Spring is just around the corner and with it comes the promise of longer days, warmer temperatures, a desire to get outside, and, of course, the allure of spring break. We’ve made it through the winter and, while winter around Oceanside is one of our favorite times of year, we’re looking ahead to longer family getaways spent outside and in the water.
Only a 90-minute drive (or two-hour train ride) from Los Angeles and just a 45-minute drive north from Downtown San Diego, easily accessible Oceanside offers a little something for everyone — whether you want to lounge on the beach, learn how to surf, splash in the pool, bike along sandy paths, or take a break with some spa-inspired R&R.
Private balconies, beach valets, and fresh California cuisine make The Seabird Resort a welcome escape for adults. But the resort also has a world of fun waiting for the youngest family members, making it an obvious place to spend spring break.
Along with amenities tailored to every age group, curated adventures — both on land and by sea — are available with education and entertainment going hand-in-hand.
Simply put, Oceanside is fun for the whole family (pets too!).
What to Do With Young Kids in Oceanside
These are the years when kids first meet the water. And, whether it’s splashing in the shallows of our expansive, cabana-lined pool or toddling towards the Pacific Ocean’s edge to meet the salty spray, there are endless memories to be made in Oceanside.
Celebrate these unforgettable ages with convenient programming far beyond the expected. Start your day with fishing off the Ocean Pier, and make sure to bring your camera along, as photo opportunities are plentiful. No fishing license is required. This is a fun learning opportunity for little ones, from walking the longest pier in San Diego (1,972 feet!) to stopping at the Pier Bait Shop to gear up. Even if you don’t catch anything the first time, it’s guaranteed one of the older, more experienced anglers will pull in a perch or bass (or even a spiny lobster), putting on a good show for the whole family.
Back at the resort, our team is ready to provide plenty of fun in the sun…or shade…for young children and tweens with Little Seabirds kid-friendly art and adventure activities, like a beach-inspired Craft Hour and an Art Scavenger hunt.
Afternoons can include playing in the pool, hunting for crabs in the powdery sand or even kite flying. The latter is fantastic just before sunset, when the winds pick up and the skies tinge pink. Our trained pros keep this event fun for all ages, with kites in various sizes, built for even the littlest muscles.
Of course, cuisine plays an important role in any vacation, whether you’re six or 60. Kiddos up to age 12 can enjoy extra special meals when booking the Little Seabirds Eat Free package, including two complimentary meals at Piper, where the organic ingredients and handmade pasta extend to the kid’s menu, plus receive a Seabird stuffed animal as a memento of their stay.
What to Do With Tweens in Oceanside
Tweens won’t even remember video games or their iPhones with all the outdoor action available in Oceanside. Begin your first full day with breakfast at Piper (remember, kids up to age 12 can eat for free) and a walk around Harbor Village. This picturesque cove has loads of charm, from the red-and-white striped lighthouse to the colorful boats docked at the marina. That lighthouse is also your jumping-off point for two of Oceanside’s most adrenaline-packed activities — whale watching and dolphin tours. Oceanside Adventures offers cruises on a 50-foot, 49-passenger catamaran. It definitely takes your breath away watching a massive humpback whale break the surface and pods of dolphins commonly swim right alongside the vessel. From gray whales to blue whales, from all four species of dolphins to sea lions, sharks, and sunfish, you are only a few yards from the ocean’s most impressive wildlife.
As impressive as the Pacific Ocean’s wild creatures are, there’s even more to explore on solid ground. The waterfront town actually became famous decades ago…for its concrete. Concrete half pipes that is.
This is the birthplace of the famous Transworld SKATEboarding magazine, and the town’s five skate parks include Prince Memorial Skate Park, John Landes Park, Libby Lake Park, Martin Luther King Park, and Melba Bishop Park. If your kids are eager to learn, there are plenty of outfitters ready with pads, boards, and expert know-how. It’s also a cool afternoon activity to grab an ice cream and cruise down to one of the more advanced parks to watch the pros shred.
What to Do With Teens in Oceanside
California surf culture is known all over the world, and spring break is a great time to introduce your teens to the sport, whether it’s a low-key morning lesson or a full week of surf camp. The break at the Oceanside Pier is one of the best places in the nation to learn. How good? It’s actually listed in the Encyclopedia of Surfing as one of the world’s most consistent breaks.
Help selecting a board, picking up the lingo, and understanding the leash begins at Shaper’s Alley — a string of more than a dozen surf shops. Then, it’s down to the water for the first rides. Teens and parents will quickly find that the surf instructors in Oceanside are as consistently awesome as the waves. Set up a family-friendly surf lesson with North County Surf Academy Surf founder (and second-generation pro surfer) Duran Barr. You’ll learn how to read the surf and ride the waves while on the beach before heading out to test your skills in the waters of the North Shore.
Downtown Oceanside is a great place for teenagers to gather, whether it’s shooting Instagram posts in front of the multiple, huge, colorful murals by California’s street artists, shopping along Main Street, or breezing around on cruiser-style bikes (rent a Pedego electric or pedal bicycle right at Mission Pacific, available every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
As the sky darkens, the streets here come alive. Every Thursday from 5-9 p.m., the Oceanside Sunset Market features regional musicians on a main stage, and hundreds of vendors, selling everything from spicy, international street foods to handmade jewelry, ceramics, and sunglasses.
START PLANNING YOUR FAMILY-FRIENDLY SPRING BREAK IN OCEANSIDE.
