Operation Hangout: Marine Reunion in Oceanside

Your next get together with your USMC unit or squadron doesn’t need to be a formal occasion or conference. Come hang out and play together in Oceanside where you and your crew can reconnect while enjoying a shared outing. We’ve listed a few of our favs below.

Beach Landings

With 3 miles of coastline, the beaches in Oceanside are a hub of activity, serving up the fun from mild to wild experiences. Perfect for the casual hang out with just the right amount of radical mixed in for your adrenaline pumping adventures. There is nothing better than spending a day at the beach, walking along the Pier, biking the Strand, and roasting s’mores over a bonfire. As authentic and as iconic as Camp Pendleton, surfing has deep roots in Oceanside. Take a group lesson and learn the surfing basics to get you up and riding the waves or improve on your skills! Get stoked and feel those endorphins pumping from the sheer power of nature. Feel the zen after a little wave therapy.

Amphibious Explorations

Oceanside Harbor has numerous ways for your gang to get out to sea. Small groups can rent kayaks, paddleboards, and electric boats and explore the harbor, or you can hop on the Oceanside Adventures Catamaran and check out our local sea life including dolphins, sea lions, and migrating whales. There are daily tours available or you can book your own private charter. Sportfishing is another great way to catch up with your crew so jump on one of the daily trips being offered out of our harbor.

Aerial Adventures

Ready to take this hangout hardcore? Feel the breeze at GoJump Oceanside as they take you on an outstanding tandem skydive experience. This is the only Skydive Center in Southern California where you will have a full ocean view during your entire freefall from 13,000 feet. In addition, single jumpers from all around the world are welcome with a USPA license and a minimum of 50 Jumps in your logbook. If these heights drop a bit outside your comfort zone, feel the exhilaration of indoor skydiving at iFly Oceanside where you can experience the feeling of flight in a wind tunnel environment. You won’t be able to stop smiling from all this awesomeness.

Taking the Hill

You probably could golf anywhere in the world, but at Goat Hill Park in Oceanside, you can golf in barefeet. Originally built in 1952 as a regulation length 9 hole par 36 layout, Center City Golf Course was the first golf course in San Diego county. The course was redesigned in the early 90‘s by Ludwig Keehn into an 18 hole short course and became known as “Goat Hill” to locals. It is loved for its ocean views, fresh breeze, authentic atmosphere, and raw golf feel. Quite simply, you will have a hard time finding a more challenging short course with as many unique holes anywhere in the country. After your game, grab a cold one and hang out by the fire pit in their open air patio. 

Chow Hall Duty

Your foodie friends will appreciate being able to experience a variety of Oceanside’s chef inspired cuisine and cocktails while simultaneously learning a bit more about Oceanside’s history and what’s in store for its future. Carla & Linda’s Walking Food Tours host scheduled tours, but you can also arrange for a private one just for your friends. The tours guide you to four specially chosen restaurants in coastal Oceanside. You will spend approximately 45 minutes per restaurant sampling chef recommended specialties. Bring your comfy shoes and your appetite. 

Suds and Buds

San Diego County is home to a number of widely known, well-respected, and award winning craft breweries. Lucky for us, the craft beer craze has cruised up the coast and has taken root in Oceanside. Located along the western edge of San Diego’s “Hops Highway,” Oceanside is a craft beer powerhouse with nine craft breweries, and more on the horizon. Taprooms are also a big part of the local brew scene, featuring rotating regional beers and hosting tap take over events inviting customers to experience the unique flavors from regional brewers. Either choose a spot from our list of Oceanside Breweries to kick back and spend some time at or put together an Oceanside Beer Crawl, but be sure safe transportation is provided to all.

PT for Charity

Holidays can be tough on Marines that aren’t near home so this might just be the perfect time to call up your friends. Every Thanksgiving Oceanside is home to the Pacific Marine Credit Union O’side Turkey Trot, recognized as one of the Top Trots in the country by Runner’s World Magazine and the Los Angeles Times, attracting visitors from 46 States and 460 cities. It’s a bit silly, a lot of fun, but is also quite competitive, especially the costume contest. 

Oceanside’s event calendar is packed with physical fitness tests. Check it out to plan your next trip and start training now!

The bond with those that you served with is truly like no other. Only your comrades, who have done what you have done and have been where you have been, truly understand you. Marine reunions provide the opportunity to reconnect and strengthen ties with a group of people who shared a meaningful time in your life. Tell your buddies it’s time to reunite and return to Oceanside, where it all began.

Where to Set Up Camp

Our hotels are offering the following deals. If you double-time it, you can take advantage of these for your next Marine Hangout. Specials are also available for Military Reunions, Change of Command Ceremonies, or Retirement Celebrations.

Want a little help putting all of these fun ideas together? Reach out to our Destination Consultants that offer complimentary planning assistance, or request our Group Gathering Guide below. When contacting any of our partners listed above, be sure to ask if there is a military discount available.