While our wide-open beaches are the top reason visitors escape to Oceanside, exciting discoveries can be made while exploring our rich cultural heritage. From our outdoor amphitheater to historic museums, Oceanside ‘s cultural resources vary from the classic to contemporary and are enjoyed through hands-on experiences, live theater performances and thought-provoking art.
Oceanside Museum of Art is a cultural jewel located in downtown Oceanside with a view of the Pacific Ocean and the historic Oceanside Pier.
The museum is housed in a classic Irving Gill designed building that represents the flavor of Southern California in the 1930s. Providing a variety of programming that complements, OMA presents five provocative exhibits each year.
704 Pier View Way | Oceanside, CA | 92054
(760) 435-3720
Oceanside Museum of Art Website
At a time when the historical roots of many beach communities are rapidly changing and/or disappearing, the California Surf Museum is preserving the strong link between the ocean and lifestyles of the beach community. The museum actively collects, documents and preserves surfing related artifacts and memorabilia. Through a series of rotating exhibits, the California Surf Museum presents the many facets of this fervent culture.
312 Pier View Way | Oceanside, CA | 92054
(760) 721-6876
California Surf Museum Website
Known as the “King of the Missions,” Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, is the largest of the California Missions. The title “King of the Missions” was bestowed upon this California state treasure because of its expansiveness and architectural beauty. With such peaceful and inspirational surroundings, it is easy to visualize the everyday life of the Franciscan Friars and Native Americans who inhabited the Mission more than two centuries ago. The mission architecture is extraordinary. Hand carved wooden doors, bright and colorful hand painted walls and murals, the original baptismal font (made by Native Americans) of hand hammered copper, and a mixture of Classical and Baroque reredos are not to be missed. The Mission provides guided and self-guided tours, a museum, a gift shop, retreat center, and year-round special events.
4050 Mission Avenue | Oceanside, CA | 92057
(760) 757-3651
Mission San Luis Rey Website
Brooks Theatre, formally known as the Sunshine Brooks Theatre, is operated by the Oceanside Theatre Company. The Oceanside Theatre Company produces a broad range of productions and offers educational theatre and outreach programs to the community.
217 North Coast Highway | Oceanside, CA | 92054
(760) 433-8900
Brooks Theatre Website
Nestled among the rolling hills of historic Oceanside Valley, Heritage Park features the original buildings of downtown Oceanside . These original structures date from the turn of the century and feature the City’s first General Store, the Blacksmith Shop & Livery Stable, the Portola Inn, the old city jail, a doctor’s office, Libby School and The Blade Newspaper. The charm of yesteryear is beautifully captured in this historic park which serves as a dramatic backdrop for special events, education programs, and social gatherings of all kinds.
Detailed guided tours are offered weekends during the summer months.
220 Peyri Drive | Oceanside, CA | 92057
(760) 433-8297
The Star Theater is a community-based theater that is rented out for a variety of performing arts groups. Performances include music, drama, lectures, concerts and visual arts.
402 North Coast Highway | Oceanside, CA | 92054
(760) 721-9983
Oceanside Star Theater Website
Mira Costa College offers student based performances of Dance, Theater, Film, Music and Special Events.
1 Barnard Drive | Oceanside, CA | 92056
(760) 757-2121 or (888) 201-8480
Theatre Box Office: 760-795-6815
The Oceanside Historical Museum preserves Oceanside history through memorabilia, photography, and research archives. Tours are available.
305 North Nevada Street | Oceanside, CA | 92054
(760) 722-4786
Oceanside Historical Museum Website
The Kruglak Gallery offers a diverse range of contemporary exhibitions of interest to both students and the general public. The gallery is located in the Mira Costa College Student Center on the Oceanside Campus.
One Barnard Drive | Oceanside, CA | 92056
(760) 757-2121 x 6657
Kruglak Gallery Website
Brilliantly situated on a dramatic bluff overlooking the historic Oceanside Valley , the Rosicrucian Fellowship offers sanctuary from the demands of the modern world. Operating as the International Headquarters, the Fellowship aims to unite Christianity with science. There are two daily services offered to visitors who visit this National Historical Monument.
2222 Mission Ave | Oceanside, CA | 92058
(760) 757-6600.
Rosicrucian Fellowship Website
The Prince of Peace Abbey is a Benedictine Monastery situated on a mesa overlooking the San Luis Rey River Valley and the Pacific Ocean . It was founded in 1958 by monks of St. Meinrad’s Archabbey in Indiana . The facility serves as a retreat house and gardens for those seeking spiritual renewal.
650 Benet Hill Road | Oceanside, CA | 92058
(760) 967-4200 x 200
Prince of Peace Abbey
Rancho Guajome hacienda depicts a unique example of Anglo-Hispanic architecture built on an original Mexican land grant. Distinguished as a National Historic Landmark for its contribution to our nation’s history, the rambling twenty-room adobe ranch house, built with huge profits from the cattle boom of the 1850′s, bustled in its heyday with extravagant fiestas, lively rodeos, and constant visitors. Noted author Helen Hunt Jackson stayed at Guajome while she gathered material for her famous novel Ramona. Guajome County Park also offers a rich riparian area, marshes, spring-fed lakes, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and camping.
2210 N. Santa Fe Ave | Vista, CA | 92083
(760) 724-4082
Rancho Guajome Adobe
At the absolute southern edge of Oceanside, you’ll find the Buena Vista Audubon Society’s Nature Center. Sited on the Buena Vista Lagoon, the Center offers a variety of natural history experiences. In the course of an afternoon, you can walk amid native plants to see views of the lagoon and its bird life, discover tracks along the shore that reveal the night’s animal visitors, tour the garden of native plants, find the world’s tiniest mammals in one of the exhibits of local habitat, learn what endangered species live in the lagoon and challenge your children with nature games.
2202 South Coast Hwy | Oceanside, CA | 92054
(760) 439-BIRD (2473).
Buena Vista Audubon Society Nature Center Website
The Farmers Market is a delightful way to mingle with the locals and experience our fresh, homegrown, organic produce, botanicals and scrumptious baked goods.
The Morning Farmers Market: Every Thursday from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
The Sunset Farmers Market: Every Thursday from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
Corner of Coast Highway and Pier View Way
(760) 754-4512
MainStreet Oceanside Website
Come and see the Museum Quality HO Gauge Model Trains displayed in Boney’s Marketplace.
1820 Oceanside Blvd | Oceanside, CA | 92054
(760) 722-7366
North County Model Railroad Website
The mission of the Museum of Making Music is to celebrate the rich history and encourage the future of music making.
The Museum of Making Music explores the multifaceted history of the American music products industry from its beginnings in the 1890s to today. The Museum tells stories of hard work, challenge, inspiration and pioneering innovation, and reveals the profound relationship between the industry, popular music, and global culture.
5790 Armada Drive | Carlsbad, CA | 92008
(760) 438-8964 or (877) 551-9976
The Museum of Making Music
928 North Coast Hwy | Oceanside, CA 92054
