Podiatrist in Oceanside, CA

OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA – Visitors to this southern California seaside town will still find remnants of the days when it was best known as a place for soldiers stationed at nearby Camp Pendleton to blow off steam. There are old-style movie theatres and diners, and a number of small barber shops proudly flying the Stars and Stripes and offering haircuts for as little as $11.

The Changing Face of Oceanside, CA

But things have begun to change in Oceanside. A new Wyndham hotel appeared a few years ago by the water. SpringHill Suites by Marriott followed. And then came the Mission Pacific and the Seabird, two sparkling, boutique hotels with rooftop bars that sprung up in former parking lots overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Goodbye, greasy bacon and eggs, hello avocado toast.

“Fifteen years ago, nobody wanted to come downtown,” says Kim Heim of the Oceanside Business Association. “There would be military guys in the bars and fights spilling out in the streets.” (I did a little research on the history of the town and read that there used to be billboards along the highway advising folks to “Tan Your Hide in Oceanside.”)

Oceanside Street Market

Heim decided a street market might bring in folks who’d been hesitant to venture downtown. There were some early clashes, “but eventually the interests of the many outweighed the interests of the few,” he said.

“All of a sudden, it was ‘boom!’ The public adopted the market. And now we get 400,000 people a year.”

During the day, you’ll find vendors selling t-shirts, candles, and California-themed gear. At night, the vendors are supplemented by roughly 100 food trucks, offering everything from Greek food to genuine Thai and thick, rich cream puffs.

Kim shuffles off and comes back with a large plate of southern Thailand-style Pad Thai, which has a hint of coconut and is utterly fabulous.

“I wanted food to be the real focus,” Heim says. “And I wanted it to be authentic. The empanada truck is run by a fellow from Venezuela. The Pad Thai truck is run by a family from Thailand.”

The market was flooded with people from all walks of life on the night we visited. People noshed on ribs, North African-style chicken, and Hong Kong noodles as they walked along the market’s four city blocks, which are closed off to cars. On the edge of the market, a woman of a certain age was sitting alone singing show tunes your grandmother would know. In the middle of the action, a large band was playing the ska tune “Monkey Man.”

“I don’t think this market would work in Del Mar or La Jolla,” both posh suburbs of San Diego. But it works in Oceanside, attracting diverse people from both San Diego County and nearby Orange County.

“People like to rub elbows with other people in an authentic setting,” Heim tells me. “Here you’ll find people who can’t rub two nickels together mingling with millionaires. And you can’t tell them apart.”

The Sunset Market is a terrific spot to mingle with locals, and save on a nice meal. See what’s on at the Sunset Market here.

Flashy Hotels and Rooftop Pools

The most grabby new arrivals are Mission Pacific and Seabird Resor, both flashy hotels with rooftop pools and bars, plenty of colourful local art, and a distinctly youthful feel.

The Mission Pacific has a very nice top floor bar with craft cocktails and fine views of the city and the beach, including Oceanside’s 1,942-foot-long (592 meters) pier, said to be the longest wooden pier on the west coast of the U.S. There’s also a lovely pool.

Seabird Resort is a bit more family-oriented and shows “dive-in” movies at the rooftop pool. You’ll also find a fun games room with pool tables and vivid, primary colours.

“The hotels were game changers for Oceanside,” said Mission Pacific Marketing Manager Alison Norwood. “This was the largest beachfront development in San Diego County in the last 50 years.”

Things to do in Oceanside, California

Resting on the front side of the Mission Pacific is a fine Victorian home that was moved here from another part of town. It was the beach house featured in the original Top Gun movie. The house now offers a place selling ice cream pies and displays memorabilia from the movie.

If you need to work off one of the ice-cream pies, try renting a bike and taking a ride along the city’s paved coastal trail. This coastal trail is an easy cycling path that runs 4.7 miles along the waterfront. The plan is to expand it to 44 miles to run between Oceanside and San Diego.

Another great way to work up a sweat is a kayak ride in the tidy Oceanside harbor, where you’ll find everything from humble houseboats to gleaming yachts. The harbor also is home to massive sea lions, who sometimes rest on a raft that was built for them but seem to prefer lounging on the back section of whatever boat tickles their fancy. Take a minute to admire some of the clever boat names as you glide along, including Deep Devocean, Liquid Liability, and Kelpless, which perhaps belongs to a Neil Young fan.

