San Ysidro Tutors

About San Ysidro

At the southern tip of California on the border with Mexico, San Ysidro is considered a district of the city of San Diego. Known as the “Gateway to the Americas,” a major U.S. Customs and Border checkpoint is in San Ysidro where Interstate 5 crosses into Tijuana. The first European foray by land into California in 1769 by the Spanish explorer Juan Gaspar de Portolá and Franciscan Father Junipero Serra passed through what would later become San Ysidro. In the early 1900’s journalist and founder of the “Little Landers” movement William E. Smythe established a cooperative farming community in San Ysidro with the motto “A little land and a living.” He named the colony after Isidore the Laborer, the Catholic patron saint of farming. Smythe’s idea was to give individual farmers a small plot of land, no more than two acres and just enough for them to comfortably work themselves. These small farmers would be joined in an alliance to ship and market their produce. Smythe attracted 300 families to San Ysidro and he lived there from 1909-1911. Unfortunately, these small farmers struggled to become prosperous and within two years only 38 families remained. The movement eventually failed, partially because of distribution problems, some resulting from disruptions caused by the Mexican Revolution, but mostly because of the catastrophic flood of 1916 which shattered the Sweetwater Dam, killed eleven farmers and wiped out the remaining Little Landers farms. Two other California Little Landers colonies in Lassen and Tujunga also fell apart. Today, San Ysidro is mostly a residential area and home to the busiest border crossing station in the world.

It’s likely that a San Ysidro tutor will get you caught up on your studies so you can take some time away from the books to enjoy the exciting things to do north and south of the U.S.-Mexican border. Wild Foodie Tours depart from San Ysidro taking hungry foodies south into Tijuana for all-inclusive culinary and cultural adventures. The Tijuana excursions include transportation across the border and a personal guide. The Seafood Tour visits Caesar’s Restaurant, home of the legendary salad, and features a delicious seafood dinner at Las Playas right next door to the largest seafood market in Tijuana. Other tours offer food, shopping and a trip to the Tijuana Zoo.

Just a short drive north from San Ysidro, Aquatica San Diego is an offshoot of Sea World featuring a marine themed amusement park. Opened in 2013, the park offers a variety of water slides for kids, families and thrill seekers as well as a wave pool and a lazy river. Water rides include the HooRoo Run, Walhalla Wave and Loggerhead Lane. The park is also home to Caribbean flamingos and freshwater turtles.

For shoppers, San Ysidro is home to the Las Americas Premium Outlets. The Outlets feature 125 stores in a beautiful outdoor courtyard setting. Popular stores include Banana Republic, J. Crew, Lacoste, Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger. Diners can also appreciate the authentic Mexican cuisine at Anchiote Mexican Restaurant.