Local Info

Oceanside Local Info


Oceanside is a great family friendly beach town with excellent options for food and entertainment.   Flip flops, surfboards and beach cruisers are everywhere!  Our local attractions, activities and restaurants are a special treat while vacationing right on the beach.  Downtown Oceanside is the perfect hangout spot to enjoy the city’s innate beach culture, outdoor dining scene, Historic Pier and surrounding beaches. Ride along Oceanside’s 3.5 miles of coastline on your own set of wheels and rent beach cruisers and surreys from Wheel Fun Rentals, bikes from SoCal Bike or thrilling electric scooters from Ride O’side! Shop like a local and explore the Thursday morning Farmers Market from 9am to 1pm along Pier View Way to enjoy produce from local farmers, food vendors and retailers. Fuel up and stop by a craft coffee shop to get a little caffeine boost and take a self-guided mural walking tour to see the collection of colorful street art scattered throughout the city. Cool down by jumping into the Pacific’s waves for a light swim or fishing off the Pier. Equipment rentals are readily available to enjoy a lively water sport like surfing, boogie boarding and stand-up paddle boarding.

Restaurants: 

  • Hello Betty's 
  • Valle, Michelin Star Winner 
  • Craft Coast beer and Tacos
  • High low, Casual with Ocean View and Out door Dining
  • Urge
  • Flying Pig
  • 333
  • Dija Mara
  • Bagbys
  • Local Tap House, For Foodies
  • Harney Sushi
  • Ty's Burgers
  • Masters
  • Best Pizza and Brew
  • Privateer Pizza
  • Home State
  • Beach Break Cafe for breakfast
  • La Petite Madeline for breakfast or lunch
  • Succulent Cafe for coffee or iced coffee
  • Communal Coffee
  • Fresh fish restaurants at Oceanside Harbor

Fun for kids:

  • Rent bikes at Allens Bike Shop, E bikes
  • Legoland has something for the whole family and centrally located in Carlsbad. You can easily access it from any of our rentals in Encinitas, Carlsbad or Oceanside. At Legoland there are over 60 rides, shows and attractions. Your little ones imagination can come to life inside the theme park. There is a Stars Wars mini land model display, pirate reef and a water park. There is also the SEA LIFE aquarium where you can see over 5,000 living creatures. There are family friendly play zones, fun facts and quiz trails. The LEGOLAND water park has seven slides, sandy beaches and unique Build-A-Raft river. We highly recommend making time for Legoland during your vacation.
  • California Surf Museum
  • Oceanside Harbor, rent boats, paddleboards & kayaks
  • Oceanside Pier
  • Regal 16 Movie Complex
  • Ice cream shops
  • Alga Community Pool and Water park
  • San Diego Zoo

Fun for all ages: 

  • Thursday Farmers Market in the morning and Sunset Market in the Evening
  • Mission San Luis Rey
  • Oceanside Harbor- 1/2 day fishing boat, boat rentals, paddle boards
  • Golf
  • Coastal Bike Trail

While staying at your Oceanside Beach Rental you will enjoy better ocean and white water views than any restaurant, so why not hire a private chef?  We suggest:

Lisa Orr

Barn: (760) 348-8881

Fields: (760) 889-4836 

e-mail: lisa@thefarmhousecatering.com

Graydon Orr

Barn: (760) 348-8881

Field: (760) 877-7801

e-mail: graydon@thefarmhousecatering.com


When traveling with children, travel light and have a wide variety of baby gear and toys delivered to your beach rental prior to your arrival. We suggest Toddlers Travels

(619) 688-9655


At the Beach House:

  • Collect seashells & seaglass
  • Take surfing lessons from your back yard
  • Watch sunsets while sitting next to your bonfire
  • Shore fish
  • Boogie board
  • Have a sandcastle building contest
  • Make smores
  • Bury treasure with a treasure map for kids to find
  • Play bocci ball
  • Have one dinner on the  beach where everyone dresses like a pirate or wench
  • Paint beach rocks
  • Ride beach cruisers to the harbor for ice cream
  • Rent a boat at the harbor
  • Fly a kite
  • Bring a deck of cards and board games from your childhood
  • Hire a photographer for once in a lifetime family photos on the beach
  • Follow a set of footprints down the beach...

OCEANSIDE ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO

Take Private surf lessons

Oceanside Harbor: Oceanside’s Harbor is a mecca for restaurants, sportfishing, whale watching, boating and other water-oriented activities.

Oceanside Pier: The historic Oceanside Pier is a prized community resource, and at its current 1,942 feet in length, it remains one of the longest wooden construction recreational piers on the West Coast. The pier is a recreational common ground for Oceanside, a place where young and old, fisherman and surfer, tourist and residents mingle, stroll, and sit to watch the waves or the sunset while enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. 

Mission San Luis Rey: Founded in June 1798 by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, the Mission is one of the most architecturally impressive of all the California missions. Built of adobe and faced with brick, it is a composite of Spanish, Mexican, and Moorish styles.

California Surf Museum: At a time when the historical roots of many beach communities are rapidly changing and/or disappearing, the California Surf Museum is preserving the strong link between the ocean and lifestyles of the beach community. The museum actively collects, documents and preserves surfing related artifacts and memorabilia.

Farmers Market is a delightful way to mingle with the locals and experience our fresh, homegrown, organic produce, botanicals and scrumptious baked goods. Located in historic downtown on Pier View Way , the Farmers Market is held every Thursday morning.Sunset Market: Come enjoy farmers market at Oceanside in the historic downtown. Several vendors with all types of items along with foods from around the world. we also have a playhouse for the kids. Come enjoy our barbecued foods and great atmosphere along with local farmers. Live music at every farmers market, Thursday evenings fro 5:00pm to 9:00pm