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A Rainy Respite in
oceanside
he sun was shining as I streamed through multiple windows
boarded the train to framing downtown scenes, and I could
Oceanside, a mere hour spot the ocean from my balcony. I
from home. I desperately buzzed out to Bubbles the liquor store
needed a quick solo get‐ for snacks and wine and scoped out my
T away, and O’Side (as lo‐ immediate neighborhood. The sun stuck
cals say) ticked my boxes. It promised with me for a few hours, then disap‐
immediate access to the ocean, an in‐ peared for the rest of my stay. I didn’t
triguing food scene, historic architec‐ mind in the least. The misty gray air
ture, modern museums, and a walkable soothed my spirit and enhanced the
downtown neighborhood. scenery. Turned out O’Side was just
Oceanside is the northernmost what I needed.
coastal city in San Diego County at the On the Town
edge of Marine Corps Base Camp Downtown O’Side proved eminently
Pendleton, which roams along 17 miles walkable, with talking traffic signals
of undeveloped oceanfront en route to and drivers who actually stopped for
overdeveloped Orange County. I’d long pedestrians. The train tracks ran right
thought of O’Side as a military town through town parallel to the beach, but
and a pit stop along scenic Coast High‐ a landscaped tunnel running under the
way 101. But the city of some 172,000 tracks gave easy access to the nearly
residents has been going through a 2,000-foot-long Oceanside Pier, which I
metamorphosis, emerging as a popular walked end to end every morning.
leisure and business travel destination. I spent much of my time wandering
My ignorance became evident as I around downtown, keeping a few key
rolled my carry-on from the modern sights in mind. The streets were impres‐
transit center to the chic boutique Brick sively clean and rarely busy, and pre‐
Hotel and a minimalist suite that be‐ cious few humans were sleeping on
came the perfect cocoon for my three- sidewalks. The storefronts reflected
night respite from reality. Sunlight Oceanside’s strong ties to Camp
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