Kayaking: Boats for Rent offers up kayaks for $30 for an hour or $40 for two hours. They also have stand-up paddleboards, electric boats and other rentals. There’s a nice village at the harbor, with a waterfront restaurant, small shops and a coffee place.

Tucked up in the hills you’ll find Mission San Luis Rey, the largest of the 21 missions built by Spanish explorers who were trying to convert local Indians to Christianity (and take their land). It’s a beautiful, white structure with soaring arches and a pretty chapel. There’s also a nice museum that tells the story of the Spanish missions, as well as the indigenous people who have lived here for thousands of years.

Mission San Luis Rey is a great spot for anyone interested in California history. Visit Mission San Luis Rey to help plan your visit.

The Oceanside Pier is a fine place to take in the sunset or watch surfers in action. This popular landmark is one of the longest wooden piers on the West Coast extending 1,942 feet into the Pacific. Take a stroll along this historic landmark that dates back to 1888. It is always buzzing with activity and there are several restaurants and cafes nearby with other amenities including restrooms and fishing gear rentals.

Oceanside Pier has been featured in many Hollywood films and TV shows including Top Gun. See what’s happening at Oceanside Pier.

Back downtown is the fine Oceanside Museum of Art. When we visited we found a wide array of paintings including wild pop art, sunny landscapes, wavy, metallic sculptures, and work by local Black artists. The Oceanside Museum of Art is a bright, compact spot for art lovers. Visit their website for current events and exhibitions

A short walk away is the Oceanside Surf Museum, which displays a monstrous, heavy wood board used by Duke Kahanamoku and the board that legendary surfer Bethany Hamilton was riding in Hawaii when she was attacked by a shark and lost her arm. The store also sells surf books, coffee mugs, and vintage Hawaiian shirts.

The California Surf Museum is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys surfing, or watching surfers in action. Visit their website for more details.

How to Get to Oceanside, CA

One of the big advantages to Oceanside is that it’s located on a train line that connects San Diego with Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. The train station is a couple blocks from the beach and a five-minute walk from the main downtown hotels. A ride from San Diego costs only about $20 USD and takes just an hour. The train also stops in the booming beach town of Carlsbad, which has a fine downtown and a lovely beach.

Where to Stay in Oceanside

The Mission Pacific is a gorgeous boutique property across the street from the beach that’s part of the JDV by Hyatt collection. Most rooms have at least a partial ocean view. The rooftop bar serves up luscious cocktails in a sexy setting. Their Hi-Low restaurant serves up fresh California fare and has a nice outdoor terrace, while Valle features cuisine by award-winning Chef Robert Alcocer. For the rooftop bar, try the Moonlight cocktail with gin, strawberry and hibiscus tea.

Next door, The Seabird Resort, a Destination by Hyatt property, is a little more youthful and flashy, but just as well done. There’s also a lovely spa, and a small kiosk selling Top Gun paraphernalia. Both hotels have tons of local art that’s curated by the Oceanside Museum of Art.

Where to Eat in Oceanside

Craft Coast Tacos and Beer serves up nice, local beers and good tacos. The guacamole could use a boost of spice.

Beach Break Cafe is a great, surf and skateboard-themed breakfast spot in south Oceanside. The avocado omelette appeared to have half an avocado stuffed inside, and the eggs came with a small mountain of potatoes.

The Lab Collaborative serves up everything from burgers and pasta to jerk pork and steak salad. The wine prices were quite reasonable when we visited.

For more information on visiting Oceanside, California check out VisitOceanside.org

Why would I want to pay what is one of the highest tax rates in America to support state leaders who cannot seem to solve this massive problem?

By Byron HarlanCommunity voices contributor

Aug. 18, 2023 9:33 AM PT

Harlan is a financial planner who lives in Little Italy.

It’s difficult to admit this, not that I’m a San Diego native, because I’m quite proud of that, but I’ve decided that eventually I’m going to make Florida my new home state. The reasons are simultaneously simple and complicated. California has become a shell of what it used to be, based on my experience that spans more than 60 years and, sadly, it no longer makes economic sense to maintain California as my primary residence.

