Fun things to do in Oceanside

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Oceanside has some of the nicest, cleanest, and wide sandy beaches. There are Harbor Beach, Breakwater Way, Pier View North, Pier View South, Tyson State Beach, Wisconsin Street Beach, Oceanside Boulevard, and Buccaneer Beach. There is a wonderful playground area, picnic benches, fire pits, and a wonderful pedestrian pathways for joggers or bicyclist.

For more information:
California Welcome Center
928 N. Coast Hwy
Oceanside, Ca 92054

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There are miles of great surfing areas. I heard the best spots are Buccaneer Beach, both sides of pier, north and south jetties. You will see the surfers before the break of day and I have seen them coming out of the water as late as 9:00PM. I noticed one day a couple of kids with their backpacks, change, and head out to surf for an hour, put their clothes on and head up the road to school.

Take a surfing class:
So Cal Surf School/Surf Camps USA
Location at the Lifequard Tower 5 & Tyson St. Park. 760-889-8984
www.surfcampsusa.com
or
www. surfinFire.com 760-889-6775

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Many counties or cities require a fishing license. Well, Oceanside does not require one on the pier. It is Free only on the pier, so you will see so many families taking advantage of this. I've seen them around 9:00PM heading for the pier for some night fishing. So something to keep in mind when strolling on the pier. Fishing lines! Yet, I did not see too many stray lines and many of them were being very careful in how they were casting their lines.

For more information:
California Welcome Center
928 N. Coast Hwy, Oceanside, Ca 92054

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This museum keeps alive the historical surfing artifacts and memorabilia. Some of the exhibits are temporary and some permanent. It was neat to see and enjoy.~

Hours: Open Daily 10am to 4pm
Thursdays until 8pm
Except Major Holidays
Dec. 24 open until 4pm
Dec. 25 Closed
Dec. 31 open until 3pm
Jan. 1 Closed
Memorial Day Closed
July 4th Closed
Labor Day Closed

Admission:
Free for Museum Members
$3 Adults
$1 Students/Seniors/Military
Free for Kids under 12
Free on Tuesdays

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This pier is the longest wooden pier on the west coast at 1,942 feet. The first was built 1888 down by Wisconsin street. Sadly a bad storm claimed it. It was moved to its present location in 1890, but has been rebuilt five times. The concrete portion was built in 1925 and still exist. The wooden portion was rebuilt in 1988.

This pier sees over 1 million visitors a year. It is the center of activity for the city. Ruby's Diner is at the end, lifeguard towers, fishing access, benches, restrooms, and a neat little gift/bait shop where I bought some postcards cheap.

It was a great way to walk and work off the evening meals:)

For more information:
California Welcome Center
928 N. Coast Hwy
Oceanside, Ca 92054

Even if you can't bring your fishing tackle, get a cheap setup at Walmart or any of the numerous local establishments. Go to the Oceanside Pier for some spectacular fishing. The best spot is off on the left corner at the very fartherst end of the pier. About 25 degrees and maybe 20 yards out is a deep hole with lots of species. I have caught many many mackeral, lion fish, bat rays, tiger sharks and others. Best of all, NO LICENSE REQUIRED for fishing from any man-made structure in California!

There is also a great seafood restaurant on the pier as well.

As every important beach town Oceanside has a pier of course. I just love them for a walk out to the sea, to feel the wind and have a look onto the beach. So of course we went for a short walk onto the pier before getting a drink from an unimportant little booth underneath it - the one with the golden arches.

We stopped at this beach when we were surprised by blue skies and sunshine. It was wonderful there - there were surfers, seagulls, even squirrels we could watch. It was the first Californian beach I went to and it felt so great to walk in the water and just to enjoy sunshine thinking about the rain at home.