A Day At the Beach

The Southern California Beach Club Resort is a timeshare that is located directly ON the sandy beach in Oceanside, California. Oceanside has 3 1/2 miles of beachfront and is located at the southern end of Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

You exit the building and cross a narrow one lane access road and you are in the sand with nothing obstructing your view to the water. The Oceanside pier with Ruby''s restaurant at ocean''s end and a Taco Bell and McDonalds at land''s end are within a 3-5 minute walk down the beach.

A few miles further south along the coast is Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, just across the street from the ocean. It''s location is within walking distance of the town''s restaurants and businesses. For those wanting to see the sights, San Diego Sea World and Zoo are about 45 minutes south, Disneyland and Knott''s Berry Farm 1 to 1.5 hours north, and Wild Animal Park and Legoland 20-30 minutes east. Within a few minutes drive is the Oceanside harbor and village where you can go fishing, whale watching, and boating. Mission San Luis Rey is 4 miles east.

Quick Tips:

There are so many things to do within an hour of this southern coastal area in California that it would take many weeks to see and do them all. We have found our best means of seeing a new area is to not try to do it all in one visit.

Reviewing RCI Community journals for this area as well as AAA guidebooks before going will give you a way to prioritize what you really want to see and do. Of course, if there are children along, your itinerary will be different from adults only.

This is a great family vacation area. You can visit a new theme park each day for a week to the south, east, and north. If not in the theme park/zoo mode, the physical beauty of the area and the many gourmet restaurants along with the beach can fill a week''s time very easily.

Many beach camping parks are located along the coast both for tents and motorhomes. Great swimming beaches can be found in Dana Point, Oceanside, and San Clemente with sandy shores, while Carlsbad and Solana beaches are more rocky.

Best Way To Get Around:

Having a car is advisable to get the most out of your vacation time. Californians love their cars and the freeways are plentiful and easily maneuvored in this southern less populated region.

The timeshares operate bus tours to many fo the local sites as well. Another really great way to enjoy the beach locations is to park your car and go for a hike along the water front. There aren''t many places you can do that so take advantage while there. Paved walkways along the beach are great for bicycle riding and roller-blading.

Best Things Nearby:
THE BEACH, Oceanside Marina village, Legoland, Wild Animal Park (20-30 minutes east), Mission San Luis Rey, La Costa Health Spa, San Diego Sea World, San Diego Zoo (approx. 45 minutes south), Old Town San Diego, Mission Bay San Diego, La Jolla village, Del Mar Race Track, Del Mar Polo Fields, Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

An hour or so north is Disneyland, Knott''s Berry Farm and John Wayne/Orange County Airport. Day trips to Tijuana can also be arranged through the front desk of the timeshare.

Best Things About the Resort:
Without a doubt, the best thing about this timeshare is its location -- right on the beach. If your unit overlooks the ocean, you can sit on your patio/balcony and watch the kids play in the sand at the beach.

Resort Experience:
The Southern California Beach Club Resort is a timeshare that is located directly ON the sandy beach in Oceanside, California. Oceanside has 3 1/2 miles of beachfront and is located at the southern end of Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

You exit the building and cross a narrow one lane access road and you are in the sand with nothing obstructing your view to the water. The Oceanside pier with Ruby''s restaurant at ocean''s end and a Taco Bell and MacDonalds at land''s end are within a 3-5 minute walk down the beach.

A rooftop hot tub/whirlpool is a perfect place to sit back, sip a glass a wine, and take in the sunset over the ocean. Barbecue grills, table, and chairs are also available on this large rooftop deck.

Long walks either direction on the beach or bike rides along the paved trail running along the beach are right out your door. Within a few minutes drive is the Oceanside harbor and village where you can go fishing, whale watching, and boating.

This resort has earned a Resort of International Distinction, most likely because of its location. Parking is under the building. A tiny game room with an old, rickety ping pong table and a few board games and puzzles (with missing pieces) is located in the garage area as well and rather unappealing. I suggest a family take their own games, though the time spent in the unit will be minimal with the beach beckoning.

