If you’re cruising along I-5 through San Diego County and want a stop that blends wildlife encounters, bay views, and a genuine sense of place, the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista is one of the region’s most rewarding detours. It’s small enough to see in a couple of hours, substantial enough to leave you talking about sea turtles and eagles for the rest of the drive, and set inside a protected marsh where the salty air and birdsong become part of the experience.
About Living Coast Discovery Center
The Living Coast Discovery Center is a nonprofit zoo-aquarium hybrid devoted to the native wildlife and habitats of San Diego Bay and the broader Southern California coast. Think leopard sharks and bat rays you can watch up close, green sea turtles gliding in a lagoon, and a lineup of rescued raptors—bald eagles, hawks, owls—perched in roomy aviaries. Unlike big city aquariums or sprawling zoos, the Living Coast is intentionally intimate and mission-driven. Nearly all of the animals are non-releasable ambassadors—rescues that cannot survive on their own in the wild—so the place has an undercurrent of care and purpose rather than spectacle.
It’s also uniquely located within the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge. That means your visit is framed by protected tidal marsh—a rare and declining habitat—and the wild birds, crabs, and plants that depend on it. For travelers, it’s an easy way to feel like you’ve slipped into real Southern California nature without detouring far from the freeway.
Exhibits and Habitats
The Living Coast Discovery Center’s exhibit footprint is compact, but it packs a lot of variety into a few distinct zones connected by flat, accessible paths with views over the marsh and bay. Expect to linger at:
Shark and Ray Experience
This open-air touch habitat and adjacent tanks showcase sharks and rays native to local waters. Leopard sharks, horn sharks, bat rays, and shovelnose guitarfish are common stars. You’ll learn how their bodies are adapted for life along sandy bottoms and kelp beds, and how gentle these animals are when treated respectfully. Staff and volunteers are great about answering questions and modeling two-finger touch etiquette when touch opportunities are offered. If you’ve never seen a bat ray “fly” underwater or watched a leopard shark’s distinctive pattern ripple under sunlight, here’s your chance.
Turtle Lagoon
One of theLiving Coast Discovery Center’s signature draws is its Eastern Pacific green sea turtles, rescued individuals that live here permanently because of injuries or other conditions. In the lagoon, you can watch them paddle, rest, and surface for air—close enough to notice the algae that sometimes grows on their shells and the expressive way they tilt their heads to assess their surroundings. Interpretive panels explain threats sea turtles face, including boat strikes and entanglement, and what conservation looks like in a busy coastal metropolis. Scheduled feeding demonstrations and talks, when offered, are worth timing your visit around.
Raptor Row and Aviaries
This is where you meet the charismatic, feathered ambassadors that so many visitors remember most. Bald eagles are the headliners—majestic, intense, and still surprising to encounter at eye level in Southern California. Nearby, burrowing owls, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, barn owls, and other native raptors live in spacious enclosures designed for their comfort and enrichment. Most have injuries that prevent release; each enclosure shares the bird’s backstory and natural history. Sometimes you’ll catch a keeper chat or a training session, which gives you insight into how positive reinforcement is used to keep the residents active and engaged.
Tidepool and Coastal Critters
Inside the main building and in shaded outdoor exhibits, you’ll find touch-friendly tidepool animals and aquaria with fish and invertebrates from the local coast: sea stars, anemones, sea urchins, hermit crabs, shore crabs, sculpins, and more. These displays are kid magnets and quietly effective at teaching the do’s and don’ts of tidepool etiquette. A reptile corner typically showcases native snakes and lizards, and seasonal exhibits sometimes rotate in with themes like sustainable seafood, plastic pollution, or migration.
Native Plant Gardens and Pollinator Spots
Between exhibits, keep an eye out for plantings of coastal sage scrub, buckwheat, and other drought-tolerant natives. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds and illustrate how even small landscaping choices can support wildlife in a dry climate. Staff often weave these gardens into programs about water-wise gardening and habitat restoration.
The Refuge Beyond the Fence: Trails and Birding
One of the best reasons to build extra time into your stop is the chance to walk the easy trails that wind through Sweetwater Marsh. The refuge protects one of the last remaining salt marshes on San Diego Bay, and even a short loop offers a window into this ecosystem.
- The Gunpowder Point area near the Living Coast Discovery Center features flat, mostly unshaded paths with interpretive signs about the marsh’s plants, the birds that rely on them, and the surprising industrial history of this spit of land (more on that history below).
- Birdwatching is outstanding year-round. In summer and fall, look for elegant terns, brown pelicans, willets, and marbled godwits along the shore; in winter, thousands of ducks and shorebirds stage across the bay. Throughout the year, great blue herons and snowy egrets stalk the shallows. With patience and luck, you might glimpse the secretive, endangered light-footed Ridgway’s rail in the cordgrass or hear the distinctive call of Belding’s Savannah sparrow outside breeding season.
- At low tide, fiddler crabs come out by the hundreds, waving their oversized claws; at higher tides, birds move closer to the levees and shorelines. If timing allows, check a tide chart to decide when you’d like to walk.
Because the refuge is managed for wildlife, please stay on designated trails, keep voices moderate, and leave pets at home; service animals are welcome under ADA guidelines. Drones are prohibited.
