Ocean Beach

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Location: Ocean Beach (7 Miles / 15 Minutes West of Downtown San Diego)

Features: Beach Community with a 1960’s Theme; Very Laid Back; Eclectic Mix of People; Dog Beach; Ocean Pier; Antique Shops and Restaurants.

Peace Sign and Foreign Flags at the Ocean Beach Youth HostelOcean Beach Highlights: Ocean Beach residents and visitors are famous for maintaining the 60’s lifestyle. VW vans are a common sight. The atmosphere is extremely laid-back. You will find an eclectic mix of people. Some may appear quite odd while others seem quite normal. However, all are extremely friendly.

The lifeguard station, near the south end of the beach where the shops and restaurants are located, is staffed year-round. Other lifeguard stations are only open during the summer months. Beach volleyball courts can be found near the north end of the beach just before you reach dog beach. Dogs are allowed to run around unleashed. Concrete fire pits are available in various locations for visitors to create an evening bonfire. Visit the City of San Diego web site for more beach details.

Shops in Ocean BeachShops and Restaurants – Newport Avenue is home to most of the shops, restaurants, and bars in Ocean Beach. It was recently the setting for the CBS Show, The Ex List, starring Elizabeth Reaser. You can visit the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association web site for a listing of restaurants. Among the more notable food options in Ocean Beach are the hamburgers at Hodads and the German food at Kaiserhof.

You can also learn more about the antique shops in Ocean Beach.

Ocean Beach Pier – Ocean Beach Pier is the longest concrete pier extending into the Pacific Ocean in the U.S.  It is 1,971 feet long and  is a popular attraction for fishermen and those who enjoy strolling out over the breaking waves below. You can find it at the south end of the beach, just a block from the end of Newport Avenue.

Surfer in Ocean Beach with the Pier in the backgroundBeach Weather – Visitors can enjoy the beaches in San Diego year-round. However, finding ideal beach weather during the winter and spring is hit or miss. The best beach weather occurs from July to October. Ocean water temperatures are usually around 70 degrees during the summer and 60 degrees during the winter. Learn more about San Diego weather.

Information on Visiting Ocean Beach

Directions from Google Maps to the Ocean Beach Pier at the corner of Newport Avenue and Abbott Street, San Diego, CA 92107. (This is the south end of Ocean Beach.)

Traffic – Traffic is very heavy heading west into Ocean Beach as you approach the end of highway I-8 during View of the wide beach areaweekday evening rush hour and summer weekends. Plan for an extra 15 minutes during these busy times. Delays on summer holiday weekends are much longer. (Learn more about San Diego traffic.)

Parking – Free parking lots are available at the end of Newport Avenue, Santa Monica Avenue, and Voltaire Street. The latter is the largest lot and is the closest to Dog Beach.

Transit – Buses serve Ocean Beach. (See San Diego Transit Information for bus schedules and information for the online Transit Planner.)

Find More Attractions with Similar Themes or Location: Antiques, As Seen On TV, Beaches & Surfing, Communities, Point Loma Area, Shopping Unique Places |

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