San Ysidro and Otay Mesa
The southwest corner of San Diego County — and of the country — is a place of close-knit communities and vibrant cross-border connections. San Diego's border neighborhoods of San Ysidro and Otay Mesa serve not just as gateways between the U.S. and Mexico but as places with fascinating things to see and do in their own right. Discover all of it here, from cultural happenings to shopping options to richly diverse natural preserves and opportunities for recreational adventure.
San Ysidro and Otay Mesa Highlights
S&S Friendly Ranch
S&S Friendly Ranch
S&S Friendly Ranch is a historic Black-owned business with a contemporary commitment to serving the San Diego community. Founded 45 years ago in the South Bay region by siblings Sim Wallace and Sarah Buncom, the place is now run by Sim’s granddaughter Diamond Wallace-Brandon. S&S Friendly, which hosts an animal sanctuary, is not only a working ranch but a premier event venue.
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
The Tijuana Estuary is one of the few salt marshes remaining in Southern California, and is an essential breeding, feeding and nesting ground and key stopover point on the Pacific Flyway for over 370 species of migratory and native birds, including six endangered species. The visitor center and its surroundings provide a serene spot for birdwatching, hiking and learning about coastal ecosystems.
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center
This 155-acre Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center is a designated Olympic and Paralympic Training Site, with venues and support facilities for more than a dozen summer Olympic and Paralympic sports, plus cross-training capabilities for various winter sports. Visitors can explore and enjoy the center through tours and events.
Lower & Upper Otay Reservoir Trails
Lower & Upper Otay Reservoir Trails
The natural beauty of the Otay reservoirs makes for ideal hiking, biking and fishing. The trails at Lower Otay Reservoir offer scenic, easy routes along the west and east shores, perfect for hiking and enjoying lake views, while Upper Otay Reservoir provides access for hiking and fishing from sunrise to sunset, with a popular loop trail featuring water views.
Las Americas Premium Outlets
Las Americas Premium Outlets
This shopper’s paradise, about 20 minutes north of the border, is the region’s largest outlet mall, with some 190 stores offering major brands at discounted prices. Look for such top labels as H&M, Karl Lagerfeld Paris, Nike, Coach, Levi’s and more.
El Salon Theatre
El Salon Theatre
Housed inside the beautifully restored 1927 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, San Ysidro’s El Salon Theatre is part of a creative multi-use project known as Living Rooms at the Border and was created in partnership with Casa Familiar. The multimedia performance space hosts theater, dance and other events, including Teatro Mascara Magica’s traditional holiday staging of “La Pastorela.”