California Beaches Blog

Oceanside, CA– When a recent survey conducted by Lauren Schlau Consulting concluded that the California Welcome Center just off the Interstate 5 in Oceanside influenced people’s decisions about the destination, I would have been disappointed if the results of the study said anything other than that.

My first stop on a drive and business trip to San Diego recently was the Welcome Center in Oceanside. I had always wanted to check it out and armed with a few extra hours, did just that. Absolutely amazing was the warm reception I received from the volunteers there. It was old-fashioned hospitality. And with the help I received (that no map could provide,) I drove directly to the new Oceanside Surfing Museum which I had heard about. It was only one of several stops I made as I explored the beach assets and possibilities of a future vacation in the northern San Diego County destination.

I even put my new familiarity to the test by answering viewer questions to my Californiabeaches.com web site when web-surfers asked where the barbecues on the beaches in Southern California are located. I advised them to head for Oceanside after I did an inspection of that city’s beach operations and pier during my several hours there.  My impression was that this Southern California surfing and a beach town had a heart and soul missing from other California beach cities that have expanded too fast and torn down the old to capture tourism dollars.

Some data to munch on:

• The study found that around 83% of people who requested information from the center came to visit the city– I mainly wass passing through.
• Almost 50% surveyed had Oceanside’s top attractions: Mission San Luis Rey, the California Surf Museum, the Oceanside Museum of Art, Heritage Park and the Buena Vista Lagoon. Some of these are new to me, though I have visited the Mission (lovely) and the new California Surf Museum (very cool!)
• Just under 75% of Oceanside visitors also visited San Diego.  I am one of the majority visitors who also visited San Diego, in this survery result.

While the study will be used as data to support a request for a new business improvement district through additional hotel fees, I surmise,  I would like to offer a word to the wise. Oceanside is affordable–San Diego costs a bit more with its extra tourism fees. San Diego– California’s top beach destination– is taxing tourists to death during this recession with added hotel room fees, plus downtown parking that costs around $18-25/night extra.  I was shocked recently when my $200 room at Hard Rock Hotel turned into a $250+ room per night.  Perhaps I am not alone in suffering during this economic downturn. I see Hard Rock Hotel finally did the unthinkable after holding the line with $200 per night (plus fees).  It has temporarily dropped its rates to as low as $119 per night, and now, I can actually stay there a second and third time.

I do hope Oceanside maintains value-focus in its excitement to grow its tourism dollars. Carlsbad isn’t that far away so the city can market itself as being in close proximity to Legoland. But as for me–I’d go to enjoy the beach for a day and night. Then I’d head back home 60 miles to my very own Southern California beach destination that tourists think is pretty cool.  If you want to stay in Oceanside, it looks like the timing is perfect right now. On a weekday I found rooms around $55 to $169 before taxes.