Oceanside Pier
By Mark Goodkin
San Diego Coast Life
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Oceanside Pier is a long, wooden pier on the north end of Oceanside, CA, about two miles south of Oceanside Harbor. On a clear night, the lights of Oceanside Pier can be seen far down the coast – as far as La Jolla.
About half way out along the pier is a bait and tackle shop. The pier is a popular fishing spot, as are all the public piers in San Diego County. Sometimes, the pier gets crowded with people fishing, but they fish along the sides, near the railing. The wooden walkway is wide enough for everyone.
The pier makes for a nice walk, especially on a sunny day. As you walk out along the pier, the beach, beachgoers, homes, and swimmers subside in the distance. At 1,954 feet, Oceanside Pier is the longest wooden pier on the west coast. Why go there in the first place. Well, it’s a chance to get outdoors, take a long walk, and breath in some fresh, sea air.
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Tags: "California Piers", "Oceanside Pier", "Wooden Piers", Oceanside
By Mark Goodkin
San Diego Coast Life
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Entering Oceanside Harbor
Oceanside Harbor is San Diego County’s northern most harbor, located in Oceanside, CA. Everytime I drive down the hill on Harbor Drive and enter the harbor, I’m struck by its secluded and peaceful quality, with commercial fishing boats in the foreground and the Harbor Village and lighthouse behind – a fairytale setting.
I usually go to the harbor to take photos or just walk around. Oceanside Harbor has a north and south section. The north harbor is a marina for small to medium-size private boats, while the south harbor has a commercial fishing fleet, with charters, and boat rentals, as well as private boats.
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Tags: "North San Diego County", "Oceanside Harbor", Harbors, Oceanside, San Diego
By Mark Goodkin
San Diego Coast Life
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Oceanside Harbor Village
Oceanside Harbor Village is a cluster of a dozen or so shops, restaurants, and a sportsfishing center, reminiscent of an old California harbor fishing village with muted blue, yellow, and red wooden buildings, steep shingle roofs, and a lighthouse.
Harbor Village gives Oceanside Harbor a magical quality. The lighthouse is not only a familiar landmark for the quaint shopping village, but for Oceanside Harbor and Oceanside, itself.
Harbor Village is Oceanside’s version of Seaport Village on San Diego Bay. The village sits on the south side of Oceanside Harbor, where the commercial fishing fleet is. The small shopping village comes right up to the water, separated only by a boardwalk. You can eat outdoors and watch charter fishing boats come and go, along with pelicans and seagulls. Once you’re done eating, you can shop through the stores and walk along the boardwalk. The beach is also within steps.
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Tags: "California Harbors", "Oceanside Harbor Village", "Oceanside Harbor", Harbors, Oceanside, Restaurants, San Diego, Waterfront
Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center
By Mark Goodkin
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For the longest time, I drove by the Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, along South Coast Hwy, just inside of Oceanside, CA, without knowing what it was. The wooden building stood out from the nearby condos. One day, I visited the nature center to see what it was all about. Upon entering, I was greeted by a life-like fox with a slight grin in its own glass-enclosed display, along with tall, glass-enclosed cases full of several displays of taxidermy animals in realistic settings, depicting life around the Buena Vista Lagoon.
A couple of docents greeted me and answered my questions about the displays and lagoon. The Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center also has a library and a lecture/project room with more exhibits, and tables for classroom projects and seminars.
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Tags: "Buena Vista Lagoon", "Buena Vista Nature Center", Lagoon, San Diego, Wetlands