Despite being a California native, I've never been to a California Welcome Center, despite living to much closer ones. We wanted to stop by for a restroom break and to stretch our legs and eat some of our snacks before making our final voyage to San Diego and we saw the welcome center when we turned out of the freeway. Definitely stop here over a regular rest stop or fast food joint. We came in around 15-20 minutes before they had to close and all the ladies working there were super friendly, welcoming, answered all of our questions. Restrooms are super clean and smells nice too. They have a sign in sheet for visitors, lots of brochures for nearby attractions, an entire car inside for photos, lots of neat bits and pieces of history of the area and sights to see including info about pro-skater Tony Hawk, the surfboard museum or something nearby, and much more. Lots of neat gifts and trinkets for you to take back on your trip too. There's also books, and goods made by local artists. My friend from Texas got a cute kitchen towel with the art of all the animals and such from California. Cute! There's a discount corner and everything is reasonable and affordable. At the side there's also someone posted there to assist you with booking hotels and I'm sure other things like tickets to events or attractions, I'm sure. Going here has inspired me to eventually visit the other Welcome Centers too! read more

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One of the things I love to do when traveling is to visit the local welcome center and I find myself always looking got them when away from home, so I was super excited to find that Oceanside has a Welcome Center! Yippee! The last one I went to was in Ventura and that was also fabulous! This Welcome Center is smaller than the one in Ventura but it was very solid! The two ladies that helped me today were sweet and knowledgeable. Since it's gonna hella rain the next couple of days, I asked for some indoor suggestions and they both were well prepared to answer my questions! One lady even pulled out a handout that had many rainy day activity sessions! I was pointed to go visit the Mission San Luis Rey, which I promptly did later and it did not disappoint but also got plenty of indoor suggestions like a vintage market to check out, go to the mall and go to the movies (I will probably do all of these things and more!). I also loved that they had very informative magazines, brochures for North Coast, and all of Cali and other states too! I was in heaven with all this information! Definitely give this place a visit if you like doing research on your travels! I loved it! read more

California Welcome Center - Visit Oceanside - Charging station - Travel Services Near Me - Oceanside, California

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This California Welcome Center is one of the first businesses once you enter San Diego County from Interstate 5 South. It not only has a ton of tourist information about the state and local region, but I really enjoy looking at the locally crafted items, such as stickers, postcards, and food items. The staff here are very friendly. read more

California Welcome Center - Visit Oceanside - Travel Services Near Me - Oceanside, California

I was planning my trip to Oceanside and I checked out the Visit Oceanside page for news, updates, fresh ideas. They were offering to send a guide, so I put my email in to get it send to my place and also signed up for newsletter. They promptly mailed me the Oceanside guide book which you should get for ideas, useful info and coupons! I also started to get newsletter with updated local events. I called the Center for info as well and they were nice and helpful on the phone. We stopped by last Saturday to buy tickets for a whale watching cruise because they have a better deal here. The ladies working at the Center also booked the trip for us and gave us a tote! Easy to find center, close to the Harbor, nice, with cool merchandise and clean restrooms, many maps and brochures, souvenirs as well. They even reached out to me via email which is a nice note, not everyone cares so much about visitors! Great customer service! Closed on Sundays, otherwise, stop by for news, deals, help, a bit of shopping! Nice welcoming spot to Oceanside! read more

California Welcome Center - Visit Oceanside - Visitors guide - Travel Services Near Me - Oceanside, California

Never know about California Welcome Center, this is our second visit to Oceanside. We drove almost 2 hours from San Bernardino area. This time to get away from all smoke from the Line fires. Because its only for one night so we decided to just stay and drive around locally. We weren't sure the place is open because no cars in the parking lot. So when we walked in the staff were so friendly and welcoming. They have so many information about the town. They have all kind of brochures and some coupons from Restaurants that we have used. They have Tshirt, stickers, magnets, postcards of Oceanside and many other souvenirs from area surrounding. Many thanks to Sue and Lydia that already spent their precious times to suggest us what to do and where to go also where to eat. Too bad we only stay for a night but its so worth it and well spent. We are heading to Oceanside again in about 3 weeks and we will try to stop by here again. Highly recommended to stop by here. read more

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I love a welcome center! We happened upon this center en route to Disneyland today and I couldn't have been more excited. The employees were so nice and welcoming today when I literally booped into the store to use their restroom. I got completely distracted by all of the goods and wares though. They had everything that warms my cold black heart: postcards, CA lapel pins, stickers, wordy shirts and sooo much more! Everything was reasonably priced (in CA where most things aren't). I didn't get to look through the entire store I would have spent at least an hour in there. Find this shop off the 76 and give it a visit. Definitely worth it especially if you have family and friends playing in town and you're playing tour guide. read more

California Welcome Center - Visit Oceanside - Signage - Travel Services Near Me - Oceanside, California

Greeted in a friendly and warm manner. The facility was clean and tidy with items for sale and plenty of publications. A great stop to help plan future trips! read more

California Welcome Center - Visit Oceanside - Travel Services Near Me - Oceanside, California

