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Reunions. Business groups. Corporate retreats. Sporting events. Whatever brings your group to O’side, while you’re here, the key to a successful vacay is having a variety of activities, excursions, and experiences that can be tailored to meet your needs (a packed city events calendar doesn’t hurt either). That’s where the Visit Oceanside team of planning pros comes in. We’ve curated this list of some of our favorite group activities and things to do in and around O’side, plus places to eat and stay. Mix and match elements and themes to create your own o’riginal 3–5-day itinerary. Or get in touch and we’ll help customize your group’s travel experience.
From its HQ in the picturesque O’side Harbor, Oceanside Adventures sets sail up and down the SoCal coast, taking groups on catamaran excursions.
Depending on size, you can book your group on a two-hour whale-watching trip and spot everything from humpbacks to blue whales, or charter your own vessel for a private party, harbor excursion, or sunset cruise.
O’side is super bike friendly, and rental shops around town have a variety of cruisers and city bikes so that on their own, members of your group can get around like a bunch of locals, including on e-bikes and scooters from Ride O’side or Wheel Fun Rentals.
The South Oceanside Business District—locally known as South O—is one neighborhood you’ll want to return to. Filled with eateries, coffee shops, and small locally owned boutiques, it’s a fab shopping destination.
On a culinary walkabout organized by Carl & Linda’s Walking Food Tour, you’ll explore four to five destinations in either North O’side, Heart of O’side, or South O over the course of about three hours, getting a history lesson about the community and the scoop on each spot as you stroll (and eat, of course).
Or book one of Scavengers’ rugged vintage Swiss safari vehicles, which seat up to 12, for a guided exploration of North County breweries.
O’side is perched on the edge of San Diego County’s winemaking region, which sprawls inland from the San Pasqual Valley up to Temecula in Riverside County. And San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tours curates tours of some of the region’s top producers.
Small groups can arrange for a chauffeured visit to three local wineries and taste up to 18 wines (with food pairings), enjoy a behind the scenes tour, and lavish in a special winery dinner.
Or larger groups can book seats on their Wine Train Tour and ride the rails up and down the coast, visiting urban wineries and wine bars, tasting up to 15 local wines, going behind the scenes, and having a light Italian lunch before heading back to O’side.
Your group can take a private tour of Mission San Luis Rey to explore this national historic landmark, its grounds and gardens, and the interpretive museum. You’ll learn the mission’s history while marveling at its artistic and cultural treasures.
Or arrange for a private curated tour of the Oceanside Museum of Art or the California Surf Museum that’s tailored to meet your group’s interests, time frame, and knowledge level.
Sun’s up and your group needs grub. Barely a stone’s throw from the pier, Piper offers an elevated yet tasty breakfast fix. They’re known for their famous French Toast, but if healthy is your preference the Avo Toast comes loaded with Beets, Pickled Cucumber, Everything Furikake, and Sprouts.
A great start before your short walk to the beach for the next team building break out. The Beach Break Café on South Coast Highway is a hometown fave, serving up omelets, scrambles, and fluffy buttermilk pancakes with a heaping side of O’side vibes.
Vigilante Coffee is also just a short drive to South O, serving fresh-made breakfast sandwiches, and roasting their own unique coffee blends – nothing beats a fresh cup ‘o joe.
If your group is “kicking it” near the SoCal Sports Complex and there’s a range of appetites and preferences to satisfy, head to Enzo’s BBQ where the menu is split between mouth-watering smoked BBQ and hearty Italian pasta dishes (Enzo is from Sicily).
If your team gathering is in the heart of downtown don’t miss the chance to share an order of the deviled eggs and all things pork related at The Flying Pig (one of the o’riginal independents that helped launch O’side’s ascending culinary scene).
Or head to South O and check out the tasty creations of Michelin recognized Chef Daniel Castillo and his Texas inspired Heritage BBQ. Pro tip: call ahead, they sell out many of the popular dishes daily.
The brew scene in O’side has earned a national reputation and a passionate local following. Local Tap House has a chill vibe and a rotating selection of 20 local beers on tap, plus bar snacks and a pitch-perfect menu of comfort food.
A few more blocks south on Coast Highway, Bagby Beer has earned accolades for its “Three Beagles” English-style brown ale (among others!), proving that styles beyond hoppy IPAs have a home in O’side (there’s a full food menu, too). In the heart of South O Pour House has a range of draughts, local and otherwise, plus cocktails, wine by the glass, burgers, entrees, and shared plates.
For something different, head to the Pacific Coast Spirits, an award-winning distillery specializing in hand-crafted small batch spirits. And they’re serving up a great food menu to boot.
O’side has one of the hottest food scenes in SoCal, but no matter how elevated the cuisine, the vibe is always down to earth (yes, you can wear your flip flops).
When your group needs a pizza fix, join the locals in South O at The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza, where your pie comes with toppers like garlic confit, Spanish chorizo, or vegan Brazil nut parmesan—plus a world-class wine list from its own bottle shop.
At Harney Sushi Oceanside near the pier, dig into fresh sashimi, nigiri, and specialty rolls, plus cocktails. Or you can feast on market-fresh fish with a glass of wine while watching the sunset over the Harbor at the Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill.
And because sometimes you just want world-class food that inspires as much as it satisfies, make a reservation at Valle Kitchen, where Chef Roberto Alcocer is serving up a Michelin recognized culinary experience featuring authentic cuisine from Guadalupe Valley with the freshest seasonal Baja California ingredients.
Some of our favorite O’side hotels make group travel easier with group accommodations and discounts.
On the waterfront, The Seabird Resort works with your group on your travel arrangements and features a third-floor pool overlooking the pier that is pure eye candy (and a great place for the group to meet up in the evenings).
Right next door, the Mission Pacific Hotel is a beachfront enclave of bohemian style that welcomes groups for events and destination retreats.
The Brick oozes style and design vibes; features a rooftop tiki bar and a ground-floor oyster bar; and offers group discounts.
There’s the always approachable SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oceanside or the Day’s Inn by Wyndham Oceanside to meet your groups individual needs.
And of course, if the team needs a place to rest their heads after a days-long tournament or meet, check out the Courtyard by Marriott Oceanside, walking distance from the SoCal Sport Complex.
Or check out the numerous O’side property rentals available through sites like Airbnb. You’ll find everything from inland estates to beachfront condos.
For more lodging options, click on the Stay page of the website and find the place to suit your needs.
Transportation Options: Getting Around SoCal
O’side is just 100 miles south of LA and 50 miles from Orange County. You can easily get around by car, bus, plane, or even train.
Nearby Attractions
Make O’side your vacation home base for exploring world-famous attractions and destinations like the San Diego Zoo and Legoland California.
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