Oceanside is a surf town and military city on the San Diego County coast, about 40 miles north of the city. For most of the 20th century it was known primarily as the gateway to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and not much else. That has changed — the downtown area around the Oceanside Pier has developed a genuine restaurant and arts scene, and the California Surf Museum is one of the best of its kind anywhere.
The pier is the city's heart. It stretches nearly 2,000 feet into the Pacific and is free to walk at any hour — you can fish, watch the surf breaks, or simply stroll to the end for the views. Dolphins and seals are regularly spotted in the water below. The beach on either side of the pier is wide and uncrowded compared to beaches further south, with good surf that draws a dedicated local community.
Four miles inland, Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is the largest of California's 21 missions, still active and remarkably well preserved. Buena Vista Lagoon on the southern edge of the city is a rare freshwater lagoon that attracts serious birdwatchers. Mount Ecclesia, the hilltop headquarters of the Rosicrucian Fellowship, adds an unexpected esoteric note.
Oceanside is accessible by Amtrak and the COASTER commuter train from San Diego — the Oceanside Transit Center is one of the busiest rail hubs in the region. Carlsbad is immediately to the south, and San Diego is about an hour away by rail.