My Favourite Weekend Getaway in Southern California Is Lesser-Identified

There’s nothing I really like greater than skipping city for a beachy weekend getaway.

As a lot as I like dwelling in Los Angeles, generally I would like a break from the town’s visitors, crowds, and hustle tradition. One of my favourite locations to discover is Oceanside, a coastal army metropolis in San Diego County.

I first found this spot in 2022, after trying up Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner route. On my first journey there, I fell in love with Oceanside’s surfer vibes, vibrant meals and tradition, and stunning affordability.

Even getting there may be straightforward — you possibly can take a two-hour practice for round $30 from LA, or an hourlong, $18 experience from San Diego.

Since my preliminary journey, I’ve been to O’side thrice on the practice, and I’m all the time discovering new issues to like. Here’s what makes a practice experience all the way down to Oceanside the proper weekend reset.

Taking the practice helps me instantly ease into trip mode

Liana Minassian

For me, the journey actually begins the second I board the practice. Without the stress of driving, I can loosen up with a few of my favourite hobbies like studying, watching Netflix, or writing in my journal.

Although it takes nearly an hour longer to get there by practice than by automotive, the free time makes it value it.

When my husband comes alongside, we like to speak and have a glass of wine or a snack from the onboard café. It’s good to only get pleasure from one another’s firm and watch the glowing ocean views rush by.

Spending time by the water is all the time on the high of my checklist

Liana Minassian

When I arrive, I often head straight to the seaside. Depending on my temper, I’ll both lie within the sand or stroll the boardwalk (referred to as The Strand) with a chilly drink in hand.

Without fail, there are all the time surfers out on the water making good use of the prime wave actual property. On one among my final visits, I even stumbled throughout a surf competitors proper by the pier. I cherished watching the surfers expertly maneuver via the ocean.

Although I’m not a surfer myself, watching them does encourage me to get out on the water, too. I often head over to Harbor Village to hire a kayak — it is such a thrill to paddle out and watch sea lions sunning themselves beneath the long-lasting Oceanside signal.

The walkable foods and drinks scene retains me coming again

Liana Minassian

I’m a giant foodie, so attempting native eating places is all the time on my agenda when touring. For a laid-back seaside city, the foods and drinks scene in Oceanside is spectacular, with every part from informal cafés and gastropubs to Michelin-starred high quality eating.

I can refill on banana lattes and avocado toast at Banana Dang within the morning, seize some contemporary ceviche overlooking the harbor at Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill, and loosen up within the night with drinks and apps on the Cococabana rooftop bar.

Best of all, most of my favourite locations are all inside strolling distance of one another, making it handy to get round with out a automotive.

Art and tradition are straightforward to search out right here

Although I might simply spend all my time on the seaside, O’side additionally has an arts scene that I’ve actually come to get pleasure from.

Murals are in all places, particularly alongside Artist Alley, a strip of funky outlets that recurrently hosts artisan markets. I’ve additionally come throughout tai chi courses on the seaside, avenue festivals just like the weekly Sunset Market, and an artwork stroll and drum circle in entrance of the general public library.

For a extra conventional artwork expertise, I additionally love trying out the Oceanside Museum of Art to view their rotating displays or attend an occasion.

Later within the day, I really like catching some reside music at The Jazzy Wishbone or Sound by the Sea, a neighborhood listening bar.

It’s a straightforward, inexpensive beachside escape from LA or San Diego

Liana Minassian

There are plenty of seaside cities in SoCal, however staying proper by the water is often fairly costly. Oceanside, nonetheless, is surprisingly inexpensive, making it straightforward to plan a weekend near the seaside.

Every time I’ve gone, I’ve discovered in a single day lodging — even two-bedroom leases — for beneath $200 an evening.

Between how straightforward it’s to reach by practice, navigate the world, and stick with a finances whereas seeing and consuming every part Oceanside has to supply, that is the uncommon sort of seaside escape that really feels stress-free from begin to end.