SET IN STONE

Have you ever heard the saying, “The best things in life are worth the wait”? Well, that’s how we here at The Osider feel about Oceanside. While this last year has felt like life has been on pause, our beloved city has been going through a crazy transformation—from sleepy little beach town to a bustling tourist destination with new opportunities around every corner. When we drive downtown, it seems that there’s a new business popping up in every other building.

While some would love Oceanside to stay just as it was ten years ago, it’s just not a possibility. Change is the only constant, and with that change comes some sacrifice—the upside for our future generations outweigh our past by a mile. It’s been tough not to see the benefits of all the change when we’ve been halted by this global pandemic.

We’ve seen all of the construction around town, but have yet to taste the fruits of the labor underway. But spring’s here, COVID cases are on the downturn, and Oceanside’s about to blow up like never before. Just remember that we're really close to enjoying all of these new things on offer— we just have to hang on a little bit longer to reap the rewards. Because like I said before, the best things in life are always worth the wait.

Jamey Stone/Publisher/Co-Founder stone@theosider.com

Zach Cordner/Creative Director/Co-Founder zach@theosider.com

Dwayne Carter/Design Director dwayne@theosider.com

Aaron Schmidt/Editorial Director aaron@theosider.com

Nolan Woodrell/Advertising Director nolan@theosider.com

Alicia Stone

Jack Antal, Renordo Bowen, Eric Klier, Katie LaLicata, Kristi Hawthorne Cameron Reeder, Elizabeth Schwartze, Alicia Stone, Shelby Rowe, Jordan Verdin

Oceanside Historical Society, Tim Wrisley, Amber Lussier, Alondra Figueroa, Anamarina Hernandez, The Carter Family, Hans Molenkamp, The Woodrell Family, The Becker Family, Ron Goodin, Bailey Stone, Braden Stone, Judy Camp, The Hoffer Family, Steve and Linda Josepho, Jean Josepho, Bottom Line Management, Oceanside Museum of Art, and all of our advertisers

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One of the best springtime activities in town: The San Luis Rey Bike Trail. Photo by Zach Cordner

WORDS: ALICIA STONE PHOTO: ZACH CORDNER

When I first contacted Shelby Jacobs about writing this piece about him and his accomplishments, his answer was a quick, “Great. How about today?” and right away I was struck with his optimism and eagerness to tell his story. Shelby is used to these phone calls having spent the last few years being approached by various media outlets asking him to speak on his work in the space program, and about the discrimination he’s witnessed and personally faced as an African American in the aerospace industry.

As it turns out, we have our very own “hidden figure” right here in Oceanside, and I had the pleasure of meeting him and his lovely wife Elizabeth in their home. We scheduled the meeting at noon— since his retirement, Shelby has adopted a philosophy of staying off the roads during peak traffic hours to make space for the working folks. It’s just a small example of his warm and generous personality. After he cracked some jokes and showed me some of his most beloved keepsakes, we sat down and I listened to his story.

Shelby’s journey started in Dallas, Texas before moving as a child to Val Verde—a black community in the Santa Clarita area of Southern California. He was told in high school that as an African American he should “learn a trade,” but he remained determined to follow his dreams of something more. He earned a scholarship at UCLA, where he studied mechanical engineering, and was soon hired by Rockwell International as one of eight black engineers at a company that employed thousands. There, he spent the next 40 years working his way up to the executive level and his “mahogany row” position as Project Manager for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.

Shelby Jacobs’ most celebrated accomplishment began in 1965 when he was assigned to complete the design for a camera system that could prove that rocket separations occurred correctly for the unmanned Apollo 6 space mission. In doing so, he became responsible for the footage from the April 4, 1968 launch, which was the first time the curvature of the Earth had been documented on film. Sadly, the successful mission happened on the same day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. The tragedy hit home for Shelby, as a few years prior he had the honor to be in the presence of MLK and hear him speak in Georgia at a symposium on voter registration. Shelby would go on to work on all of the other Apollo missions as well as the Shuttle Program. After the 1986 Challenger disaster, he assisted the investigation by examining the footage and quickly ruling out his company’s equipment.

