Oceanside has just about anything you could want from a California coastal town. It has near-perfect weather all year long, a 6-mile stretch of beaches, and the area's historical richness. It's home to California's largest Spanish mission, the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, a.k.a "King of the Missions." Founded in 1798, the mission now has a historic cemetery, church, and museum open to the public. Today, many people choose Oceanside for its affordable land prices compared to its more infamous SoCal neighbors. The 175,000+ people who live in Oceanside get to enjoy the perks of nearby places like San Diego and Los Angeles without the downside of living there.

The history of modern-day Oceanside began in 1883 when the California Southern Railway came to the area. The railroad, linking San Diego and San Bernardino, opened up the local beaches for development and tourism. Oceanside became a city in 1888. By 1889, it was a bustling community with three grand hotels: the South Pacific, the Tremont, and the St. Cloud. Continued growth through the 1920s earned the city its slogan, "Oceanside, California's Pride." Later, during World War II, Oceanside's population and industry boomed when the Marine Corps built Camp Pendleton in the city. During the Korean War, the base brought even more military families to Oceanside.

Throughout history and even now, Oceanside's most popular feature is its beaches. The largest of these is Harbor Beach, which offers everything from volleyball to surfing and deep-sea fishing. Next door, shops and restaurants line Oceanside Harbor's shoreline. A few miles to the south, Breakwater Way is a more peaceful beach spot, perfect for nature lovers to savor the view. Then, of course, there are the beaches of Oceanside Pier. At one-third of a mile, this pier is California's longest. At the famous Pier View South Beach, the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre often hosts shows and events.

Oceanside isn't all beaches, though. It also has museums, like the Oceanside Museum of Art, with its ancient and contemporary exhibits. Be sure to stop in at the California Surf Museum, which celebrates global surfing culture. Oceanside has great street markets, too. Every Thursday, the Oceanside Sunset Market takes over Pier View Way with local food vendors' tents and live entertainment. At the Oceanside Farmer's Market, local farmers gather to sell fresh produce and wares.

With Oceanside's gorgeous weather and scenery, it's only natural for local homeowners to want a beautiful, unique yard. Installing a high-quality landscape can be difficult and time-consuming, though. Let LawnStarter help you find the best local landscaping pros to transform your yard.

We can match you with landscapers for whatever job you need, from planting a tree to building a custom waterfall. Simply download the LawnStarter app and enter your ZIP code, and you'll be on your way to having the best yard in the neighborhood. Head to the beach and leave the landscaping to the pros.