A Local's Guide to Oceanside

Oceanside is my hometown. And it's also one of the remaining diverse & *affordable* beach communities in southern, California. Located in the northern part of San Diego county, right before you hit Orange County. Don't overlook this hidden gem on your visit to California.

Here are some activities & businesses worth checking out. I pay particular attention to ideas that focus on;

- movement: where to move your body in ways that are fun & non-judgmental.

- experiences: unforgettable activities that promote connection > things.

- sustainability: places & products that preserve the planet and respect the labor of people.

- local: options that directly support the community & its resources.

- outdoors: options that allow for fresh air, sunshine & nature connection.

Sonora Refillery; Package free shop

Right off Coast Highway in Oceanside is this beautiful package free, refillery. Want to avoid plastic, unnecessary packaging and waste when you shop? Look no further.

Get your oils, soaps, detergents, brushes & household products here. Perfect place for a sweet gift! I grabbed some laundry pods, Swedish dish cloths, witch hazel & vitamin E oils in reusable containers. You can even refill your containers (BYOC) to reduce your packaging footprint!

These goods support a living wage for workers & aren't toxic to the environment. The owner Marissa is so lovely & knowledgeable.

Hike a Volcano with Meetup Group, Nerds in the Wild

Ever use Meetup Group? It's a downloadable app for making friends & doing new things. Nerds in the Wild is a group of individual who like the outdoors & learning. Annette is the leader & she is super friendly & informative about local hikes.

Between Oceanside/Carlsbad there is a volcano & it's one of North America's smallest volcanos! California has at least 19 volcanoes with 7 considered as a "high threat" per the U.S. Geological Survey in California. But don't worry, Mount Calaveras is not one of those. It's actually a "volcanic plug" which was formed when molten magma solidifies in the pipe or neck of an active volcano (13-18 million years ago). Over time, erosion wears down the softer sediments of the volcanic cone away.

The 110 acre nature preserve surrounding the volcano has upland coastal sage scrub habitats, rabbits, coyotes, raccoons, fence/horned lizards, barn owls, road runners, hawks, tree frogs, garter/rattlesnakes and a small, man-made reservoir (dating back to WWII era) that hosts egrets, herons, ducks, coots & other waterfowl. You can also find the highly endangered California Gnatcatcher here.

At the base of Mount Calaveras is rock labryinth. You can decide if it's human or non-human made.

Address: Tamarack Avenue, Carlsbad, California 92010. It's an easy to moderate hike with 4 miles of hiking/biking trails, that are dog & kid friendly.

Oceanside Harbour; sea lion viewing

No need to pay for an intrusive wildlife boat tour or zoo pass. Just head to the Oceanside harbour and walk towards the *closed* Jolly Roger restaurant. You will notice "sea lion island" a floating platform where California sea lions gather and sun-bathe.

The male California sea lions are the large black and dark brown pinnipeds, while the females are tan and slender. During mid-June (breeding season), the males will wait around and not eat anything, in order for the females to return with food for their pups. The males wait in order to protect their territory and harem (group of ladies).

Keep a distance from them and watch the drama unfold, with endless yelps and snarls. You'll also get a great view of their differences from seals; as sea lions have external ears, walk with their front feet on land & are larger. Remember: It's never ok to harass, encroach or feed wildlife. Just observe and appreciate, thanks!

Can't stay still? Grab a kayak, stand up paddle board (SUP) or canoe to take around the harbour. There's plenty of birds, sea lions, fish & views to take in.

Communal Coffee; avocado toast destination

Downtown Oceanside has so many places to eat. If you need some bright, natural lighting mixed with a flower shop, surf shack book store & eclectic gift shop ~ this is right up your alley.

Communal Coffee has delicious lattes; my favourites are the lavender honey & peppermint mocha (seasonal). And even better fancy toasts/bagels; avocado & sprout toast + salmon & herbed cream cheese bagel are my go-to's.

Take your meal outside in the Tremont Collective space, where you have access to other shops & sitting areas that are kid & sunshine friendly.

Verve Cycling Studio; I finally get the hype!

Every female empowerment film features a cycling scene. Bet you didn't think yours would be outdoors with club lighting (in the evenings).

Verve Cycling Studio is unreal. Try 1-week free and rent your shoes ($3/time) or pay for the "Just Visiting Pass" that includes 2-weeks of 14 classes.

These 45-minute classes taught by upbeat instructors who will motivate you BIG TIME! The music is great & the workout is a killer.

I fell in love with how I felt after these classes.

Brio Skin Studio: Your Esthetician is in!

Spent a morning photographing the lovely & knowledgable Jamie of Brio Skincare. Jamie is a fantastic Esthetician & super easy-to-get-along-with person.

She believes that her customers are always changing & so she develops treatments and product recommendations to treat every stage of her clients' lives. This looks like refreshing skin, healing acne & slowing the aging process.

Jamie is most known for her Genao facial skincare treatments that combine gentle exfoliation, natural skin oxygenation & a deep facial rejuvenation.

Go get your skin plumped, hydrated & restored.

Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights; A California Christmas

If you're around for the holidays, don't get FOMO from missing your "white Christmas;" instead, make it a "blue one."

The annual Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights features boats of all shapes & sizes (literally, we watched lit up canoes float by) decorated in their Christmas attire. This boat parade tradition started in Newport Beach in the 1900's & occurs across various beach cities in California (see list here).

It happens during the second week of December & is hosted by the Oceanside Yacht Club. Be sure to arrive 1-hour early to get free parking across from Joe's Crab Shack & walk over to the viewing area. Bring your foldable chair, hot cocoa, warm sweater/coat & a blanket. It gets "chilly" by the water. (*Toronto eye roll*)

There's also some amazing shops to check out in the Oceanside harbor; my personal recommendations are Dominic's for Italian food & Rockin' Baja for fish tacos. You can catch a great view of the parade from the Oceanside Broiler restaurant.