Released in 2016, the movie Hidden Figures highlighted the previously unseen role black women played in the international space race, whose work

would lead to the successful moon landing of Apollo 11. The feature shed light on Shelby’s own contribution, and he began to grant interviews and speak out about his experience living through the civil rights movement and working in a predominantly white industry during segregation. In 2018, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the famous footage, the Columbia Memorial Space Center opened an exhibit honoring Shelby entitled Achieving the Impossible: The Life and Dreams of Shelby Jacobs.

Shelby approached his choice of where he’d retire the same way he conducted his life’s work—using practical science. He’d watched his colleagues retire only to realize they weren’t happy in the places they’d chosen, so he began with the weather and considered the entire Southern California coast, while narrowing his choices. He immediately dismissed Los Angeles, Orange County, and downtown San Diego, due to dense populations. He even factored in the amount of seismic activity in the area (he determined that is the quietest place on the fault line), and focused on North County. He settled on Jeffries Ranch here in Oceanside, and he’s very proud of his beautiful home he bought brand new in 1996, which he chose specifically based on the direction of the sun.

He’s remained active in the Oceanside City Council and his church community and has traveled the country speaking as a role model to young students about the importance of staying in school and working to achieve their goals regardless of race or background. In 2019, California Congressman Mike Levin named him the first of his “Constituent of the Month” program, and spoke about his legacy on the House floor in Washington D.C.

As I began to leave, he asked to show me one last thing. It’s a beautiful spread of food that his wife had prepared. Elizabeth explained that it’s part of her rich Mexican heritage to always offer guests something to eat. She said her mother had always managed to keep her family and neighborhood fed with her homemade beans and rice. Before we said goodbye, we giggled as he showed me his impressive “moonwalk,” and then he once again reiterated the trait he attributes to his success. He reminded me to “Never demand respect, but always command respect.” It’s an important lesson, and an empowering message that I was lucky enough to see in person—and one I won’t soon forget.

For over a decade, the Oceanside community has celebrated the Earth during the month of April with fun-filled activities and events. This year, Mayor Sanchez is challenging the community to take action for the planet and help the City win the 2021 National Mayor’s Challenge for Sustainability. Your participation in the Mayor’s Challenge will positively impact the planet and our community!

This National Competition, hosted by the Wyland Foundation, takes place NATION-WIDE and measures individual environmental actions and water conservation within each city. The city with the most points brings home the coveted FIRST PLACE title!

Last year, Oceanside finished in second place. This year, we plan to WIN! Are YOU in? How Can You Help Our City Reach First Place? It’s Easy!

Take the Pledge! Between April 1-30, Oceanside residents can visit mywaterpledge. com to take the Mayor’s Challenge Pledge to conserve water and live a more sustainable lifestyle. Submitting your pledge takes only one minute, and you just earned a point for Oceanside!

Take Action! You can also earn our City points by completing sustainability projects in your home and neighborhood and logging your actions at wylandfoundation.ecochallenge.org.

• Do you choose to use a reusable water bottle? Log your actions and EARN POINTS for Oceanside—it’s that simple!

• Take a 5-minute shower—not only will you save up to twenty gallons of water, but you can EARN POINTS as well!

Ready to get started? Oceanside residents can also pick up a Green Oceanside One Planet. Take Action Kit to help with completing sustainable actions. Kits are available while supplies last and can be mailed directly to your home. Visit GreenOceanside.org for further details and registration.

Along with the Mayor’s Challenge for Sustainability, you can also look forward to online activities, virtual or in-person community presentations, "The Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup", and the Annual Harvest Oceanside event during Earth Month!

