biking

“The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul.” – Wyland

In the middle of what was one of the hottest Southern California summers on record, our dehydrated bodies craved cool breezes and our minds sought sanctuary. We yearned for the steady sounds of the Pacific’s thunderous waves to lull us to sleep and the joy-filled sounds of giggling children frolicking on the shore to ignite our imagination, so we loaded up the car and headed south to Oceanside, California for a quick weekend tryst.

An easy two hour and 30 minute drive from Los Angeles deposits bare toes on powder-white sandy beaches lined with quaint, family friendly spots for refueling, rental shops stocked with any type of water toy you could wish for, and an infectious beachy attitude. At first glance, Oceanside appears to be a sleepy coastal community, but with a population hovering around 170,000 and a California Welcome Center that sees more than 80,000 tourists annually, San Diego County’s 3rd largest city provides family adventure travelers a wide variety of activities and amenities.

We pulled into the SpringHill Suites’ entrance and were immediately greeted with the smell of salt air and an inviting, modern lobby teeming with friendly and knowledgeable Marriott staff. Just steps from the beach, this gorgeous property offers families a whole host of amenities including a rooftop pool, a game room, free breakfast, and panoramic views from your balcony, overlooking the scenic Oceanside Pier.

Each one of this LEED-certified property’s rooms features a microwave, refrigerator, laptop safe, and separate areas for working and relaxing, which came in handy for those few brief moments when mom had to work. And the thoughtful, kid-friendly touches to the room, like a bathroom sink step stool and welcoming stuffed animals did not go unnoticed by these frequent travelers.

Although we could have happily hung out in our comfy room for the rest of the afternoon, the beach was beckoning, so we slid on our flip flops and headed downstairs for some much-needed sun therapy. In exactly 3 minutes our trio of toes were emerged in the salty Pacific, watching surfers skillfully sway and spin the whitewater, while young hands patted down tilting towers of sand to create cafe au lait colored palaces.

After an hour or so of quiet observation, our inner-explorer took over and we made our way over to Wheel Fun Rentals to put our muscles and our minds to work.The Strand beach straddles the pier and its main leisure artery, The Strand is the perfect three-mile bike path for families looking to get a front seat view of Oceanside’s sparking topaz waters, and is just short enough to ensure short legs don’t have monumental meltdowns.

A day of driving with a kid, mixed with sand, sun and cycling fun finally began to wind down our clocks, so we headed across the street to Hello Betty Fish House, serving up an energetic, casual vibe that is as enticing as their signature Ring of Fire margarita. The sun set on our table crowded with mouth-watering cuisine that affectionately reflected the eclectic personality of this cozy corner of the west coast, and being right next door to our hotel made it convenient to roll our over-stuffed bellies to bed.

Day two of our beach weekend getaway was reserved for one thing, and one thing only – to get on a boat – so we donned our best captain-of-the-ship attire and zipped over to the Oceanside Harbor. Whether you’re looking to rent watercraft for a low-key family kayaking or high-octane power boats, family-owned Boat Rentals of America has got you covered, and Oceanside Harbor Village‘s collection of waterside restaurants and shops makes for the perfect refueling pit stop and unwinding oasis.

As our electric boat glided out of its slip and our daughter’s new best friend Ariel had taken her seat next to the captain of the ship, we immediately felt our bodies melt into relaxed-mode and with it melted away all of the hustle and bustle of LA life. We gazed with admiration as regal California pelicans dove for heaping helpings of halibut, laughed until our eyes watered at the raucous performance of a herd of zany harbor seals and it was then, in those moments that we reconnected with each other and with the wondrous world around us.