Family Fun in Oceanside

Stop by the Oceanside California Welcome Center  to plan your trip!

Trip Length: 3 days

 
Day 1

Start your day right with breakfast at the historic 101 Café , the oldest continuously operating restaurant on the historic 101 Highway. Guests may enjoy comfort food all day (from 6:30 a.m. to midnight) in a fun atmosphere filled with historic photos and memorabilia.

Next, take time to surf, swim, skate or bike. Enjoy one of California's finest beaches via Action Beach. Located one and a half blocks from the Oceanside Pier, Action Beach surf shop is dedicated to outfitting everything you need for the beach, including surfboard, body board and wetsuit rentals. Create a memorable photographic experience for the entire family – take advantage of their surfing lessons.

While at the beach, don't miss a stroll down the longest over-water wooden pier on the West Coast. The first Oceanside Pier was completed 1888 while the current pier, the 6th, spans nearly 2,000 feet from the street. For a tasty treat, don't miss Ruby's Diner . Located at the end of the Pier, one of Ruby's milkshakes makes for a great reward.

Return to your accommodations for R&R before dinner, then wake up your taste buds to a unique experience – authentic Cuban cuisine complete with sounds of tropical music. Azafran is located off Highway 101. If you're up for a movie, cruise north to Mission Avenue, where you'll find Regal Cinemas . From children's movies to the latest dramatic hits, Regal offers 16 screening rooms of entertainment.

Day 2

Enjoy breakfast at the Beach Break, a quaint café filled with surfing artifacts and photos. This local favorite serves up heaps of good grub for breakfast and lunch (7 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Head South on Highway 101 for a scenic drive to LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad. Whether you're a kid or just a kid at heart, any visitor will enjoy this amazing wonderland of LEGOS. From city skylines made entirely of LEGOS to thundering roller coasters, the park offers more than 50 rides, shows and attractions ideal for kids 12 and under. In order to discover it all, plan to spend most of your day.

After freshening up, you'll be ready for a fun-filled evening at Joe's Crab Shack in Oceanside's beautiful Harbor Village. According to Joe, the key to his success was to "Build a tacky looking shack of a restaurant, give the interior the feel of a Gulf Coast fishing camp and serve all the different kinds of crabs, cooked in a myriad of ways." With an entertaining staff and plenty of visuals, Joe's Crab Shack provides an ideal atmosphere for the entire family.

Day 3

Head back to Oceanside Harbor for a scenic whale watching tour or an adventurous sports fishing trip aboard one of Helgren's Sportfishing  vessels. Whether you delight in a rare glimpse of the California Grey Whale migrating or wish to celebrate your first "catch" in the Pacific, there's nothing like a trip over the great ocean blue, complete with the warm sun and salty air. Whale watching trips are seasonal, while sport fishing and other tours are available year round.

Step off the boat for a short stroll to the locals’ favorite little fish house, Harbor Fish and Chips. While visiting the Harbor, don't miss strolling around the charming Cape Cod-style Harbor Village, with trendy shops and quaint cafés complete with a colorful lighthouse. You can even power your own rig through Boat Rentals of America . They offer hourly rentals on jet skis, power and sailboats, kayaks, pedal boats and electric bay boats.

To top off your day of sun and sea, stop by one of the village markets for hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting at nearby Harbor Beach. There are covered picnic areas along with fire rings, barbecues and child play equipment. Its wide sandy beaches are perfect for sunbathing, volleyball, Frisbee, swimming, surfing, or just relaxing in the warm glow of the sunset – a perfect ending to a perfect trip.