailey, Jon, and Kevin
Linda, Jon, and Kevin
Even cholla make tasty blooms for pollinators

Along the trail leading to the bay, we saw several cement pads that are the ruins of the Hercules Powder Company. The company was the largest of 11 kelp-producing plants in 1916 along the Southern California coast. The company processed the kelp, combined it with other ingredients, and produced gunpowder. They ended production after World War I. I wonder who had the idea to create gunpowder from kelp.

Giant kelp was a major ingredient in the production of gunpowder during the early 1900s at this site.
Ice plant sparkles in sunlight while showing off its blooms
Sweetwater Marsh, ship to the right, Coronado Bridge, and San Diego skyline

Minus the buildings and trees on the horizon, the marshland is what must have greeted Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo from Spain in September 1542 when he arrived in San Diego Bay aboard the San Salvador.

View of Sweetwater Marsh toward Chula Vista

Other things visitors might do and see in Chula Vista:

  • Swim, splash, and slide at Aquatica San Diego in Chula Vista
  • Have a picnic at Chula Vista Bayside Park
  • Attend a concert at North Island Credit Union Amphitheater
  • Take a tour at South Bay Salt Works

Upcoming episodes include a hike in Torrey Pines, a quick visit to Imperial Beach, a walk from Liberty Station in Shelter Island to Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, and a trip to Valley de Guadalupe in Baja, Mexico.

Safe Travels and Stay Safe

Updated: July 8, 2021, to remove photo that was not in Chula Vista