My wife and I have the good fortune of running our own financial planning practice. Our job is to enable people to achieve their goals, which usually includes the ability to stop working one day, but the amount of inflation the entire nation has experienced over the course of the last several months as well as California’s high-income tax rates have convinced my wife and I, and more than a few people we know, to consider leaving the state. Our practice has experienced steady growth, but with that income growth comes higher taxes and the stout cost of housing here, along with everything else. I’ve encountered more than a few people who say they can barely afford to maintain a home here in San Diego. It’s extremely challenging from a planning perspective to overcome both inflation and California’s tax tables.

Then there’s this — I was born in the old National City Medical hospital, the one that no longer stands. I grew up in Southeast San Diego during the 1960s, and I never remember seeing homeless folks, but now their numbers have exploded, and they occupy nearly every part of the city I know. Why would I want to pay what is one of the highest tax rates in America to support state leaders who cannot seem to solve this massive problem? The governor and state leaders have been vowing for years to fix things. They’ve spent billions of dollars — taxpayer dollars, my dollars and yours — and things have only gotten worse. I know, it’s a thorny problem, and tragic at so many levels, but that does not excuse politicians for taking in huge chunks of money that people earn through their hard work and spending it in ways that appear to be doing more harm than good. My wife and I used to enjoy traveling to San Francisco. You could not pay me to visit that city these days, and that’s a shame.

Please bear in mind that these views do not come from a left- or right-leaning perspective. They come from a lifelong libertarian, a voice rarely heard in mainstream media. It is a privilege to share these thoughts, and it’s an honor to have the space in this publication to express these ideas. It’s for this reason and others that I still believe in America. I still believe that the city, state and nation will be OK in time, but it may take time, perhaps a long time, which is why I’ll likely be in Florida when the good times return.

Today, we travel the beautiful beach & surfing town of Oceanside California. Sarah Jenkins helps us discover the beach activities, museums, food, and wellness options available there.

To find out more, go to VisitOceanside.org

Road Trippin' is sponsored by GeneralRV

< >California Surf Museum

Sarah is with Jim Kempton, the Board President of the California Surf Museum and their surfing history exhibits.

Located two-blocks from the pier, CSM is an Oceanside favorite and chronicles the exciting history of surf-related sports. The museums newest exhibit, The Science of Surfing, explores the many surprising connections between science and the advancement of modern surfing. The Science of Surfing is a new multi-media exhibit carefully curated to comply with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and the California Next Generation Science Standards and is a learning tool for students from elementary school through high school and beyond. This entertaining and educational display highlights wave energy, tides, types of surf breaks and conditions as well as custodianship of our oceans, which is explained through a series of charts, diagrams, photographs, art, and the use of video monitors. By blending history and science, the display covers a wide variety of information designed to engage all visitors, regardless of their familiarity with surfing.

To find out more, go to VisitOceanside.org

Mission San Luis Rey

Sarah visits with Gwyn Grimes, the Executive Director of the Mission San Luis Rey.

Celebrating its 225th anniversary in 2023, Mission San Luis Rey is known as the “King of the Missions.” It was founded in 1798 and is a prime example of Spanish Colonial architecture with Moorish influences. The Mission offers a live glimpse into California’s past through its interpretive museum, artifacts and Franciscan heritage. Self-guided tours, educational lectures and retreat stays are part of the Mission’s offerings. The public is welcome to attend mass (English and Spanish available) and enjoy meditation in the beautiful gardens. Public events in the historic gardens offer visitors and the community unique cultural experiences.

To find out more, go to VisitOceanside.org

Oceanside Sunset Market

Sarah is with Kim Heim of Main Street Oceanside to discuss Oceanside's Sunset Market.

Main Street Oceanside’s Sunset Market activates the downtown evening scene each Thursday with residents and visitors who gather to enjoy a variety of food vendors serving an impressive selection of international cuisines, locally made gourmet goodies, desserts, eclectic shopping and live entertainment.

To find out more, go to Oceanside Sunset Market

Sarah is with Captain Ernie Prieto of the Oceanside Sea Center to discuss their tours.

Explore the wonders of the Oceanside with Oceanside Sea Center at the Oceanside Harbor. Families can explore a giant aquarium in the shop, then explore via an eco-tour, which introduces guests to wildlife and other wonders of the ocean.

