Thomas' Guidebook
If you want to walk around, near the ocean.
This is a list of areas that you can walk, eat, and shop while being near the water. Sometimes you want to be in your regular clothes and just be near the coast and not actually get on the sand and in the water. If you want to actually have a beach day where you are on the sand, I have a separate category for beach days.
This is the closest beach area to my house. I have been here more times than I can count. It has a great downtown area with tons of bars and restaurants. You can park near the 2 new resorts, The Mission Pacific and The Seabird. There is parking right behind. Use this address (300 N Myers St, Oceanside, CA 92054). You can then go by foot and check out the area. There is a movie theater and on Thursday's there is a Sunrise and Sunset market. Take a walk down the Oceanside Pier.
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Oceanside Pier Bait Shop
This is the closest beach area to my house. I have been here more times than I can count. It has a great downtown area with tons of bars and restaurants. You can park near the 2 new resorts, The Mission Pacific and The Seabird. There is parking right behind. Use this address (300 N Myers St, Oceanside, CA 92054). You can then go by foot and check out the area. There is a movie theater and on Thursday's there is a Sunrise and Sunset market. Take a walk down the Oceanside Pier.
Just a mile north of Oceanside Pier is The Harbor. This is an awesome place to walk around, eat some seafood, and check out all the boats. You can rent a kayak and paddle through the harbor. Perfect for couples, friends or a date night. Joe's crab shack sits right over the water. There are some other small seafood and italian restaurants along the harbor. The beach is also walking distance.
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Oceanside Harbor Beach
North Pacific StreetJust a mile north of Oceanside Pier is The Harbor. This is an awesome place to walk around, eat some seafood, and check out all the boats. You can rent a kayak and paddle through the harbor. Perfect for couples, friends or a date night. Joe's crab shack sits right over the water. There are some other small seafood and italian restaurants along the harbor. The beach is also walking distance.
Encinitas is a very nice beach area where the locals go. There are restaurants and shopping off of Pacific Coast Highway. Use this address (483S N Vulcan Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024) to park and then you can walk by foot and check out the shops. If you want to spend the day on the sand, check out my other category.
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Encinitas
Encinitas is a very nice beach area where the locals go. There are restaurants and shopping off of Pacific Coast Highway. Use this address (483S N Vulcan Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024) to park and then you can walk by foot and check out the shops. If you want to spend the day on the sand, check out my other category.
Carlsbad Village is a lively and vibrant downtown area. It is very walkable and has lots of bars, shops, and restaurants. The beach is very close by. You could walk along the street, right above the water. There are some clubs for those who want to dance and like the bar/club night scene. I recommend "The Alley", "Boar Cross'n" or "The Coyote Bar and Grill".
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Carlsbad Village
Carlsbad Village is a lively and vibrant downtown area. It is very walkable and has lots of bars, shops, and restaurants. The beach is very close by. You could walk along the street, right above the water. There are some clubs for those who want to dance and like the bar/club night scene. I recommend "The Alley", "Boar Cross'n" or "The Coyote Bar and Grill".
If you want to do a little shopping.
If you want to hit an indoor or outdoor mall, here is a list of good shopping plazas in North County San Diego.
This mall has been recently renovated. It is never busy and has some good stores. The entire mall is indoors. There are some good restaurants around the perimeter and a Regal movie theater. Cheesecake Factory, Islands Burgers, Brazilian Food, and a 24 Hour Fitness.
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The Shoppes at Carlsbad
2525 El Camino RealThis mall has been recently renovated. It is never busy and has some good stores. The entire mall is indoors. There are some good restaurants around the perimeter and a Regal movie theater. Cheesecake Factory, Islands Burgers, Brazilian Food, and a 24 Hour Fitness.
Take the i5 south for just a few minutes and you will arrive at the Carlsbad Outlets. All of your typical stores like Nike, Guess, Etc. It’s an outdoor mall surrounded by restaurants.
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Carlsbad Premium Outlets
5620 Paseo Del NorteTake the i5 south for just a few minutes and you will arrive at the Carlsbad Outlets. All of your typical stores like Nike, Guess, Etc. It’s an outdoor mall surrounded by restaurants.
This is our biggest indoor mall. It is inland, toward Escondido. You will take the 78 from my house east, away from the coast. It is a warmer area but this mall is indoors. It has everything you would expect a mall to have.
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Westfield North County Shopping Center
272 E Via Rancho PkwyThis is our biggest indoor mall. It is inland, toward Escondido. You will take the 78 from my house east, away from the coast. It is a warmer area but this mall is indoors. It has everything you would expect a mall to have.
If you want to do a little sightseeing like a true tourist.
A list of local spots in North County San Diego that most people want to see while they are up here.
From February to May, the Carlsbad Flower Fields are a must see. Row after row of flowers. Definitely a local photography spot. There is an entrance fee and with covid, you might need to make a reservation a few days ahead.
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The Flower Fields
5704 Paseo Del NorteFrom February to May, the Carlsbad Flower Fields are a must see. Row after row of flowers. Definitely a local photography spot. There is an entrance fee and with covid, you might need to make a reservation a few days ahead.
If you want to go to a theme park.
These are the theme parks that can be found in North County San Diego. Then you have the SD Zoo and Seaworld about 50 minutes south.
I don't think this place needs an introduction but this theme park is right down the street. About 10 minutes way. This theme park is perfect for kids under 12 years old.
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LEGOLAND California
One Legoland DrI don't think this place needs an introduction but this theme park is right down the street. About 10 minutes way. This theme park is perfect for kids under 12 years old.
Although San Diego Zoo is 45 minutes south, there sister park is located up here in North County. The safari park is located east of Escondido. It gets warm in Escondido to dress appropriately.
