Oceanside, California
 

 

Town/City Overview   
 
Oceanside lies in the San Luis Rey Valley, an agricultural community, and is the most northern coastal city in San Diego County. The Spanish explorer expedition spearheaded by Portola arrived in this area in 1769. The Mission San Luis Rey was constructed in 1798. It was laden with vast fruit orchards and cattle raising activities. This was one of the most successful missions in terms of it’s neophyte population (Indian converts). Eventually, Mission San Luis Rey and it’s surrounding property became a Mexican land grant. In the 1880s the City of Oceanside was founded, coinciding with the arrival of the railroad between San Bernardino and San Diego. In 1942, most of the original property was sold to the United States government to build Camp Joseph H. Pendleton Marine Corps. base.

One of the most popular attractions to Oceanside is of course, it’s sprawling beaches. San Onofre State Beach is off of I-5 and is known for swimming, surfing and picnicking. Overnight camping is available but there is a parking charge. Oceanside has over 3.5 miles of white sandy beaches. There is plenty of parking and easy beach access. The Harbor Beach has more than 16 acres of clean level sand and handicap ‘sand’ wheel chairs are available for use at each life guard tower. The Oceanside City Beach boasts the longest wooden pier over water on the west coast and is equipped with a playground, restrooms, showers and fire rings.

Attractions & Activities   

The Oceanside Harbor is a colorful seaside vision of boats, pelicans and seagulls, restaurants and a shopping village. There are boat rides, kayaking adventures, sportfishing, whale watching and other water related activities.

The Oceanside Pier is a prized community attraction. As you stroll down the pier, you’ll find the names of the citizens who donated their resources to keep it as part of their oceanfront features, engraved on the side railings. It is 1942 feet long and is one of the longest wooden construction recreational piers on the West Coast. This is a place where locals, tourist, fishermen and families can meet and watch the sunset or a couple can indulge in the romantic view of a starry night at sea.

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was named in honor of St. Louis, the King of France. It was founded by Father Fermin Francisco de Lausen. Built from adobe and faced with brick, it creates an architectural mixture of Spanish, Mexican and Moorish styles. Today, as the largest mission in California, it is known as ‘The King of the Missions.’ Here one can see California’s first pepper tree, explore the museum, picnic in the gardens or enjoy the gift store. The mission is located at 4050 Mission Ave.

Camp Pendleton is the nation’s biggest amphibious training facility. Stretched over 17 miles of Pacific coastline and over 125,000 acres, it is a recreational paradise, housing a military community of over 36,000. The base has 3 mountain ranges and is active in its effort towards ecology thus earning it’s title as an ‘Ecological Oasis of Coastline California’. The base is home to the First Marine Division and thrives on what used to be a Spanish land grant called Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores. It is located east of I-5.

Heritage Park Village & Museum has recreated what was once Oceanside’s Main Street. You can visit many of Oceanside’s original buildings such as the first General Store, the Portola Inn, the Blacksmith Shop and Livery Stable, a doctors office, the Old City Jail, Libby School and the Blade newspaper. The grounds are well kept with beautiful trees and are open daily from 9 am - 4 pm. The buildings are open on Sundays at 1 - 4 pm, weather permitting. The buildings will be closed Dec. 7 until the end of March. Heritage Park is located behind the Mission San Luis Rey at 220 Peyri Rd.

Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center is located on historic Coast Highway at the edge of the Buena Vista Lagoon. They have some interesting exhibits of birds and plants of the coastal wetlands.

The award winning Oceanside Civic Center is located at 300 North Coast Highway. It is an oasis of waterfalls and palm trees in the heart of Oceanside’s historic downtown.

The Farmer’s Market is held every Thursday from 9 am - 12:30 pm on the corner of N. Coast Hwy. and Pier View Way. Here you can buy fresh produce in a downtown, coastal atmosphere.

The Oceanside Museum of Art is a visual arts center popular for it’s many exhibitions. It is located in the historic Gill building at 704 Pier View Way.

California Surf Museum highlights the strong relationship between the ocean, the lifestyle of the surfer, and the longevity of the sport that ‘wasn’t supposed to last’. Here you will find memorabilia and artifacts and rotating exhibits all to do with this exciting sport.

The Oceanside Historical Society is located in the historic Gill Fire Station building on 305 N. Nevada St., east of the Civic Center. The Society is host to a free monthly downtown 2 hour historical walk. The walk begins at 9 am on the third Saturday of each month - everyone meets in front of the library. The Society’s archives and museum are open to the public from Thurs. - Sat. from 10 am - 2 pm.

The ‘Top Gun’ House is located on S. Pacific at Seagaze. This house was filmed in scenes of the movie Top Gun starring Tom Cruise.

Nearby Cities & Towns
Fallbrook, San Marcos, Vista