Travel Guide for Oceanside, California

We were lucky enough to be able to travel to Oceanside, California for a work trip. We decided to make it a real party and bring our babies, our mom and Brooke’s mother-in-law, Linda. The grandmas were angels and watched the babies while we shot segments all day. We’ve traveled to Oceanside before, and it’s always been a family favorite beach spot. It was extra fun to introduce our babies to such a beautiful place! If you’re not familiar with Oceanside, it is the quaint beach town situated between Los Angeles and San Diego. The great thing about Oceanside is that it has such a laid-back, local and beachy vibe. We loved our time there and plan to go back soon!

What to Do:

• Helicopter Tour: by far the most amazing thing we did! It was so neat to see the California coast from the sky at sunset. I felt like Brooke and I were on a Bachelor group date with our photographer and pilot haha. It was magical. You can get more information about Waverider Helicopter Tours here. 
• Dolphin & Whale Watching Boat Tour: it’s so nice to get out on the water. This is perfect for any age. We saw sweeping coastal views and beautiful water on our tour, but the definite highlight was the gorgeous dolphins that played right next to our boat. It was also neat to get a little information about the sights and animals we were seeing from the Captain of the boat. You can get more information on Oceanside Whale Watching Tours here.
• SURFING Lessons: Ahhhh! I was terrified. Brooke spent a summer living in Hawaii in college, where she took many surfing lessons and learned to really like it. I have only had one previous lesson from my brother and his friend a few years back. It didn’t end well – as in I mooned my brother’s friend while trying to stand up on the surfboard!! I know. Sad. We got a surf lesson from the Hemsworth’s American brother. He was the greatest. He pushed us on our boards and helped us both get up multiple times on the surfboards. The cold California water scared me, but wearing a wetsuit I honestly didn’t even notice it. I definitely want to try it again. We went with Whitlock Surf Experience and they were amazing. Not only do they teach lessons, they also have a surf factory and print shop. You can find out more here.

What to Eat

• Local Tap House & Kitchen:  my favorite meal of the trip. Fresh and delicious. My hosts in Oceanside convinced me to try the quinoa burger and it was delicious. Everything we tried was good and the chef is constantly changing the menu. If you’re looking for a late night snack, you can stop by for a gourmet hot dog.
• Oceanside Sunset Market: the town hosts this awesome street fair every Thursday night. They close down several streets to host food vendors, crafters, local artisans and musicians. We ate some of the best food of the trip here. Food vendors are put through a very strict vetting process before they are allowed to sell there. They must produce high-quality food that you can’t find anywhere else. This creates the most unique, fun atmosphere with some absolutely incredible chefs. If you go, make sure to try the salmon, authentic Belgian frites and homemade carmels. We ended our night with a horse-drawn carriage ride around town for wait for it… $5!
• The Flying Pig: locally owned and operated farm to table restaurant. The owner coined the name flip flop fine dining. That’s exactly what it is. Great food with a casual vibe. Another huge bonus – it’s family friendly! The homemade pasta is to die for.

Where to Stay:

• We stayed at the Marriott Springhill Suites. It sits right on the beach in the middle of everything so you can walk most places, plus has a great free breakfast every morning.
• Our friends at Visit Oceanside set up our trip itinerary and it was perfect. If you need any help planning your trip or finding discount tickets, go here. 

(the prettiest harbor! Lots of fun to kayak/paddle board on the calm water here) (the prettest whiteside dolphins. they were huge!) (lots of pretty palms in Oceanside) (Joanna Gaines would love Apotheque – the cutest shop/spa in a historic building)