For a taste of younger, hipper, less trendy San Diego, Ocean Beach (O.B. to its friends) offers the experience of a neighborhood nestled against the magnificent Pacific Ocean. Having largely resisted the trend toward the mall, the multiplex, and the franchise chain in general, O.B. has remained true to its roots in 1960’s attitudes, allowing the visitor a glimpse into several generations of youth culture of the last 40 years. Here, surfers, hippies, punks, and college-types peacefully co-exist in this reprieve from corporate San Diego just 7 miles removed from Downtown. Right on, brothers and sisters!
Long a bastion for alternative lifestyles, Ocean Beach offers its own Jazz Festival in late June, the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade in early December, a March Kite Festival, and their Annual Chili Cook Off every June, so if you think you’re gonna drive down and find nothing to do in O.B., think again. Better yet – just go!
You can fish year 'round off the West Coast’s second-longest pier, home of the Ocean Beach Pier Bait Shop and the Ocean Beach Pier Café. Load up on chum in the morning and shovel in some chow in the afternoon right after you land the big one. Don’t forget to tell 'em the story of the one that got away – they never get tired of hearing that one. Or, you may just want to walk the pier for the view and the fresh air alone. Tens of thousands of visitors apply their own two feet to the nearly 2,000 feet of the Ocean Beach Municipal Pier marking O.B’s southern end. On the northern end, meanwhile, a local ordinance provides for a section of the beach where man’s best friend can roam free, if you know what we mean. That’s right, leash-free living is the promise offered every canine visitor on the "Dog Beach" end of O.B.
Between the two poles is a mile of boardwalk, sea and sand, as well as dozens of local shops, eateries, music venues, and single-family dwellings defining the very individual character and charm of the area. You may not find your Starbucks, but you will enjoy your fresh ground coffee, tea, pastry and the full breakfast menu at The News Room. With a view facing the undulating waves, you’ll love reading the morning paper courteously left for the next fellow to read by the guy just finishing his Mexican omelet with croissant and homemade jam – its that kind of place, it’s that kind of neighborhood.
Comfortably residing alongside numerous Mexican Restaurants and beer 'n seafood establishments is yet another Ocean Beach staple: its live music scene. You can shake it on down to Winston’s to get your reggae on, mon, then have your Latin, Jazz, Funk itch scratched at Portugalia.
Mom 'n pop surf shops abound, and if you like your t-shirts tie-dyed and psychedelic, this is San Diego’s Mecca for the retro fashions you’ll love. The second-hand stores are all first-rate! All in all, Ocean Beach has got a vibe that just won’t quit, and once you get there – neither will you!
Neighborhood: Ocean Beach