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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley RdAlthough San Diego Zoo is 45 minutes south, there sister park is located up here in North County. The safari park is located east of Escondido. It gets warm in Escondido to dress appropriately.
This place is BRAND new, as of March 2022. I have not been yet. It’s about an hour from my house.
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Sesame Place San Diego
2052 Entertainment CirThis place is BRAND new, as of March 2022. I have not been yet. It’s about an hour from my house.
If you're hungry.
If you want some good Mexican food, at a nice restaurant - go to Casa De Bandini. You do not need to dress up but it is a nice sit down restaurant. The tortillas are fresh and authentic. This is my favorite mexican food restaurant up here in North County (and I am Mexican). This is also at The Forums in Carlsbad, a very nice outdoor shopping plaza.
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Casa De Bandini
1901 Calle BarcelonaIf you want some good Mexican food, at a nice restaurant - go to Casa De Bandini. You do not need to dress up but it is a nice sit down restaurant. The tortillas are fresh and authentic. This is my favorite mexican food restaurant up here in North County (and I am Mexican). This is also at The Forums in Carlsbad, a very nice outdoor shopping plaza.
This is my 3rd favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. There are some tables with fire pits and a nice bar area. Pretty large, so you rarely have to wait. This is right off of the freeway. Very easy to get to.
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Miguel's Cocina
2912 Shelter Island DrThis is my 3rd favorite Mexican restaurant in the area. There are some tables with fire pits and a nice bar area. Pretty large, so you rarely have to wait. This is right off of the freeway. Very easy to get to.
This place is fairly new and a cool spot for friends or for a date night. It isn’t a service, sit down restaurant. You walk in and have the option to choose from a handful of restaurants. It’s super casual. You grab your food and find a spot to eat. Picture a group of food trucks but in building.
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Windmill Food Hall
890 Palomar Airport RdThis place is fairly new and a cool spot for friends or for a date night. It isn’t a service, sit down restaurant. You walk in and have the option to choose from a handful of restaurants. It’s super casual. You grab your food and find a spot to eat. Picture a group of food trucks but in building.
This place opened a few years back and has a very cool vibe. It is right in the center of Downtown Oceanside. This decorations in this place has a lowrider/hispanic culture vibe. The food is mexican and you don't have a server. It is "fast cuisine". You order your food and seat yourself.
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Sancho's Tacos
400 Mission AvenueThis place opened a few years back and has a very cool vibe. It is right in the center of Downtown Oceanside. This decorations in this place has a lowrider/hispanic culture vibe. The food is mexican and you don't have a server. It is "fast cuisine". You order your food and seat yourself.
This is a cool spot to eat some seafood or mexican food along the Oceanside Harbor. You can sit inside or sit on their patio, with a view of all of the boats. This place is casual, loud, and fun. It is not fancy.
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Rockin' Baja Lobster - Oceanside
258 Harbor DrThis is a cool spot to eat some seafood or mexican food along the Oceanside Harbor. You can sit inside or sit on their patio, with a view of all of the boats. This place is casual, loud, and fun. It is not fancy.
This place opened right before the pandemic hit. It is a nice, aesthetically pleasing, italian restaurant near Downtown Oceanside. It is slightly above casual.
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Blade 1936
401 Seagaze DrThis place opened right before the pandemic hit. It is a nice, aesthetically pleasing, italian restaurant near Downtown Oceanside. It is slightly above casual.
This is a casual spot at the top of the Mission Pacific hotel. They serve breakfast, brunch, and lunch all day. Great views of the ocean from their patio.
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High/Low
201 N Myers StThis is a casual spot at the top of the Mission Pacific hotel. They serve breakfast, brunch, and lunch all day. Great views of the ocean from their patio.
If you want to a be a little adventurous.
This is a list of things you can do if you are feeling adventurous. They have admission fees. Due to covid, you want to make sure you make a reservation ahead of time.
If you are adventurous and love water, head just a few miles south to the Carlsbad Lagoon. You can rent anything you need. It is a very safe and controlled area. Check out their website to see what they have to rent. Super fun. https://carlsbadlagoon.com/
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Carlsbad Lagoon Recreation Area
4215 Lagoon PlIf you are adventurous and love water, head just a few miles south to the Carlsbad Lagoon. You can rent anything you need. It is a very safe and controlled area. Check out their website to see what they have to rent. Super fun. https://carlsbadlagoon.com/
Connected to Legoland, is Sealife Aquarium. A great place to take kids too. You can buy a ticket to just Sealife or a combo ticket to Legoland and Sealife.
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Sea Life Aquarium
1 Legoland DrConnected to Legoland, is Sealife Aquarium. A great place to take kids too. You can buy a ticket to just Sealife or a combo ticket to Legoland and Sealife.
Another really cool spot is the Birch Aquarium at Scripps down in La Jolla. Nice place to check out and the head to La Jolla to check out the seals.
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Birch Aquarium at Scripps
2300 Expedition WayAnother really cool spot is the Birch Aquarium at Scripps down in La Jolla. Nice place to check out and the head to La Jolla to check out the seals.
Park your car in one of the public parking lots and walk down toward the pier. This bike rental spot is below the pier. You can rent a bike and ride it up and down the strand. The strand is the street that goes along Oceanside Beach. I recommend using this address in your GPS to find parking. 300 N Myers St, Oceanside, CA 92054
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Wheel Fun Rentals
300 The Strand NPark your car in one of the public parking lots and walk down toward the pier. This bike rental spot is below the pier. You can rent a bike and ride it up and down the strand. The strand is the street that goes along Oceanside Beach. I recommend using this address in your GPS to find parking. 300 N Myers St, Oceanside, CA 92054