The front desk staff are knowledgeable about local area restaurants and businesses, but their expertise does not go much beyond that. On the main/ground level floor just off the lobby/front desk area is a community room that has a large screen TV and VCR for watching or to check out videos to be viewed in your room.

Our particular unit was a 1 bedroom 4/4 that had a balcony overlooking the sand at the beach with no buildings obstructing our ocean view. The entry went right into the small area with a one wall limited kitchen and small table and 4 chairs. The living room was standard and cramped for four people. It had a sofa bed, chair, and TV cabinet with VCR. The bathroom was off the bedroom and so you had to walk through the corner of the bedroom to get to the bathroom. The bedroom had a queen bed, dresser, and night stands. It was standard in quality also.

Though the actual unit itself was nothing special, the location at the beach made it all seem okay. There was nothing luxurious about it.

A large rooftop patio area with tables and chairs and whirlpool/jaccuzzi, both with ocean and sunset views, was nice for sunset watching.

This place was better than a hotel room, but not a place that gave you a feeling of being pampered on vacation. Its ideal location is super for getting away to sit on the beach or catch a few Southern California waves. We didn''t see much nightlife in the immediate area.

Since this timeshare is located in an open area along a residential street in Oceanside, there are few busniesses or attractions around it.

Remember to bring your body boards and beach accessories. Lots of sunscreen is needed since you''ll be living on the beach during your stay.

If you are looking for excitment this may not be the place for you, but if you want to just kick back and relax, a day or week at the beach can''t be beat.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Good

Best Things Nearby:
Fourth of July fireworks over the ocean viewed from the condo balcony are by far the most memorable activity we had while staying at Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort. There are many charming unique boutique-type shops and restaurants within walking distance of the Inn. A few minutes south will take you to luxurious La Jolla village with its upscale shops and Del Mar horse racing track. Wild Animal Park is bout 20 minutes inland. Of course, San Diego and all its many sites are only 30 minutes south.

Best Things About the Resort:
This was one of our first nicer timeshares we stayed in. The main check in reception room was inviting and the two bedroom unit we had was nicely decorated in traditional furnishings. Access to the pool area was easy with small children because of the elevator access for the upper floors. There is a spa and Mexican restaurant on-site and daily planned activities, making it very easy to never leave the Inn all week.

Resort Experience:
The reception area had large wooden beams and comfortable seating areas. A cute British telephon booth was located in front.

Our unit was on the second floor and appeared dark upon entering the hallway inside. To the left was a smallish dark bedroom with overhead fans. It never seemed to be light enough in there, and we hesitated opening the curtain since it was on the public walkway outside. At the end of the hallway was a medium sized traditional living room with a mini kitchen behind a peninsula divider.

The mini kitchen was tiny with a half size undercounter refrigerator that was a challenge supplying adequate room for a family with small children. There was limited counter space. It would have been sufficient for adults or those wishing to eat most of their meals out, but was cramped for us wishing to eat a majority of our meals in.

The living room contained a traditional styled sofa, two wing-back chairs, and a TV in an entertainment center. It was comfortable without extra space. The second bedroom was larger and lighter. It too had an overhead fan, which was used at night with windows open to circulate the ocean breezes.

While we were very comfortable and appreciative for the added space over and above a hotel room with two small children, it was not as large a unit as we've had elsewhere. I'd go again in a minute now with older children. The on-site activities were ample and well organized. The entire resort with its central grassy area close to the ocean was easy to reach, easy to enjoy, and easy to remember.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Ruby's Diner is located at the end of the Oceanside pier. Just getting to it is a pleasurable journey. You stroll down the wooden pier, taking in the fishermen and their catches, seagulls, and surf. Though a chain restaurant, this Ruby's location makes it something special. It is a two story circular building anchoring the end of the pier with unobstructed 360 degree views. Breathtaking.

This is definitely family oriented, with a 50's motif serving all American fare. Once inside, the menu consists of eggs, pancakes, and French toast for breakfast, burgers, fries, and chili for lunch, and coffee house meat entrees for dinner.