Programs, Experiences, and Seasonal Events
The Living Coast Discovery Center’s programming leans hands-on and family-friendly, with a strong conservation thread.
- Keeper talks and feedings: Ray and turtle feedings, tidepool chats, and raptor presentations are often on the daily schedule during busier seasons. They’re short, engaging, and included with admission.
- Behind-the-scenes and animal encounters: Periodically the center offers small-group experiences that take you into prep areas or closer to certain habitats with a keeper. Availability varies; book ahead.
- Camps and classes: School-year field trips aligned with science standards, scout programs, and popular summer and school-break day camps fill the calendar. If you’re local or visiting family in the region, these can be a great option for kids who love animals.
- Volunteer opportunities: Adults and teens assist with education, gardening, guest services, and animal care support roles. If you’re road-tripping long-term and want to plant roots for a few weekends, this is a welcoming place to contribute.
- Events: Annual fundraisers and seasonal happenings—such as a fall or Halloween-themed family event, conservation lecture nights, and community coastal cleanups—create reasons to return. The Living Coast also partners with other groups for regional trail challenges and bay stewardship days.
Suggested Itineraries for I-5 Travelers
Quick stop, 60–90 minutes:
- Park and shuttle in.
- Visit Turtle Lagoon and the Shark and Ray Experience.
- Walk Raptor Row.
- Quick look at tidepool touch exhibits and a few minutes at the marsh overlook for photos.
- Shuttle out and rejoin I-5.
Half-Day, 2.5–3.5 Hours:
- Catch a morning feeding or keeper talk.
- Spend time at the rays and sea turtles.
- Loop slowly through all aviaries and indoor exhibits.
- Walk a refuge trail segment, pausing for birdwatching.
- Picnic at the outdoor tables.
- Browse the gift shop for a souvenir and head back to the highway.
Who Will Enjoy It
- Families with kids: Touch-friendly tidepools, big charismatic animals, and short walks make it easy to keep young travelers engaged. The shuttle is novel enough to feel like a ride.
- Adults and nature lovers: Birdwatching, the sea turtle lagoon, and the chance to learn about a specific place’s ecology add depth to a coastal road trip.
- Photographers: Expect soft bay light, raptors at eye level, and reflective water surfaces—challenging and rewarding subjects.
Visitor Logistics and Amenities
- Time needed: Plan 90 minutes to two hours visiting the Living Coast Discovery Center for the exhibits and a leisurely walk, more if you’re pairing it with a refuge trail loop or multiple keeper talks. With kids who like to touch and watch, three hours can pass pleasantly.
- Accessibility: The shuttle and main paths at Living Coast Discovery Center are generally accessible, with benches spaced around the grounds. Call ahead if you need specific accommodations; the staff is used to making visits smooth for all mobility levels.
- Food and drink: You’ll find water fountains and usually a small selection of snacks for purchase, plus outdoor picnic tables. There’s no full-service café onsite. Many visitors bring picnic lunches; please pack out everything, skip single-use plastics if you can, and never feed wildlife. If you want a restaurant meal before or after, Chula Vista’s bayfront and downtown corridors are a short drive away.
- Restrooms and shade: Restrooms are available inside the main building at the Living Coast Discovery Center. Shade structures and breezeways help, but much of the campus is outdoors; bring sun protection.
- Gift shop: The Living Coast Discovery Center has a small shop carries locally themed gifts, stuffed animals, conservation books, and the sorts of kid treasures that make the car ride happier. Purchases support the nonprofit’s mission.
- Weather: Bay breezes are real. Even on warm days it can feel cool and windy; in summer the midday sun is intense. Layers, hats, and sunscreen are wise.
- Photography: Personal photography is welcome; skip flash around animals, particularly in the sea turtle and tidepool areas. Be mindful of reflections on glass and the comfort of the animals and other guests.
Details
Address:
Living Coast Discovery Center
1000 Gunpowder Point Dr.
Chula Vista, California 91910
Telephone: (619) 409-5900
Website: https://www.thelivingcoast.org/
Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Admission:
Adults (13+): $20.00
Children (3-12): $15.00
Children (2 and under): FREE
Senior (65+): $16.00
Directions:
From I-5 South: Take the E Street exit, turn right at the light onto Gunpowder Point Dr., follow the road to the traffic circle, take the first exit, and turn left into the Living Coast Discovery Center parking lot.
From I-5 North: Take the E Street exit, turn left at the light onto E Street; at the light, continue onto Gunpowder Point Dr., follow the road to the traffic circle, take the first exit, and turn left into the Living Coast Discovery Center parking lot.
In a Nutshell
There are plenty of attractions deliver entertainment; the Living Coast Discovery Center adds a quiet sense of connection to the place you’re driving through. In one stop, you can meet the animals that define the Southern California coast, learn how a major metro area coexists with a sensitive marsh, and stretch your legs under wide sky with the scent of salt in the air. You’ll support a local nonprofit, leave calmer than you arrived, and carry on down the freeway with a better story to tell about San Diego Bay than just the view from the bridge.
Whether you’re northbound or southbound, consider steering off at E Street for a couple of hours. Watch a bat ray ripple the water, look a bald eagle in the eye, and let a sea turtle’s unhurried glide reset your road-trip pace. It’s a living coast, after all, and this small center does a remarkable job of letting you feel it.
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