101 Cafe Oceanside, California Photos and Information
Oceanside, Calif. --Highway
101 as it is called in a stretch of coastal highway in Oceanside (it is also
known as Coast Highway, Pacific Coast Highway or even Carlsbad Blvd. in
Carlsbad), is a drive back in time. Cruisin' California combines with Surf City
surfing, and Camp Pendleton Marine Base to make for an eclectic, wholesome, and
old-fashioned experience that just feels good.
Among its residents are world class
longboard surfer Julie Cox who runs the California Surfing Museum. Finding
Oceanside a great place to be, this model, artist, surfer and museum manager,,
represents young minded thinkers who help provide the creative and energetic
character of the city. When you stop and visit businesses, museums and shops
along 101, you'll discover some fantastic people with a lot of passion to share
with visitors.
101 Cafe, the colorful building depicting the the historic highway
movement in north San Diego County is the unofficial headquarters, and
rightfully so. The historic building built in 1928 and listed as Historic
Resource 4-105 has a "museum" inside. A shelf on the wall with the gift shop
wares features t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, souvenir shotglasses, coffee mugs
and a replica road sign you can buy and hang on your wall.
Described as the other Mother Road
(compared to Route 66), 101 Cafe owner John Daley spearheads a committee that
seeks to promote and rekindle the spirit of this coastal highway seen through
the ages as the hub of "old town" shopping, dining and tourism. 30 miles of road
from Oceanside to Solana Beach includes eucalyptus shaded streets, a train track
and Amtrak trains that run parallel to the highway, and some small hotels and
residential neighborhoods overlooking the Pacific Ocean at times.
Inside the restaurant, you'll find hearty
salads, hamburgers, french fries, hot coffee, cool sodas, chicken fried
steak and hearty chili. Classic American faire, bicycles parked in the bike
racks out in front, and a curved parking lot where roller-skate food servers
used to deliver food to cars, offer glimpses into the past.
Oceanside's 101 gems include the restored, neon-lit Star Theater, classic Surf
Bowl bowling alley, the new California Surfing Museum, Oceanside Pier (longest
wooden pier in California), Ruby's Diner on the Pier, and a whole lot of soul.
Head inland a few miles to
Mission San Luis Rey,
a reminder that much of 101 followed the El Camino Real (Kings Highway).
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