Kickin’ back in Oceanside

If you’re going to name a town for its greatest asset, the town fathers of Oceanside seem to have got that one right. Today more city than town, Oceanside is dressing up the city’s three and a half miles of wide, sandy beaches by bringing in new waterfront hotels, trendy restaurants and expensive homes and condos that all combine to beckon tourists from literally around the world.

The old rap on Oceanside, home to Camp Pendleton, was that it was a military town and not the place to invest millions in your new beachfront home. All of that has changed as the tiny beach bungalows have given way to lavish new homes while the city has attracted businesses and resort infrastructure so inviting that 17% of visitors come from Europe. Visitors have long enjoyed the robust selection of vacation rentals in Oceanside, but now hotel and resort-goers are finding many more hotel options with a good selection of restaurants and tourist attractions sprinkled into the mix.

On our most recent visit to Oceanside, we stayed at the Wyndham Ocean Pier Resort, which opened in early 2008. With arguably the best location in the city – right across from the popular Oceanside Pier – the resort both sells and rents its units. From our sixth-floor unit, the views of the beach and nearby Oceanside neighborhoods were spectacular.

On the weekend we visited, Oceanside made good on its reputation as a legendary surf town. A competition was under way where surfers were doing some amazing maneuvers right next to the pier. From the beach, atop a platform, several judges were studying every move and awarding points. Beach-goers and sun-worshippers watched the surfers attentively. Surfing’s in the DNA around here.

Just a short jog up the beach is another popular recreation area, Oceanside Harbor. Fishing charters are available, or you can paddle a kayak around the harbor on tours offered by OEX Kayak. When you’ve worked up an appetite, there are several harbor-front restaurants that are ideal for fish and chips with an ocean view.

For history buffs, it’s just a short drive to the Mission San Luis Rey, which has been undergoing millions of dollars in improvements. The “King of the Missions” is a National Historic Landmark and was founded in 1798. Located on 56 acres, the mission is adding walking trails and interpretive gardens to display plant life that was common during the early life at the mission.