REACH FOR THE GOLD IN OUTDOORS HAVEN
For outdoor enthusiasts who relish exploring new biomes, the mountain ranges of Chula Vista offer hiking, biking, fishing and skydiving. Otay Ranch, the city’s easternmost neighborhood, about 20 miles south of downtown San Diego and 10 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, has another hidden claim to fame: the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, where Olympic hopefuls work toward gold. The tab: $298 for two nights at the Residence Inn, $125 for two dinners and $35 for an extensive tour of the training center.
THE BED
The 148-room Residence Inn opened in October. Along with a gym, swimming pool and free hot breakfast, the place offers a chance to lounge alongside Olympians. When I visited, a Polish track-and-field team was there. Mondays through Wednesdays the lobby becomes a cozy living room with complimentary appetizers, beer and wine.
THE MEAL
Locals are crazy for Pizzo’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar. Owner Santino Pizzo adds local twists to his Neapolitan pizzas, including the Olympian ($19) and the San Miguel ($14), the latter named for the nearby chaparral-clad mountain peak. After dinner, hop over to Novo Brazil Brewing Co. and order the Otay IPA ($5.80 for a pint), named after another landmark.
THE FIND
Tour the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, where you can eat in the dining hall with the athletes, then get a glimpse of medal hopefuls at the BMX track, the tennis and beach volleyball courts, the soccer fields or inside the archery building. Afterward, hike at Otay Lakes County Park to see the majestic dam, which broke in 1916, causing the worst flood in San Diego history. A small part of the old wall remains. The Lower Otay
Reservoir has boat rentals as well as catch-and-release fishing Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. End the trip with a scenic 14-mile drive to Hollywood Casino, which opened in 2016. Sip craft brews and eat beer bites on an airy veranda while taking in more chaparral and mountain views. For high-octane adventurers, book an appointment with Skydive San Diego.
THE LESSON LEARNED
Bike rentals aren’t available inside the county park, so visit Trek Bicycle Superstore, which charges $50 for an all-day rental. Call ahead and the store will do a round-trip delivery to the hotel for $100.
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