Be sure to visit the Earth Month page at GreenOceanside.org to stay up to date on this year’s Earth Month activities. Scan the QR Code to sign up to receive a reminder from Green Oceanside on April 1st announcing the start of the Mayor’s Challenge!

PHOTOS BY ZACH CORDNER

Poke is a Hawaiian word for “to slice or cut in pieces.” Originally prepared as just salted fresh fish, poke has been influenced by the many Pac Rim countries to be a blend of ingredients. Typically found on a bed of rice, it can be combined with whatever you can forage from the fridge and cabinets. As we approach the springtime, we think Chef Michael Mitchem’s ono recipe would hit the spot just right. Aloha!

Dice fresh Ahi and/or Salmon ¼-diced Avocado 2 cherry tomatoes cut into quarters 1 tablespoon of diced cucumber

Jalapeno to desired spiciness 1 tablespoon of crushed Macadamia nuts 1 tablespoon of green onions 1 tablespoon of sweet onions Mix in Shoyu Poke sauce for desired taste

1 cup soy sauce 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 3 tablespoons sesame oil 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger 2 teaspoons Korean red chili pepper flake (Gochugaru) 1 teaspoon garlic minced

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk until thoroughly mixed.

Community

WORDS: ELIZABETH SCHWARTZE PHOTOS: CAMERON REEDER

It’s March 2020. Quarantine begins. Life comes to a halt. Everyone is home and wondering how to proceed. But one beloved institution answers the call to meet the community—the Oceanside Library! If residents can’t come to the library— the library will come to them. And that’s exactly what they did!

Oceanside Library began the only free book delivery in San Diego County. The dedicated staff quickly took action to get books into the hands of its residents. Almost one year later, the book delivery van is now visiting approximately 60 to 100 households per week day.

Book delivery throughout Oceanside is not a new service, but upscaling to meet the needs of residents covering 42 square miles of city is a daunting feat. With the physical library closed, thousands of families signed up to browse the online library, choose their books, and wait for the van to bring their special delivery. There are approximately 200-300 unique family deliveries each week. A large portion of books delivered are

Oceanside Librarian Sam Liston

children’s materials. “It really brings the worthwhileness home. They’re not able to have school interactions, and books are a great vehicle to take time away from the screen. Brings our hearts happiness to see the faces when we bring materials,” proclaimed Sam Liston, Oceanside Librarian.

From behind the library desk, to driving around every district in Oceanside, “it was a great opportunity to visit the diverse communities in our great city,” said CJ Di Mento, Library Division Manager. Upscaling the delivery service also presented a new set of challenges, as the team suddenly became logistic managers, trying to find manageable driving routes. It took team effort, but Sam and the library staff’s outlook all along was “We can do that!” The hard work has paid off for the diligent librarians, and thankfully, they’re getting the recognition they deserve with a wall of notes, letters, and thank you’s from the communities.

Kristina Alger, fourth grade teacher at St. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School is part of the A+ Educator Program. “As a teacher, I always want to put books in my student’s hands. I’ve always seen the library as the best way to do that. The delivery service from the Oceanside libraries has been such a lifesaver during this trying time. I really appreciate the Oceanside library staff’s dedication to putting books in the hands of all who want to read.”

It’s not only the exceedingly popular book delivery that sets Oceanside apart, the library has partnered with institutions including Oceanside Museum of Art, Hill Street Country Club, KOCT, and San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum to meet the community’s needs. The staff are also proud of their PSA commissioned from local musician Shane Hall. The library staff miss the daily traffic in their buildings, but have proven that they’ll do anything to get information to the public—in any form needed. Both the Civic Center and Mission Branch Libraries are currently open for browse-and-go service.

• Digital books with platforms such as Libby and Hoopla • Children’s Art Kits • Coursera, a free online job skill learning platform • Adult and family literacy courses • Virtual storytimes for babies, toddlers, and early learners on Zoom • Mobile art workshops • STEM kits (science kits in a bag) • Teens Work Internship program employs teens ages fourteen to eighteen years old • Early learning and community information hub

Visit the Oceanside Public Library website at www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/lib/ to learn more about programming, and sign up for book delivery. Then the library van can visit you, too!

