The City of Oceanside is San Diego's North Shore Featuring an Authentic Beach Town Experience
Oceanside is an ideal Southern California coastal beach town with lots of small town charm. It has a beautiful coastline with 3.5 miles of beautiful sandy beaches, a quaint New England-style harbor and California’s longest wooden peer to go along with its stellar year-round climate. Vacationers have been coming here for years for its ideal outdoor pursuits including surfing, kayaking, boating, fishing, bike-riding and more.
The city also boasts lots of cultural attractions including the largest of the 21 missions, which is the Old Mission San Luis Rey (The King of the Missions), the fascinating California Surf Museum and the impressive Oceanside Museum of Art, which is the cultural jewel of the city. Even the eye-catching building housing the Art museum is an historic masterpiece. The numerous annual exhibits are indeed impressive.
Yes, Oceanside is a city on the move. It has changed from being a military town on Interstate 5 to a vital, visitor destination offering a wide range of accommodations in all price ranges with ocean and bay views. Yes, Oceanside has a lot to offer including its average year-round temperature of 72 degrees. And being located 35 miles north of downtown San Diego at the northern gateway to San Diego County is San Diego’s North Shore.
Recreation & Activities in Oceanside |
A great place to begin or conclude
your discovery of Oceanside is the Oceanside Harbor and Marina (1) at
1 Harbor Dr. This is the largest marina
in the North County coastal area and is
home to more than 950 boats. Enhancing
this one-of-a-kind harbor setting is a
small Cape Cod-style fishing village
(4), complete with a lighthouse. The village
is a fun place to explore and features
several boutiques, unique kiosks, gift
stores, cafés and restaurants. Just steps
from the ocean, it’s the perfect place for
a family outing. |
![]() Oceanside Pier |
![]() Pier Amphitheatre |
![]() Rough Water Swim |
Historic Downtown Oceanside |
A cultural vision is also being realized
in historic downtown Oceanside that will
forever change the image of the city.
The award-winning Oceanside Civic
Center (21) is a focal point of this new
vision. It’s located at 300 N. Coast Hwy.
in Oceanside. On Thursdays, 9 a.m.–1
p.m., check out the Farmer’s Market
(21) (760-754-4512) on Pier View Way,
which is on the south side of the Civic
Center. Oceanside also has a Sunset
Farmer’s Market on Thursdays, 5 p.m.–9
p.m. It’s at the corner of North Coast
Highway and Pier View Way. |
Oceanside Harbor |
![]() California Surf Museum |
![]() Oceanside Civic Center |
Attractions and What to Do in Oceanside |
Another unique Oceanside attraction
is one of the coastal wetlands habitats.
The Buena Vista Audubon Society’s
Nature Center (24) is at 2202 S. Coast
Hwy. (760-439-2473). Being the only
fresh water lagoon in Southern California,
you’ll find a different variety of local
plants and migrating birds than elsewhere.
There is even a picnic area and
trail with signage explaining the flora
and fauna you’ll see. The center is open
Tues.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sun., 1
p.m.–4 p.m. |
Mission San Luis Rey |
![]() Ocean's Eleven Casino |
![]() Westfield Shoppingtown |
Oceanside Offers Great Restaurant Selections |
Oceanside has a good selection of
ocean and bay view restaurants to choose
from. The hippest and trendiest sushi
restaurant in all of San Diego County is
Harney Sushi (19) at 301 Mission
Ave. (760-967-1820) with two locations to
serve you. One is in Oceanside and has
an ocean view and the other is in Old
Town. Both locations have an unbelievable
selection of specialty rolls, and the
atmosphere is what keeps people coming
back again and again. Use their coupon to save 10% on catering orders over $500. |
![]() Harney Sushi |
Jolly Roger Restaurant |
Monterey Bay Canners |
Where To Stay in Oceanside |
Oceanside is a great summer retreat
for the whole family with a broad selection
of accommodations with oceanfront
views for any budget. It’s also a great
getaway for couples too. A stroll on the
beach is always a popular choice for
things to do. |
Holiday Inn Oceanside |
Oceanside Marina Suites |
Ramada Inn |
Where to Live in Oceanside |
For relocation information, whether
for residential or business opportunities,
call the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce (8) (760-722-1534) or write them
at 928 N. Coast Hwy., Oceanside, CA
92054. The chamber is open Mon.–Fri.,
8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. |
![]() Live in Oceanside |
![]() Great New Homes |
![]() Oceanside's Popular Beaches |
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Monterey Bay Canners |
![]() Harney Sushi |
Jolly Roger Restaurant |
![]() Mission San Luis Rey |
![]() Oceanside Harbor & Marina |
![]() Oceanside Marina |



