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I cannot say enough about this little gem. It was such a blessing we came across this place. On our way to San Diego our 3 year old got sick. We thought it was car sickness, but later found out it was hand foot and mouth... anyway, we pulled off the freeway to clean up the car seat and kiddo. Poor kiddo was so upset. We had to strip him down and get the car cleaned up. We pulled into the parking lot which was empty. Plenty of parking!! After getting him cleaned up, he had to go to the bathroom.. THANK GOODNESS this place was open. Kiddo and dad went inside to use the restroom and they were greeted by such a kind employee. They saw how upset kiddo was and they gave him a stuffed dolphin for free. To this day it's still one of his favorite stuffed animals. Thank you so much for making a part of our trip better! read more

Every time I drove up I-5 N past Oceanside to go see my girlfriend on the weekends, I would always pass the signs to the California Welcome Center. I vowed that I would check it out one day (especially as they are only open 9-5)... and as I was picking up Kathy from the Metrolink station this past Saturday, I finally decided to make a stop. Essentially, this is an info kiosk that has plenty of free travel brochures about what to do in Oceanside and the surrounding area. Also, there's plenty of gift shop merchandise of all types, from the usual So Cal-themed tchotchkes to Beanie Babies. But what got my attention were the photos and memorabilia detailing the history of the city, as well as the souvenir penny machine (I love these and have a growing collection of pressed pennies). And, there are restrooms here if you need to use them; they're clean and well maintained. While a small location - and primarily aimed at the out-of-town crowd - the California Welcome Center is still worth a stop (heck, I even got a brunch idea from the place - 101 Cafe - courtesy of one of the complimentary postcards they had available)! Pay no attention to the gentlemen's club across the street... read more

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A very typical visitor's center stocked full of free travel and local community information with a few elderly enthusiastic attendants eager to offer advice and share local history, this is also free and in abundances. There are also plenty of odds and ends for purchase. The interior and exterior are both immaculate, it doesn't seem that they get much traffic hence the relatively small parking lot. I didn't see any coffee being offered up but that may have just been an oversight on my part. With social media and the Internet providing an overload of information I don't see these visitor centers being economical viable for very much longer. read more

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I live in Oceanside and I normally stop by at the California Welcome Center for the coupons of local restaurants or services (hotel, spa, whale watching, fishing, Go San Diego Card, etc.) and to check the local events. The seniors who work there (I think they're volunteer) are really sweet and informative. The decoration is very nice and it looks very So-Cal! I even prefer to stop here for urgent bathroom need rather than gas station! As far as my last visit on 3/5/2011, they have more Oceanside and San Diego souvenirs (of course they also have California stuffs for foreign tourist or out-of-towner). Plus, some maps that they have for sale are even cheaper than the AAA or local gas station. I got Oceanside detailed map for $1.00! They also have different maps for free. I've been to serveral California Welcome Centers in CA, as well as local visitor center/welcome center in other states, but I think this place makes me feel very welcome and laidback. PS: I think the name of the welcome center is incorrect. It has to be "California Welcome Center in Oceanside". read more

California Welcome Center - Visit Oceanside - Inside the Welcome Center - Travel Services Near Me - Oceanside, California

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California Welcome Center. there's only a few & i'd never been to one before so i wanted to check it out. it's a lil bit of info about Oceanside & California, but mostly just MILES of free literature (brochures, maps, local mags, etc)!* plus Gift Shop stuff- shirts, keychains, etc. Mostly of generic CA stuff though (like Rte 66), not particularly Oceanside. had a free computer w/ internet. photos & posters on the wall inc. a super cheesy poster of Guvuna Ahnold & his wife- LOL! THE ONLY BAD THING: one (of the 2) older ladies who worked there greeted me with a smile but quickly became disinterested once i told her i was already a Californian. i think it would've made her day had i been from far away & hung on her every word! Geez- sorry- oh wait I'm not! She indirectly made fun of me for using the squished penny machine (instead of encouraging the only other visitor in there to get one she said it's "just another thing to spend money on"). Plus she needs to do more homework to woo people about the city--- all she really told me was that Oceanside has the longest wooden pier on the West Coast. BUT she didn't know where the 2nd one was (Seal Beach, CA) or where the longest East Coast one was (Daytona Beach, FL). i had to find those out myself online. FAIL. _____________________ *def. go if you need are in need of maps or vacation ideas (from all over- Nor. Cal to Mexico!) read more

Took my younger sister and cousin on a day trip to San Diego. We had to use a restroom and saw the California Welcome Center. I've never been to one, so I decided it would be cool to check out plus there had to be bathrooms we could use. The staff was very friendly. They were senior citizens who knew a lot about the area. They have a little gift shop and pamphlets on everything southern California. Some pamphlets had coupons to use as well. We wanted to check out one of the California Missions and one of the staff was very helpful and gave great directions. If you ever get the chance or new to use the restroom, this is a great stop!! read more

We stopped by, great service from the volunteer staff! Restrooms are super clean...... read more