Mission Beach is a community on a stretch of sandbar along the Pacific Ocean to the west and Mission Bay to the east in San Diego. The main artery through Mission Beach is Mission Boulevard, which is divided into South Mission, a peninsula, and North Mission. Mission Beach spans nearly two miles of ocean, with a Boardwalk on both the Ocean and Bay side, between Mission Bay to the east and Pacific Beach to the north.

What Makes Mission Beach Unique

• SeaWorld is a chain of marine mammal parks in the United States. The parks feature Orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals.
• Giant Dipper Roller Coaster is a wooden roller coaster, built in 1925. The Giant Dipper is in Belmont Park, right on Mission Beach in San Diego. It is one of the only remaining coasters built by noted coaster builders Prior and Church on the West Coast
• The WaveHouse is a beachside bar-and-grill featuring an 8-foot tall barreling artificial wave called the Bruticus Maximus and a smaller flowrider.

Ocean Beach, California is located along the Southern California coast in the sunny city of San Diego. Its neighboring cities are Downtown San Diego, Mission Bay, Mission Beach and Point Loma. Residents of Ocean Beach often refer to themselves as OBceans pronounced “oh-BEE-shun.” Earlier names for the city include Mussel Beach, Mussel Beds, Medanos, Palmer’s Place/Ranch and Palmiro’s. In more recent times, people refer to this beautiful city simply as OB. OB’s main street of business is Newport Avenue where you’ll find locally owned and managed antique shops, restaurants, coffee houses, bars, and bike and surf shops. Ocean Beach is home to numerous locally owned businesses and very few chain stores. In the early 2000s, Starbucks wanted to put a store on Newport Ave but the town didn’t like the idea. After the town’s efforts to prevent a chain store on the street, they lost the fight.

Some major popular events OB is known for are the Ocean Beach Kite Festival on the first Saturday of March, Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cookoff in late June, Ocean Beach Jazz Music & Arts Festival at the foot of Newport in late September and the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade in early December.

Perhaps the most popular canine hotspot is Dog Beach, San Diego’s only 24 hour beach for dogs, located on the north end of Ocean Beach beach. This is a dog run area where dogs are permitted without a leash at all hours of the day. Just like many of the other San Diego beaches, OB is a popular surf spot for many local surfers. It is also one of the top favorite local beach hang-out spots for many of the area’s youth and San Diego natives.

Fun Facts

• Ocean Beach Pier was originally names the San Diego Fishing Pier with the original plaque still there.
• Many people believe the Ocean Beach Pier is the longest pier in CA. It isn’t. At 1971 feet it is the longest concrete pier on the west coast. The pier at Santa Cruz is 2745 feet.
• Ocean Beach is surprisingly home to several species of parrots which have created a feral population, meaning they have escaped from domestication and returned to living in the wild.
• Ocean Beach Dog Beach is the first leash-free beach in the United States.
• One of the most spectacular things to see from the Ocean Beach Pier is when a surfer shoots the pier by riding a wave underneath from one side to the other while maneuvering around the concrete legs of the pier.

La Jolla, California is truly a remarkable destination and one of San Diego’s brightest treasures. Often compared to upscale European seaside villages, La Jolla offers more than just great shopping and some of the finest restaurants in the county.

Stroll down Coast Boulevard and watch the sea lions and seals frolic in the Children’s Pool, and the pelicans lounging on cliffs or diving into the ocean. Fly a kite, watch fireworks or a summer concert in the park, take a swim in the famous cove, or a daring walk to the bottom of the historical La Jolla cave. Enjoy a bike ride, paraglide, rent a kayak, or just relax on the beautiful, sunny beaches.

La Jolla offers something for everyone, and is the gem of San Diego!

Pacific Beach is a neighborhood of San Diego, California bounded by La Jolla to the north, Mission Beach to the south, Interstate 5 and Clairemont to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. While largely populated by surfers and college students, the population is becoming more professional and affluent, due to rising property and rental costs.

What Makes Pacific Beach Unique
 

• Ocean Front Boardwalk has both modest and well proportioned resorts and hotels dot the coastline amongst bike and board rental stores, beachfront dining (with views), and many green parks.
• Crystal Pier brings the Southern California past back to life. At one end of the pier a fascinating hotel that lets you “Sleep over Seas” and at the other end is a place to cast a line for fish.
• Watch the boys and girls of summer surf the swells from above and feel at one with the sea as the old wooden pier rocks on with the waves.
• Garnet Ave & Mission Blvd Shopping District is the main shopping district of Pacific Beach, filled with interesting shops, bars and restaurants. The shopping district has several brand name clothing stores, used clothing stores, and salons. Also in good supply are night clubs, including Moondoggies, Blind Melons, Tiki – Pacific Beach Nightclub, Plum Crazy, and Canes Bar & Grill.

Mission Bay is a bay located south of the Pacific Beach community of San Diego, California. The bay is part of the recreational Mission Bay Park, which is the largest man-made aquatic park in the country, consisting of 4,235 acres, approximately 46% land and 54% water. The combined area makes Mission Bay Park the ninth largest municipally-owned park in the United States.

What Makes Mission Bay Unique?

• Mission Bay Aquatic Center is the world’s largest instructional waterfront facility.
• In 2007, over 15,000 participants experienced instructional and recreational opportunities in wakeboarding, sailing, surfing, waterskiing, rowing, kayaking, and windsurfing.
• SeaWorld features thousands of fascinating mammals, fish, reptiles and birds as well as spectacular animal shows, interactive attractions, aquariums, rides and dining facilities.