We're planning a trip to San Diego in March. We're looking at a condo at Mission Beach and one in Oceanside. Both are on the beach, but I don't know anything about these areas.
1) How's the area around Mission Beach?
2) How's Oceanside?
I don't want to end up renting a beautiful condo that is in an awful area where is gross, disgusting, and where I wouldn't want to take my kids.
Any insights anyone has would be welcome.
2007-11-14 15:10:06 · 7 answers · asked by Liza 6 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Diego
Betty B: thanks for the quick reply! Do you have any other suggestions for a vacation in the San Diego area? We have two 7 year olds, and want to be near lots of fun!
2007-11-14 15:23:09 · update #1
If you get in the southern end of Oceanside on the beach, or in Carlsbad or Encinitas I think you'd be happy. I live in Encinitas and so maybe I'm a little prejudiced, but Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is very family friendly, a bit off the beaten track, and Encinitas is a funky beach town with fun places to eat. And only a few minutes drive from Legoland in Carlsbad...heaven for your little ones and fun for you too.
Mission Beach is ok but more for the young adult crowd. Lots of drinking going on in the area. The city council just voted to ban alcohol on that beach because of Labor Day rioting by a bunch of drunk hostile 20somethings. Even though the alcohol ban just went thru, there's lots of bars nearby and people will still be drunk around there (and most of the rentals in the area attract the drinking crowd), so stay away from rentals in the boardwalk area.
I'd recommend the south Oceanside-Carlsbad-Encinitas corridor for a beachside rental. All very family friendly and a low key casual atmosphere, and near Legoland. Carlsbad also has a factory outlet mall...high end...and the flower fields which might not be quite blooming yet...depends on the weather. Also the Museum of Making Music.
Also you might look into what Coronado might offer if you can afford the Hotel Del Coronado. Great beach for the kiddies and a very safe place. Also very central as just a quick drive over the bridge and you're in downtown San Diego near the zoo and Balboa Park.
Paradise Point Resort, while in the Mission Beach/Pacific Beach area, is in a fairly self-enclosed area that is all about kids...you might check them out. They are also close to Seaworld.
2007-11-14 16:08:05 · answer #1 · answered by Pat D 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Hmmm... I'm sorry but I would stay away from those 2 areas for kids. Oceanside especially has A LOT of crime infested areas and gang problems near the beach. Mission Beach is nice but in March you are going to have every college in the United States partying there and probably 20 students in every condo. There are a lot more nice communities in San Diego than there are bad ones. The beach communities are all great. Pacific and Mission Beaches tend to draw the college kids at Spring Break though. Coronado is awesome. Inside of the city limits of San Diego, I would reccommend La Jolla and Del Mar for a great stay.
Also, a little bit farther north are the suburbs of Solana Beach, Cardiff, Encinitas, and Leucadia. These are all excellent places to vacation. Good luck and have fun!!
2007-11-14 22:30:54 · answer #2 · answered by sdsrfbum69 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pacific Beach Vs Mission Beach
2017-01-02 17:55:48 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would take Oceanside over mission beach anytime, but wouldn't take Oceanside, you would need to watch them every minute. I'd take Carlsbad, Oceanside and Carlsbad are seperated by a lagoon. Carlsbad is VERY close to Leggo Land. You can see dolphins in the morning on S. Carlsbad beach and might see the last of the whales heading north, also it is a short drive east to SanDiego Wild Animal park, lived in San Diego and Carlsbad for many years.
2007-11-15 07:37:47 · answer #4 · answered by snow ball 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well to be honest both places pretty much has his pros and cons.. mostly cons.. Oceanside has a lot of meth heads and military people also crime rate is bad.. 2 police officers died in 9 monhs... and then Mission Bays water is kind of gross.. i think its from all the college kids dirtying up the place.. sorry if this might not of helped you. BUT if i had to choose .. it would be mission beach because oceanside is just too far from san diego itself...
2007-11-14 15:16:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Lay back. Very nice. If San Diego is your place, I recommend it for sure. The bay and it's events is gonna be the biggest activities. It's also very safe with a diverse age group, mostly young though.
2016-04-04 02:00:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ocean side is kind of far from center of San Diego, Mission Beach is ok, but i wouldnt call it a real beach.
2007-11-15 11:36:32 · answer #7 · answered by zorro1701e 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both locations are on the beach and very nice.
I would chose Mission Beach because it is closer to SeaWorld, the Zoo and the Gaslamp Quarter.
2007-11-14 15:56:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