Oceanside Harbor is a sure bet whether seeking surf, sand or seaside fun. This wide-sandy beach offers a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere, with waves suitable for swimming and boogie boarding, fire pits great for evening s’mores, volleyball courts and a playground. Harbor beach surf breaks are epic too and are a favorite training and contest location for the USA Surfing team. Surrounding the beach is a New England style harbor with a fun harbor village featuring dining, shopping and sweet treats. There are also endless recreation options from fishing and kayaking to boating, whale watching and jet-skiing. Oceanside Harbor Beach is romantic too. In fact, visitors can celebrate a loved one, birthday, anniversary or other special occasion by leaving a love lock at the new beach front “Love the O” interactive sculpture. The beautiful piece of public art also provides opportunities for fun and dramatic photos— especially as the sun sets and shines directly through the sculpture’s open-heart center.

To find out more, go to OceansideSeaCenter.com

Wellness Retreat Options

Sarah is with Alison Norwood, the Marketing Manager, Mission Pacific Hotel and the Seabird Resort, to discuss the Wellness retreat Options offered in Oceanside, CA.

Sister properties Mission Pacific Hotel and The Seabird Resort bring an upscale vibe to the Oceanside coast. The new resorts are situated on 700 feet of pristine oceanfront near the historic pier and beach strand with ocean views from nearly every room. Here, the whole family can enjoy beach inspired wellness activities from rooftop yoga each morning to pampering at Sunny’s Spa & Beauty Lounge, pool play and a day at the beach complete with everything you need courtesy of the Beach Rambler, situated right on the Strand. The vintage Beach Rambler camper features rental games like volleyball and cornhole to health-conscious food and drink and distinctly Southern Californian beach apparel and supplies, allowing guests to simply show up and soak up the sun. Dating back to 1941, the vintage George T. Hall Company rambler is the only remaining model of its kind, meticulously restored to its original glory by Jeremy Phillips, owner and operator of Hutchbilt design.

To find out more, go to VisitOceanside.org

Sarah is with Alison Norwood again to visit the Top Gun House, a historic Oceanside landmark now home to High Pie.

Following an extensive renovation and relocation to Mission Pacific Hotel’s beachfront courtyard, Oceanside’s historic Top Gun House has reopened as the home of HIGH-Pie. The classic 1887 Queen Anne Cottage was featured in the 1986 movie Top Gun and today evokes the enduring nostalgia of the beloved film franchise with memorabilia for visitors to enjoy including a refurbished Kawasaki Ninja ZX900 motorcycle identical to the one Tom Cruise rode in the film. HIGH-pie, conceived by chef Tara Lazar, features signature hand pies filled with compote made from seasonal, locally picked fruits. To-go offerings are bundled into creatively designed house-shaped collectible boxes, evoking 1950’s military design, with vintage composition and red, white, and blue Americana color palettes. Today, the Top Gun House is once again widely enjoyed as an architectural jewel and historic treasure of Oceanside.

City, county and state officials gathered on Friday for the opening of Oceanside’s first municipal homeless shelter.

The year-round 50-bed homeless shelter will offer a variety of support services and case management, according to city officials.

"Our goal is not just to provide a bed for the night, but to provide our residents with the tools and resources they need to break the cycle of homelessness," Mayor Esther Sanchez said. "By providing a range of services under one roof, we can make a real difference in the lives of Oceansiders who are struggling."

The Oceanside Navigation Center is intended to transition "individuals into a stable and healthy permanent living situation."

The city purchased the property — a former school located at 3131 Oceanside Blvd. — and has invested in major renovations and upgrades, including new windows, a new HVAC system and new roof, as well as a fire sprinkler system, sewer lines, showers, kitchen, furniture, computers, landscaping and ADA improvements. The project was partially funded by a grant of $3.3 million from the county and $2.25 million in federal funding secured by Rep. Mike Levin.

Oceanside entered into a three-year contract with the San Diego Rescue Mission to operate the Navigation Center.

The agreement was for the city to cover the costs of the remodel while the San Diego Rescue Mission takes care of the operating costs.

"Do you know how this place is getting funded? By private donors. We're not taking any money from the city or from the county, from the state, from HUD to operate this place. We’re raising $1.2 million dollars a year to operate this on your behalf," said Donnie Dee, president and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission.

Dee said the shelter has a low barrier to entry.