The chilren's menu contains all those foods the kids love - macaroni and cheese, burgers, chicken fingers, and hot dogs. Children's orders are served in a 1950's cardboard car tray, giving them a diversion at the end of the meal when the adults wish to linger a bit longer to soak up the view.

The sunsets here over the water makes all your troubles melt away. It's a great spot to take in the California coastline and the ocean view is all the way to Catalina Island. After your meal you can walk off that "I ate too much feeling" while watching surfers and families frolic in the waves as you walk back to the sand along the pier. It's oh so California.

Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base is a huge military base encompassing 125,000 acres on the ocean in southern California. It is a major training and deployment base for marines in the U.S. It is one of the world''s leading amphibious training camps and contains an ecological preserve.

The San Diego Freeway (I-5) runs through the center of the base and it''s not unusual to see marines in tanks and helicopters conducting exercises as you drive the 20 mile open freeway stretch 30 minutes north of San Diego. It also gives an unobstructed ocean view from the freeway for these 20 miles. The town of Oceanside lies at its southern end and largely made up of military personnel and their families.

In the past, self-guided tours could be taken. This may have changed with the tightening of security since 9/11. It''s best to call, 760/725-5569, to inquire about this possibility and the hours available. With reservations, a free guided tour is given once a month.

An Amphibious Vehicle Museum is located on base. A traveling scaled-down version of the Vietnam Wall located in Washington D.C. has made several trips to Camp Pendleton and is open to non-military visitors for viewing. Visitor passes and self-guided tour brochures are obtained at the main gate on Vandegrift Blvd. in Oceanside California.

To obtain access and entry to the base, you must stop at the guard house at the entrance, present valid driver''s license, vehicle registration, and proof of vehicle insurance. Be sure to observe the posted speed limits -- the marines are a no-nonsense group when it comes to breaking the laws.

Just four miles off Interstate 5, on State Route 76 through Oceanside, lies the historic 18th-century mission of San Luis Rey.

Mission San Luis Rey is the largest of the string of California missions built along the coast and is known as the King of the Missions. Like its sister missions, it played an integral part in the settlement of this area during Spain''s occupation. All California elementary school children do extensive studies of these missions and their settlement during history class.

It was built in the shape of a cross in 1798 by Father Fermen Lasuen and named for the King of France, Louis IX. The mission is not only a beautiful and spiritual place to visit, but also a historical and educational site. It is especially known for its sunken gardens.

The mission contains a museum displaying mission life of the padres and the local Indians, exhibits of Indian artifacts, and various religious items from past and present Catholic church life. Many of the colorful decorations are original and were done by the Indian inhabitants of the mission.

Special events take place at the mission throughout the year such as crafts festivals and fiestas. The mission undergoes continual refurbishments of various areas, the latest being the soldiers barracks. This process in itself is quite fascinating to watch and learn about.

Picnicking is permitted on the grounds. It is open 10am-4:30pm daily, excluding New Year''s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Good Friday. Admission is $3 for a self-guided tour. Group tours can also be arranged.

This is a great stopping off point on your way to Wild Animal Park or Legoland.

Need a place to escape the theme park crowds? How about a leisurely stroll at your own pace out in nature?

While this is not a major attraction, those interested in rare plants or beautiful quiet walks might find the Quail Botanical Gardens of interest. We happened upon it while staying in Carlsbad and visiting San Luis Rey Mission, both within 15 minutes of the gardens. The Gardens are set off the beaten path in a rural southern California area.

They are small and only encompass 30 acres of tropical plants, palms, ferns, and bamboos. A small waterfall and canyon are on the self-guided tour route. Hours are daily from 9am to 5pm and a free guided 90-minute tour takes place on Saturdays at 10am. Admission is $5 for adults and free on the first Tuesday of the month.

It only took us about 60 minutes to complete the tour. The main thing I remember about this garden is that we had it pretty much to ourselves and it was very quiet. You can call 760/436-3036 for more information. This activity was not something children would enjoy -- too relaxing.