WORDS: KRISTI HAWTHORNE PHOTOS COURTESY OF OCEANSIDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

In the summer of 1930, the City of Oceanside opened a Municipal Campground on the north end of the Strand. This campground gave weekend visitors and long term vacationers a spacious area to pitch tents in the sand and enjoy “roughing it” right on the oceanfront. These weren’t small pop-up tents, but substantial shelters with cardboard floors. Family cars came loaded with provisions to last for several days, if not weeks. The City provided restroom facilities and faucets for water, and a concession stand and store were added for the convenience of the campers. This area would later develop into what was called Beach Lake.

Beachlake Travel Trailer Park, circa 1950s

1. The campground started at the north end of the Strand and stretched to the San Luis Rey River. It became so popular that in 1941 the local newspaper reported that the campground “did a thriving business with 1,650 people” for the 4th of July.

2. The campgrounds were leased out to local individuals who collected the nominal camping fee, and in turn, maintained the camp and its concessions. The lease had to be renewed after a period of time, and in 1947, Albert Zaiser held the lease for the popular campground. It was not without controversy, as Zaiser wanted to add a trailer park to a large portion of adjoining land he owned, but many were opposed to this use of the beachfront. Under the contract Zaiser had with the City of Oceanside, he was to “expend $10,000 a year for the next four years on improvement of the camp.” He began that year with an extensive improvement of the campgrounds, removing weathered structures and replacing them with new ones.

3. In 1949, the campground was transformed into “Beach Lake” with the building of a small boat basin. Originally called Oceanside Bay Beach, Zaiser created a lake by building a dike and diverting water. This expanded the area to 45 acres, which began west of the railway bridge to the beach (east and west), and from 1001 North Strand to near the entrance of the Del Mar Boat Basin (south and north). from the rough ocean,” all the while enjoying its beauty. Beach Lake was an immediate sensation and campers came from all over Southern California.

5. Henry Johnson who went to Beach Lake for eight summers in a row beginning in 1950 had fond memories. “We came down in a 1949 Kiser and we would have the backseat fully loaded. My sister and I essentially laid flat on top of blankets, bedding, and tablecloths, just everything you would think of in terms of what could be put in the backseat. Behind the car was a U-Haul trailer with an icebox, beds, rugs to be put down over a cardboard floor, orange crates to be nailed together to make cupboards, table, chairs, just about all you would need essentially for like a little tent cottage, to be set up on the beach. “The first summer was the smallest tent we had. It was a 12x12 small camping tent. It looked like a simple roof building. It had a slanted roof; it had four windows and a zippered door at one end. And we had crammed into there, three beds, a table, and an icebox. We didn’t start using refrigerators until probably about 1956, so everyone had an icebox down there. So we had the icebox, the tables and beds and the a camping stove, a butane camping stove, which took the butane from a small tank on the exterior to the tent and that’s what it was. That was our first summer there. The icebox was similar to what everybody had—a small icebox. So you had the traditional ice truck going through the Beach Lake, I think twice a day.”

Beachlake, circa 1950s.

Gus Hawthorn at Beachlake in the early 1950s. Beachlake Trailer Park, 1959.

set up a tent and small campground of their own. Most families stayed for the entire summer. Back then, the mothers and children would stay at the beach, while fathers continued to work during the week. The men would then make the drive back to Oceanside on Friday evening to enjoy the weekend with their families. Because the campgrounds were packed to the hilt with people, parking was at a premium. Henry remembered that the women would put a camping stool out in the parking place that was to be saved. “So all through Beach Lake there were these stools, chairs, a box—anything that says, “this place is saved for my husband. These days someone would walk up, remove the thing, and drive in, but it worked then! So Friday night parking spaces filled up with all the husbands who arrived during the Friday evening hours.”

