Known for its iconic wooden pier, wide sandy beaches, charming harbor, and vibrant downtown, Oceanside is not only a coastal gem but also a rising star in the San Diego food scene. But what if you’re craving something off the beaten path- a little quirky, unexpected, and totally unforgettable?
Look no further! Whether you’re a thrill-seeker, an art lover, or someone who just loves discovering hidden gems, Oceanside has you covered with these one-of-a-kind experiences. And for even more unique adventures, check out the Oceanside Activity Marketplace– your go-to hub for booking local tours, workshops, and hands-on experiences that showcase the best of O’side!
Oceanside Harbor Excursions
Enjoy Oceanside’s quaint New-England style Harbor Village, complete with shops, restaurants and a lighthouse! The harbor is a charming spot to go on an ocean adventure by chartering a relaxing sailboat at sunset with Pacific Coast Sail Charters, embarking on a thrilling whale-watching expedition with Oceanside Adventures, getting up close with the most incredible marine mammals with an Oceanside Coastal Expeditions dolphin tour, or joining a sport fishing excursion hosted by Oceanside Sea Center or Helgren’s Sportfishing! While visiting the harbor, you can embrace a chill vibe by packing a picnic and taking in the picturesque view of docked sailboats while listening to our O’riginal sea lions barking and playing in the water.
Fun Ways To Ride
Cruise the beach in style with these fun rental options in Oceanside! Looking for some two-wheel motorized fun? Ride O’side’s fat tire electric scooters offer a smooth yet exciting way to ride around our beautiful coastal town. For groups that like to take things at a slower pace, look no further than Wheel Fun Rentals and their fun two or four person surreys which can be rented right on The Strand, just below the Oceanside Pier. This is a “must-do” with kids for an afternoon of laughter and fun.
Have you ever been in a motorcycle sidecar? Experience this unique tour through Oceanside with Pegasus Sidecar Tours. Your personal driver and guide will take you on a tour around our stunning coastline and wine country in their top-of-the-line 2-person sidecar rigs. Go for a 1-hour cruise through all of the major O’side hotspots including The Strand, Oceanside Harbor and Mission San Luis Rey. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, the 3-hour Winery and Classic Automotive Museum tour will include an O’side tour and then an excursion out to the local Deer Park Winery and Deer Park Automotive Museum.
BONUS: Riders can pick up Visit Oceanside’s bike map for tips on where to ride and sites to see along the way. Available at Oceanside’s California Welcome Center, the pocket-sized map features handy information such as route descriptions and rate of difficulty, unique sightseeing opportunities and even places to fuel up before, during and after a ride.
Parasail along the coast
Soar above the stunning coastline with Top Gun Parasail, the ultimate high-flying adventure in Oceanside! Offering breathtaking views of the Pacific, this exhilarating experience lets you glide effortlessly over the ocean, making for an unforgettable thrill.
No experience is needed—just sit back, relax, and take in the panoramic scenery as you ascend up to 800 feet in the air. Whether you’re seeking a solo adrenaline rush or a fun outing with friends, Top Gun Parasail is a must-try for locals and visitors alike. Plus, with tandem and triple flights available, you can share the adventure and create lasting memories together!
Visit A Local Farm Stand
Located in the Inland Valley neighborhood of Oceanside, Mellano Farm Stand is a locally owned and operated farm stand that offers a fun, family-friendly day out in the sun. Now a certified farmers market, Mellano Farm Stand features a fresh selection of locally grown produce and seasonal flowers. Enjoy their robust calendar of events including Community Block Parties and holiday festivals with live music and food trucks. Take a ride on their fun tractor tour, let the kids experience curated crafts, go strawberry picking at their U-Pick fields, or simply shop for farm-fresh goods straight from the source!
Arrowood Golf Course
Experience the new additions to Arrowood Golf Course! You now have the opportunity to play the same ball-tracking technology that traces the golf shots of the game’s best golf pros with their Toptracer Range. Toptracer Range offers instant shot replies and statistical feedback on interactive screens so you can improve your golf game and have fun while doing it.
Outdoor Skydiving
For an unmatched view of the coast, the adventurous types can partake in a truly unique skydiving experience. The only one of its type on Southern California’s coast, GoJump Oceanside offers skydivers 13,000 feet in the air views that not only include the ocean and beaches below, but even San Diego to the south, Catalina Island to the west, and Dana Point to the north! This experience will truly take you breath away.
Self Guided Mural Tour
If you’ve ever driven through Downtown or South Oceanside, there’s a good chance you spotted a few colorful murals along the way. The love of the arts runs deep in Oceanside. So much so our city is defined by the California Arts Council as one of fourteen state-recognized cultural districts! This passion is most obviously portrayed on the exterior of many downtown buildings, both new and old, which often feature vibrant colored murals that seem to almost pop off the walls.
With over two dozen murals within our coastal neighborhood, the best way to view them all is to take a self-guided tour. No need to aimlessly search however, we’ve done the hard work for you by compiling the location and a picture of each mural so that you can create your own route and stop by all of your favorites for that perfect urban selfie!
Click on the top, left map icon to expand specific mural location information
Click on the top, right icon to open in Google Maps application
Board and Small Vessel Experiences
The waves along the beach in Oceanside Harbor are legendary! Don’t miss an opportunity to hang ten and take a surf lesson from Learn to Rip. If you prefer to stay in the Harbor area, you can still get out on the water and have some serious fun when you rent kayaks, stand up paddleboards or pedal boats from Oceanside Boat Rentals!
Thursday Market Day
Thursdays are some of the best days in Oceanside, with people coming from far and wide to participate and experience the wonderfully diverse Farmers Market taking place every week, year round. Then return for the evening Sunset Market featuring endless rows of food and craft vendors, as well as live music! Located centrally in Downtown Oceanside, visitors will be treated to an expansive sea of pop-up tents filling the streets, each with their own unique sights and smells that contribute to a visceral experience that will have your senses firing on all cylinders!
Operating from 9am to 1pm, the Farmers Market is the perfect place to pick up fresh local produce, blooming and fragrant flowers, gourmet treats, freshly baked goods, organic honey and more. Operating from 5pm to 9pm, the Sunset Market enhances the market experience featuring dozens of craft booths that offer jewelry, clothing, soap and lotions, local photography and more in addition to food booths for those craving a ready-made meal such as panini sandwiches, gyros, and crepes.
Grunion Run
There is no shortage of fishing opportunities in Oceanside! With long expansive shores and jetties, two fishing piers that allow for license-free fishing and a number of sports fishing charters in the harbor ready to help you catch the big one, you’re sure to find a great spot to reel in your next catch. For those that want an entirely different experience, one that requires no fishing rod, no lures and has to be seen to be believed, look no further than Southern California’s famous Grunion Run!
Every year hundreds to sometimes thousands of grunion, a small 5-6″ silvery fish, ride the waves onto the shore purposefully beaching themselves as part of their remarkable spawning behavior. This momentous event occurs March through August for three to four days at a time, following a full or new moon and immediately after the tide has reached its highest point. The grunion run schedule is split into two parts, open season and observation only. During open season kids under 16 years old, and those 16+ with a California Sport Fishing License are allowed to catch the grunion. The catch? You must use your bare hands only, no traps or nets are permitted so expect to get a little wet and sandy! Because this is a natural phenomenon, there is no guarantee you will see the grunion on any given night. To help increase your chances however, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have put together a schedule of expected grunion runs to maximize your chances of seeing this incredible spectacle. To learn more about these fascinating fish and this bizarre behavior, as well as when to go out to see them, click here.
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