"So you can have a pet, you can have a physical disability, you can be inebriated, you can have mental health challenges, so long as you're not a danger to yourself or anybody else and that you can live by the rules that we have, then we have a spot for you," he said.

The Oceanside navigation center will work in conjunction with the San Diego Rescue Mission’s other facilities.

"Let us help you figure out where you go next. It may be downtown. It may be to another facility, but this is the system we're building so we can begin to move people from living on the streets to living again," Dee said.

People will be offered a 30-day stay at the Oceanside navigation center on a referral basis only.

"It is not a walk-in facility, so it is referral only, and generally most of the referrals will come through our own homeless outreach team, which is the HOT team, so most of the referrals will come from that entity," said Jonathan Borrego, the Oceanside city manager.

He said other referrals would come from service partners and the city’s housing department.

The first clients going into Oceanside’s navigation center will be people who previously had hotel vouchers.

The San Diego Rescue Mission will run the shelter for a year before considering expanding it to 100 beds.

The city is still completing ADA requirements before clients can be accepted. The facility will include 24-hour staffing, security and daytime activities.

Corrected: July 18, 2023 at 5:21 PM PDT

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story contained information that may have misled readers to think the shelter opened this week. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is this week. The official opening with clients accepted will occur in the next few weeks.

Property owners’ illegal additions must be taken out when aging rock revetment is repaired, agency staff says

Nine private stairways and other illegally installed backyard improvements must be removed when Oceanside property owners repair the aging two-block-long boulder seawall that protects their homes from the surf, the California Coastal Commission said Thursday.

The stairs, back-fill material and concrete were added without the required permits along the 900 and 1000 blocks of South Pacific Street, commission staffers said. Now the owners must remove the additions when they repair the seawall, parts of which have fallen onto the beach and sunk into the sand.

“We are really interested in seeing all that unpermitted development get removed,” said commission Chair Donne Brownsey.

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Oceanside’s Planning Commission approved the wall repairs in March 2022, but an appeal to the Coastal Commission was filed by the Surfrider Foundation, the Oceanside residents group Citizens for Preservation of Parks and Beaches, and two coastal commissioners. The appeal cited concerns about public access, public safety hazards, and unpermitted development.

“This is an issue that’s going to continue to come to the commission, and perhaps increasingly,” said Brownsey, one of the two commissioners who appealed the city’s decision.

The commission originally authorized the construction of the rock wall, also known as a revetment, in 1978 at the rear of 19 homes north and south of the western end of Marron Street. Like all of South Oceanside’s beaches, the shoreline is badly eroded and the revetment protects private property from high tides, big surf and storm surges.

Commission staffers recommended approval of the repair permit, but with the addition of 17 conditions including the removal of the improvements homeowners installed illegally over the years.

A spokesman for the property owners, Mark Dillon, did not oppose any of the conditions recommended by the commission staff.

Mitch Silverstein, policy coordinator for the San Diego chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, thanked the commission for supporting the appeal and adding the conditions.

“This addresses the majority of our concerns,” Silverstein said, adding that beach access in the area remains restricted by the seawall. He asked the commission to continue monitoring the area.

“I just don’t trust the applicants,” he said. “They do lots of unpermitted development. We have to watch to continue to make sure we don’t lose our public access.”

As recently as last month a property owner added another improvement without a permit, a Coastal Commission staffer said.

Concrete was poured Sept. 20 for a retaining wall to protect a beachfront home at 929 South Pacific St. City officials issued a notice of violation Sept. 29 and asked for the wall to be removed.

Other things that must be taken out as a condition to get the permit for wall repairs include a fireplace, decking and more retaining walls, according to the commission staff.

Additional conditions required for the repair permit include that all rock added or re-stacked in the work must be on the landward side, not the seaside, of the existing wall.

Also, the conditions reduce the amount of new rock to be added to the seawall from 20 percent of the total volume to a little more than 9 percent of the total volume.

The applicant also must replace the ice plant growing along the wall with native vegetation and install a new bike rack and a public bench at the end of Marron Road.

Removal of the rocks that have been dislodged onto the beach and their replacement on the wall will increase the size of the beach available to the public, the commission report states.

Construction will be done for several hours a day during low tides and low wave conditions, with access from the end of Marron Road.