The best family trip ever

Last July, we took a family trip to Oceanside, California.  Our vacationing spot used to be Mission or Pacific Beach located near San Diego.  Mission and Pacific Beach are a great location to visit if you love the nightlife, don't mind the congestion or bigger crowds.  We used to stay on Mission Beach in the day time.  At night time we would join the younger crowds, we loved to visit the dining areas in Pacific Beach as well as the nightclubs and bars.  There was a lot of partying on the beach, it was crowded, and there was homeless people hanging around every corner or bench.  Once we had children, we decided to head a little further north to Oceanside, California.  Oceanside is one of the best beach experiences I have had in my life.    Oceanside is full of family activities, whether it is staying on the beach to play or staying at a nice resort, dining at the nice cafes or restaurants, grabbing some boards for surfing or boogie boarding, or walking along the Oceanside Pier.  I have been to many beaches along the Pacific Coast from Mission Beach to Long Beach.  Oceanside is very mellow, making it the best family vacationing experience on a beach.

Where to stay in Oceanside, California

We stayed a week at the Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort, it is actually a timeshare.  The resort is located approximately 35 miles north of San Diego and 83 miles south of Los Angeles (http://www.wyndhamoceansidepier.com).  We stayed in a condo.  It was on the opposite side of the train station.  There have been complaints of the noises from the train.  When you make a reservation, please get a guarantee that you are not overlooking the train tracks.  By doing this you will get sleep, really enjoy your ocean view, along with your stay.  The condo we lived in for a week was a casual, yet exquisitely beautiful Mediterranean Style, ocean colored decor with aqua, light-green, and beige colors.  It was a two-bedroom unit with a full kitchen and two bathrooms.  The master bath had a huge jet-tub which could comfortably seat two people, and a living area with satellite cable television.  There was also a dining area.  The kitchen was fully equipped with a dishwasher, oven, dishes, cookware, utensils, and cups. 

The views from the living area and the master bedroom were amazingly beautiful.  We could see the people on the beach, children playing and laughing, a few beach bodies jogging along the beach, and surfers walking with their surfboards.

Another beautiful view was from the second floor swimming pool.  It was nice to see the ocean and the pier in the background while lounging on the chairs by the pool watching the kids swim.

A little history on Oceanside and its beautiful Oceanside Pier

Oceanside was founded by Andrew Jackson Myers in 1883 (http://oceansidehistoricalsociety.org/), he was the first to build a home in Oceanside which is why he came to be known as the founder of Oceanside.  When the city became incorporated in July of 1888, the population was 1000.  Today, the population of Oceanside, California is 183,000.

The Oceanside Pier was originally built in 1888 on Wisconsin Avenue, formerly known as Couts Street (http://www.sandiegocoastlife.com/attractions/san-diego-coast/piers-oceanside.html).  A storm destroyed all but 300 feet of the first pier in 1890.  Four years later it was rebuilt at a new location on Pier View Way, which was formerly known as Third Street, (this is also the location of the current pier).  The second pier was built with 400 feet of iron pilings, but later extended.  The second pier was destroyed in 1902 by heavy storms.  The third pier was built in 1903 and was 1300 feet long, supported by rails of steel, it was destroyed by storms in 1908.  In 1926 the fourth pier was rebuilt at 1900 feet long, however, 385 feet of the pier was destroyed in a 1942 storm.  In 1946, construction of the fifth pier began.  This pier was later rebuilt and the last construction was done in 1987, it has been rebuilt six times and this pier is also the longest in the West Coast at 1954 feet lkon (http://www.sandiegocoastlife.com/attractions/san-diego-coast/piers-oceanside.html).

A walk on the Oceanside Pier

There are snacks and drinks for sale on the pier.  There are no glass containers or alcoholic beverages allowed on the beach or the Pier.  Another note, do not attempt to ride a beach cruiser up the ramp to the pier.  It is nearly impossible unless you are a very fit person.  While walking on the pier, you can hear thunderous waves, see people walking, and watch people taking shots of the spectacular ocean view.  Many people stand and video record the surfers riding the waves.  There were also people fishing off the pier, you don't even need a license to fish on this pier.  About half way out on the pier you don't hear the crashing waves anymore, or much noise at all, unless it's a windy day of course!

There is a wonderful 1940's style restaurant at the end of the pier named Ruby's.  The seating consists of "bright red vinyl booths with white formica tables.  There are soda fountains and colorful 1940's poster art" (http://www.rubys.com/4-about_rubys/about_rubys.aspx).

Ruby's milkshakes are handmade and there are 15 different flavors to choose from: 

• Double Dark Chocolate Chip 

• Banana Cream Dream

• Oreo Cookie Fantasy

• Hershey’s Chocolate

• Vanilla Black Cherry

• Strawberry-Banana

• Peanut Butter Cup

• Chocolate Banana

• Chocolate Turtle

• Double Vanilla

• Orange 50/50
• Peanut Butter

• Black Cherry

• Black Forest

• Butterfinger

• Strawberry

• Pineapple

• Caramel

• Mocha

• Coffee

(http://www.rubys.com/1-menu/lunch.aspx) 

Ruby's also has amazing burgers.  Some people love the atmosphere at Ruby's and believe the prices are reasonable, other people think the prices are too high.  I think it is worth the view and experience.  If you make it out to Oceanside Pier, you must go to Ruby's Diner.

Oceanside Beach, what a beauty

This is one of the cleanest beaches our family has enjoyed by far.  You can surf, swim, build sand castles, or relax on a beach towel.  There are picnic areas and fire rings to take advantage of as well. 

Across from the hotel, on the beach, just south of the pier, is an amphitheater.  It is the Oceanside Pier Plaza Amphitheater located at 200 N the Strand in Oceanside, California.

While we were visiting the amphitheater, there was a live concert playing gospel music, it was a Christian outreach group.  They had some good stories and good music.  They had hotdogs, drinks, and raffles.  My kids wanted to buy 20 raffle tickets for the prizes!  There are a few other stands surrounding the amphitheater.  One of my favorite stands sold street tacos.  You can smell the sweet smells of the grilled onions and the cilantro just about 100 feet away from the Pier on the boardwalk.  To the west on the beach, the kids would play and have fun in the sun.  After a couple of hours of boogie boarding we would take a bathroom break, grab some soft drinks, and munch down on some street tacos while listening to the live bands. 

In conclusion, Oceanside is by far one of friendliest places I have been to.  In this blog, I have  slightly compared Oceanside Beach to Mission and Pacific Beach all located near San Diego, California.  Mission and Pacific Beach are for partygoers, full of traffic congestion, and the beaches are overcrowded.  Oceanside on the flipside is clean, has a mellow atmosphere, and is family friendly.  Not only are the views from the Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort marvelous, there are outdoor activities that will not drain your wallet.  Visiting the Oceanside Pier is not costly, hanging with the family on the beach, or going to hear live bands at the Oceanside Amphitheater is always relaxing.  This is a vacation location you must not pass up.  Take a trip out to Oceanside with your family, you will not regret it!