7. Helen Trask, a regular camper who returned for many years, would read to the children for their entertainment. The children would pile into her tent to listen to the books that ranged from Tom Sawyer to the Donner Party. Children could bring their own books and she would read every night, but leave off in a sort of “cliffhanger” saying, “Now, tomorrow night come back and we’ll find out what Tom does, and who is hidden in the cave.”

8. The campground included a café, a bar for the adults, a grocery store, and a laundry. There were up to eight buildings for restrooms, which included showers. Beach Lake also featured an outdoor dance floor, a large cement slab. Local bands would come and play, and young teenagers danced and sometimes had their first summer romances. When the summer was over, many people had made lifelong friends that they looked forward to seeing again the following summer. “I never wanted to leave,” remembered Henry Johnson. “People were hollering, ‘See you next summer!’ and it was kind of like a bittersweet ending. It was a bygone era.”

9. By 1960, the campground had become known as Beachlake Trailer Park with over 370 permanent spaces. Most were occupied by renters rather than visitors, which changed the use and feel of the area. The campground fell out of favor with vacationers.

10. In 1961, the City broke ground on the Oceanside Harbor, making a deal with Zaiser for 30 acres of the Beachlake Camp for Harbor development. By 1964, the remainder of Beachlake Trailer Park was ordered, “vacated”—leaving a temporary ghost town of empty trailers and cabanas. Today Beachlake lives on in the memories of many lucky enough to remember those perfect summers.

WORDS: JAMEY STONE & AARON SCHMIDT PHOTOS: ZACH CORDNER

One of the best springtime activities is exploring the San Luis Rey river bike trail.

There’s something special about springtime here in Oceanside. The smell of clean ocean air and the warm sunshine makes everything come back to life. The hillsides are covered with green grass, and every flower around us is in full bloom. We all seem to come out of hibernation ready to get outside and be active. I think spring puts everybody in a better place—both physically and mentally.

This past year has been a real test to our state of mind. The word “stir crazy” is an understatement—to say the least. But now spring is here and just in time to save the day. Oceanside is built for this magical time of year, and with so many options, we here at The Osider have put together a list of fun things to do to get the ball rolling for a Spring Fling of your very own. Enjoy.

Almost everyone in Oceanside loves the Coastal cruise and for good reason. Where else can you drive from one end of town to the other along our coastline? Starting at the north end at our harbor, you can see the boats docked and surfers hitting the waves. As you head over the bridge, you’ll see the San Luis Rey River river mouth that houses many endangered bird species. Once you hit the Pier area, you can get even closer as you drop to the Strand—a multi-use road that includes cars, bikes, skateboards, roller skates, joggers, and walkers. The speed limit is only 10mph, but taking your time is the point. The Strand cruise is the best people watching in town, and there are many photo ops like the Pink cottages on the north end. So if you want to see or be seen, the Coastal Strand Cruise is a must. From there, you can continue on to the south end of town where PCH is flanked by large beach homes and small older beach homes, and the picturesque Cassidy Street bridge, which has become quite the landmark of South Oceanside. You can do the whole drive in around fifteen minutes, and it’ll give you a much-needed breather for the rest of your day.

Arrowood Golf Course Founded in 1798, this beautiful landmark was one of 21 original missions built in California, and is home to a community of Franciscan friars. The largest of the California Missions, MSLR boasts amazing architecture and beautifully manicured gardens—great for a history lesson and amazing photo ops. You can enjoy the coffee shop, check out their gift shop, and take many different tours. For more info, visit their website listed below.

