More to Love in SoCal’s Oceanside

SoCal’s Oceanside may be straddling more than three miles of northern San Diego’s summer-perfect coastline, but you have to admit that it is the less glitzy counterpart to nearby beach-going communities—a casual, grittier throwback to California’s authentic beach spirit. Oceanside continues to hit its stride as SoCal’s coolest, under-the-radar beach town with a host of new places, spaces and offerings for visitors to explore this summer and fall. Here are even more reasons to visit:

Beach with Ease

Visitors don’t need to worry about dragging beach gear along on their next visit to Oceanside thanks to two new beach services making it easy to just show up and start relaxing. Beach Genie operates at Oceanside Harbor and specializes in luxury beach set ups, cabana parties and bonfires. Prices start at $150 for a basic beach package for two that includes reclining beach chairs, beach umbrellas, side tables, a cooler of non-alcoholic drinks and plush beach towels.

At Oceanside Pier Beach, the new Mission Pacific Hotel and Seabird Resort have launched the Beach Rambler, a vintage 1941 one-of-a-kind camper that is set up along the strand to ensure guests have everything they need for a perfect beach day. From rental games like volleyball and cornhole to health-conscious food and drink and distinctly Southern Californian beach apparel and supplies, the Rambler allows guests to simply show up and soak up the sun.

New Free Downtown Shuttle

Exploring Oceanside car-free just got a whole lot easier thanks to the new gO’side free shuttle service. Visit Oceanside and the City of Oceanside have partnered on a pilot program that includes six passenger electric shuttles operating along a four-mile route between Oceanside Harbor and South Oceanside. Shuttles operate all summer long and can be requested through the Ride Circuit app or flagged down along the route.

Carla and Linda’s Food Tours

Returning after a pandemic pause, Carla and Linda’s Walking Food Tours provide a great introduction to some of Oceanside’s exciting foodie neighborhoods and venues. Participants can choose from three tour options that include stops at four or five culinary destinations over the course of three hours, plus fun community history and other local scoop while strolling between stops.

Oceanside Museum of Art Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Housed in one of Oceanside’s historic Irving J. Gill buildings, the Oceanside Museum of Art has anchored Oceanside’s cultural district for 25 years. To acknowledge this historic milestone, the museum is launching a year of festivities, both small and large, that continue its mission of bringing people together to celebrate the transformative power of art. Upcoming exhibits include Color Field, featuring floral paintings ordered by hue and exhibited as one continuous spectrum, and Pop Smoke, a showcase of military veteran artwork in the Pop Art style focusing on bright colors, geometric shapes, and common place images.

Unique Co-Op Shopping and Dining

Newly opened, Tremont Collective is an inspired warehouse conversion in the heart of coastal Oceanside’s “Design District.” It’s home to nine local businesses: Brixton, Communal, The Annex Stab Magazine, Atacama, Bottlecraft, Shootz Fish x Beer, Verve Studios and Al Fresko. Each boasts their own storefront in a communal 3,400-square-foot indoor-outdoor space where people can enjoy fresh eats, artisan shopping, and spin classes all in one place. The same developers are crafting up another co-op in Oceanside, Freeman Collective, set to open late 2022.

Named for its location across the street from Oceanside Airport, Hangar 76 is a new multi-use venue resulting from a new state law that allows wineries, breweries and distilleries to make their products on the same premises. The renovated warehouse currently serves as a production site and tasting room for Carruth Cellars, San Diego’s largest urban winery, and the brewing facility and tasting room for the new Tipping Pint Brewing Co. by Adam Jester, a former brew master for Pizza Port Solana Beach. Future tenants could include a distillery and a restaurant.

Hollywood History

From small screen to your home is the concept behind Previously On, a specialty furniture and home décor store that re-purposes and sells items from favorite TV shows. Meanwhile, fans of Top Gun, will delight in the recent opening of the Top Gun House at the Mission Pacific Hotel. The historic 1887 classic bungalow that was featured in the original 1986 blockbuster movie has been completely restored and is home to HIGH-Pie, a new bakery concept that serves up signature hand pies.

Find everything for your visit to Oceanside here.

Photos courtesy TravMedia/Visit Oceanside Cover photo by mjbovee