Ocean Beach

The culture in Ocean Beach is so strong, not even time can threaten it. Seriously. A century has changed the buildings, the businesses, the landscape, and the last names, but not the loyalty. The laid-back, funky, California beach lifestyle wasn’t inspired here, it was invented. It’s timeless. And magical. Because when you enter OB, the local vibe begins transferring into your being almost immediately. You slow down a bit — to appreciate the smell of the ocean, the push of the breeze, the warmth of the sun. Your urges change. You want to cancel the meetings for the rest of the day. Slip out of your socks and into some sandals. Your impulse is to grab a slice from Pizza Port and strike up a conversation with a stranger. Maybe get to know their dog too. Worries become little things, “nothings” in fact, that roll off your back as easy as the waves rolling in off the Pacific ocean in the setting sun. You’re living in the moment. You’re loving life. You’re becoming an “OBecian.” Welcome to Ocean Beach.

Ocean beach, referred to as “O.B.”, lies at the end of the I-8, along the northwest side of the Point Loma peninsula. This historic San Diego beach community occupies one of the most stunning stretches of the California coastline. It was founded in 1887 as a popular resort town and tourist attraction. But after an oceanfront amusement park was washed away into the sea, the locals took over. A group of visitors decided to stay in Ocean Beach — developing housing and building a sense of community. And as it became cut off from the tourist scene, O.B.’s local culture and pride grew. The residents developed schools, community programs, neighborhood traditions and governments. Today, O.B. has been rediscovered by the masses, but the pride of the beach village remains. Speaking of beaches, there are a number in O.B. to choose from. Newport beach has a lot to offer, including endless surf watching and the longest concrete Pier on the West Coast, which extends 2,000 feet across the water. Ocean Beach has a number of residences with limited space to grow. You’ll find that cottages, bungalows and apartments are common architecture styles here. O.B. is eternally popular among students and surfers, but you can also find families residing in this area.

The sense of community is ev
erywhere you go in O.B. Loyalty here is fierce. Some people “shop local” — here they “live local.” The human connection of sustainability can be felt through business, art, music and a genuine sense of realness. The main drag, Newport Avenue, is filled with many unique shops, delicious eateries, tattoo parlors, dive bars, local surf shops, small charming hotels and much more. If you’re looking for a lot of chain restaurants and stores, you’re barking up the wrong beach. But if you are looking to bark up a beach, Dog Beach is for you — it’s nationally famous and one of the first official leash-free beaches in the United States. It’s a landmark in the community and a place where pets and people come together to splash in the waves and celebrate the spirit of Southern California. Overall, whether you’re a surfer, a sun worshiper, an outdoor yogi, an entrepreneur in search of a tan or anyone in between, O.B. is a place that has to be lived in, to be belie
ved.

Here are a few things I recommend to make your Ocean Beach experience even more memorable.