Mission San Luis Rey 4050 Mission Avenue sanluisrey.org

There’s nothing better than spending the day at the beach and Oceanside delivers when it comes to our coastline. From the Harbor to the Pier, you can enjoy our sandy paradise. There’s plenty of public parking, shaded picnic areas, and play sets for the younger children—all in the safety of lifeguard’s watchful eyes. You can pack a lunch from home or pick up something to bring along from one of our many coastal establishments. Once you get south of the Pier, the coast becomes a bit more secluded with rock walls and beach homes hiding the beaches. For a low-key outing, the south end of town is the call. Just remember to respect the local crowd and pack your trash. The coast is Oceanside’s calling card and we need to keep it tight for the next generations to come.

Oceanside is a certifiable golf mecca. With four amazing golf courses to choose from, it’s pretty safe to say we have every kind of golf course here. From the fun, relaxing vibes at Emerald Isle and Goat Hill Park, to the posh greens and bunkers at Arrowood, to the local legendary hangout Oceanside Municipal, Oceanside has something to offer every golfer. To have that much diversity in a small town such as ours is amazing, and it’s all part of the fabric that makes up our fine city. Each course offers up a variety of different playing options, so why not play them all?

Oceanside Golf Course 825 Douglas Drive (760) 433-1360 playoceansidegolf.com

Emerald Isle Golf Course 660 South El Camino Real (760) 721-4700 emeraldislegc.com @emeraldislegolf

Goat Hill Park 2323 Goat Hill Drive (760) 433-8590 goathillpark.com @goathillpark

Arrowood Golf Course 5201 Village Drive (760) 967-8400 arrowoodgolf.com @arrowoodgolfcourse

If skydiving is your thing and you want to see Oceanside from above, then Go Jump Oceanside is just what you’re looking for. With a great team of professional skydivers, Go Jump Oceanside has some of the most experienced staff in the industry, and also the friendliest—they’ll give you an experience of a lifetime with an amazing view of our city and beautiful Pacific Ocean. Go Jump Oceanside also offers instructional courses, birthday/bachelor/engagement parties, and much more. So why not head on over, suit up, and get ready to take the plunge of your life!

Go Jump Oceanside 480 Airport Road (760) 390-5867 gojump-america.com @gojumpamerica

The Oceanside Harbor is one of our most beloved treasures, and for good reason. Let’s start with the Cape Cod-inspired fishing village chock full of restaurants, gift shops, and coffee and breakfast locations. What a great place to get some fish and chips, have a date with a view on the magical Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill patio or maybe rub elbows with the locals at Tony’s Bar. The beaches are full of sand and surf, which makes for the perfect beach day. You can also book whale watch excursions, rent a glass bottom boat, kayak or even an SUP to enjoy the Harbor waters with a friend. There are multiple fishing boats available for everything from half-day to multiple-day fishing adventures. Whatever you have in mind—the harbor delivers the goods.

Oceanside is a very bike-friendly town. You can enjoy a ride along the coastal bike route that extends from South O all the way to Oceanside Harbor, or head inland from the Harbor all the way to eastern edge of Oceanside, along the San Luis Rey River trail. For the more adventurous bikers, there are many mountain biking trails to test your skills if you know where to look. So whether you’re looking to burn some carbs or just want to get outside with the family, O’side is the perfect place for a ride.

Beach House Winery When it comes to drinking wine in Oceanside, Beach House Winery is usually the first stop. Located on the ridgeline of the “Sleeping Indian,” Beach House Winery is an award winning winery that offers panoramic views of North County and the Pacific Ocean, and it’s the first vineyard “Vigna al Mare” (Vineyard at the Sea) and winery established in Oceanside. BHW’s passion is providing fine wines produced with time-honored processes for all to enjoy.

