Just a couple of hours south of Malibu, the city of Oceanside is a perfect home base for a family friendly getaway.
The seaside town offers proximity to theme parks like Legoland, SeaWorld, Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, plus the historic Oceanside Pier.
Built in 1987, the pier is the longest wooden pier on the West Coast, spanning nearly 2,000 feet. I viewed it at sunset from the new SpringHill Suites, which opened this year. It’s near another Oceanside landmark — the “Top Gun” house.
If you’ve seen the film “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis, you’ll recognize this freshly painted Queen Ann Victoria Cottage, originally constructed in 1887 at 102 Pacific Street.
The challenge while spending just one night here was finding the best beach.
One of the standouts is Buccaneer Beach, the smallest beach with a lifeguard tower. It boasts a wide, sandy shore ideal for waders, swimmers and body-boarders. Breakwater Way, just south of Oceanside Harbor, has a volleyball court and a jetty for surfers where the ocean meets the San Luis Rey River. For a family (and dog-friendly) picnic, enjoy the picnic tables, children’s playground and stairs for beach access at Tyson Street Beach.
While in town, you might also catch the Grunion Run (marine fish found only along the coast of Southern California and Northern Baja). Runs typically occur after midnight in June, July and August.
Oceanside is also one of those rare beach cities that holds fast to the past when it comes to surf history. It is here that the California Surf Museum opened in 1986.
“The Spiritual Triangle of Oceanside” is another story worthy of exploration since this alluring city is located in the center of three religious philosophies that attract visitors from around the world. Tours are available at the Rosicrucian Fellowship, the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, a Franciscan Mission to the east, and the Prince of Peace Benedictine Abbey to the north. In these troubled times, a place to quietly meditate can be a meaningful respite. The architecture of each reflects peace and tranquility.
I hit the jackpot by arriving at the SpringHill Suites on Thursday because the streets had closed for the Sunset Market, a weekly international gathering of cuisine from around the world prepared on site.
“It’s like the United Nations of cooking,” explained my colleague, who insisted that if I visit Oceanside it had to be on Thursday between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. I finally understood after perusing every cooking imaginable from Nigerian goat meat to a giant lemon cupcake large enough for a quartet of cake lovers. From Bosnian specialties to Brazilian sandwich-style omelets, this was a fantasy of earthly delights.
SpringHill Suites, the newest beach property in Oceanside, is convenient to the beaches, shopping and irresistible Sunset Market.
Adjacent to Hello Betty Seafood House, where you will find specialties on the menu such as shrimp and cheese-stuffed jalapenos to grilled platters like Mexican yellowtail.
Whether you catch a wave or favor the flavors of the sea, Oceanside has what it takes to hasten your return. This pristine beach city also known as “San Diego’s North Shore” still hangs on to the mid-century surf culture captured in films of yesteryear (“Gidget” and “The Big Kahuna”).
For more information on traveling to Oceanside, contact the California Welcome Center in Oceanside by calling 800.350.7873 or going to VisitOceanside.org.
Pamela Price is the co-author of eight editions of Fun with the Family in Southern California (www.globepequot.com).