The next stop is Coomber Craft Wines. Located in downtown Oceanside on Mission Avenue, Coomber opened their Oceanside Urban Winery and Tasting Room in 2019, quickly becoming a favorite to locals and visitors alike. It’s a comfortable and inviting—the ideal spot to spend a relaxing afternoon or evening among family and friends. With an outdoor patio stage and live music, Coomber believes that having fun should be part of the experience of drinking great wine. The final stop is Orfila Vineyards Tasting Room & Kitchen. Located just one block from the beach and the Oceanside Pier, Orfila offers a modern, beautifully designed tasting room, featuring rustic accents, local artwork, and a large patio where you can drink and dine with family and friends. Try out some tasting flights of six wines from Orfila’s standard tasting menu, or the Ambassador’s Tasting menu that consists of eight wines selected from both their premium and standard menu and includes keeping the logo souvenir glass. Orfila’s fun and knowledgeable staff look forward to guiding you. Along with their award-winning wines, Orfila also offers small plates, charcuterie, artisanal cheeses, and delicious daily specials from their onsite kitchen to pair perfectly with their many wine options.

Beach House Winery 1534 Sleeping Indian Road (760) 732-3236 beachhousewinery.com @beach_house_winery

Coomber Craft Wines 611 Mission Avenue (760) 231-8022 coomberwines.com @coombercraftwinesoceanside

Orfila Vineyards Tasting Room & Kitchen 221 North Cleveland Street (760) 755-7040 orfila.com @orfilavineyards

In the last few years, the downtown has been going through an amazing transformation. We now have an amazing array of restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries to choose from. You can easily spend the whole weekend going from place-toplace sampling all we have to offer. Whether it’s an artisan a craft cocktail, live music, or some of the best local beer that ever hit your lips, the downtown area has you covered. You can also hit the Farmer’s Market and the famous Sunset Market as soon as the COVID-19 restrictions loosen up.

Prince of Peace Abbey Oceanside is fairly large city and once you leave the downtown area, you’ll find that we still boast a lot of open and rural terrain to enjoy. Calaveras trails are a great location to get out and get the heart rate pumping. They have many different trails to choose from and have an amazing view from the top of the trailhead overlooking the Carlsbad and south Oceanside horizon. Another great option is Guajome Regional Park, which is another gem to go out and discover. Located just off the 76 Highway, there’s a stellar park with multiple hiking trails and a beautiful lake to enjoy while getting some fresh country air. Our favorite location is the Prince of Peace Abbey. Located just off the 76 Highway a couple miles inland from the coast, this piece of land sits atop the north end of Oceanside and offers a breathtaking view of the Oceanside Harbor and downtown area. This one’s a bit hard to find, but well worth the discovery. There are many more hikes to enjoy here and a quick web search can get you the directions to all of these locations and many more.

As Oceanside continues to grow, the sleepy south end of town has been transformed into a hip stretch of PCH that offers everything from great local bars and restaurants to breakfast staples like Beach Break Café and The Buccaneer Café. Most of the business owners were born and raised here, and it definitely shows with our tight community of characters. From The Privateer to Captain’s Grounds Coffee, you can really feel the local community and how they live. You can also shop everything from surfboards to apothecary and everything in between. Prior to the pandemic, there was also The South O Walkabout, which was a monthly evening with live music, food, and drink specials from the many local establishments. I recommend hitting Anita’s for a margarita and working your way down the block to sample everything from sushi to great vegan fair at The Plot. If you’re from out of town and want to see how the locals do O’side—South O is the place to be.

Bird watching or “birding” has become more popular over the years as Oceanside is home to a wide variety of bird species that are attracted to its saltwater, freshwater, and brackish water locations. Oceanside is also home to a welcoming and enthusiastic group of “birders” who love to share their knowledge. A quick stop to Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center (located adjacent to the Buena Vista Lagoon) provides an abundance of resources to get started. The Nature Center is a beautiful, two-story building that offers panoramic views of the ocean and the Buena Vista Lagoon, and the staff and volunteers who run it are very helpful. The public is welcome to stop in to enjoy the interpretive displays, kid-friendly educational center, catch a tour, or take part in one of 50 guided bird walks offered each year. The Nature Center will even loan you binoculars and a field guide—the two things needed to start your birding adventure.

Buena Vista Audubon Society & Nature Center 2202 South Coast Highway (760) 439-2473 bvaudubon.org