Trip to San Diego (or north county) in late June 2013

hey Rob, the only advice i could really give you would be to check out San Elijo campgrounds at Cardiff by the Sea. i don't know how your family would feel about camping, or if that's even an option but the amenities there are pretty decent (all things considered). plus the location sits right on top of the cliffs, with just a mere walk down the stairs to get to the beach. the break out front is technically reef, but it's the smooth limestone type, not anything that would cut you up. the wave itself is fairly soft so it's enjoyed by many longboarders, girls and your typical teenage shredders. Cardiff as well as Encinitas may offer the type of vibe you are looking for. also it's central location makes it great for checking out other towns and surf spots in the area.

the two downsides to Pacific/Mission/Ocean beaches are that yeah the area has kind of a "hood" feel to it. you may be totally fine there, but it's kind of a seedy area (sometimes seedy can be good) and if any of the beaches in the area were to be closed for water quality, it would be those 3. i guess due to their proximity to Tijuana.

your family may enjoy Huntington Beach for the walking around and shopping aspect. plus the beach there is so wide open that i'm sure you could find a peak that suited your abilities. Huntington probably has more of a touristy vibe to it, while Cardiff and Encinitas are a little more homely.

anywhere you end up, i can just about guarantee you'll have a good time. also for a family-day out, the San Diego zoo is world class. i would highly recommend it.

best wishes man.

 

Since I was born on ol' Fred, let me break it down for you brother. The trashy comments about "Oside" are regarding the people.... Everyone in North County makes those references. I used to tell my buddies from Del Mar that they were from Oceanside, and those are fighting words.... its a FAAAARRRRR stretch though. You will find much more trash on Market Street or John Hansen any day of the week. Oside is a nice area... mostly military...

I would say Oside is just far enough from San Diego, Just far enough from OC and LA that its just an annoying area.

I would honestly say to stay in Mission or North PB. Yes, South Mission and PB are "party" areas, but only later at night, and avoid South Mission on Sunday nights... Just trust me there.... While OB is my favorite area of San Diego, its not that family oriented... Stay on Mission Bay or North PB. Its a 5 minute drive to the airport... You are 5 minutes from Downtown... You can go to the Zoo one day (5 minutes away).... Balboa Park.... Catch a Padres game with $5 park passes and sit in the grass.

As far as surfing, simply go to one place.... Tourmaline or Law Street. North PB. Total beginner area. you will find a peak somewhere between the Point and the PB pier... Its the easiest wave on the west coast... Even on Big Wednesday, the surf there maxed out at like 6-8 feet. No rouge sets.... Easy street.... Mission, OB and La Jolla are loc'ed out year round... If you attempt to surf anywhere in OB in June, you will most likely leave with a bad taste in your mouth from the locals.... If you want to surf La Jolla, go to La Jolla shores... its a great beach... The shores are generally blocked from steeper angled swells that time of year, so you can look North to Scripps and Blacks and it will be 6 feet, and the shores, 200 yards south is waist to chest... The shores has its days, just not in June....

Thats my advice.... Oceanside is a nice, quiet place though... so dont let the Hype deter you... Its just difficult driving to all the SD attractions from there... Traffic both ways and not much to do in Oside....

Hope that helps.... Mission Bay and Central part of SD is whats up though... Tons to do every day... Kayak on Mission Bay with the family... Surf in the mornings. Hang out on the beach.... go shopping... Check out the city... Checkout the ports downtown....

You MUST, and I mean MUST at least drive down Sunset Cliffs once... Even if you are not surfing, walk down to one of the little coves or beaches... That is what San Diego is all about... That rugged, beautiful coastline, and on the off chance that there is decent swell in the water in June, there are a few Summer reefs to surf or at least watch... The locals will be all over it, but you can watch some serious talent... There are a few inside reefs that offer quick barrels on every way in the summer if its working. A couple points and just a beautiful scene for sure....

PM me if you want any further details or contacts while you are there.

 

Beach closers in SD city are only due to urban runoff and the sewage plant breaking down on Point Loma... These are only threats during winter months and only after rain... June will be safe no matter what. And the current runs south... All the runoff comes from the SD rivermouth in between the Jetties that seperate Mission and OB... No worries in the summer though ever...

 

Feldspar isn't bad. If u can find anything up around law street or north into South La Jolla. If u don't mind a 5 minute drive to the beach, stay in Hotel circle. There are like 50 hotels there. All close to everything. South La Jolla or north Pb is good by the beach tho. Otherwise look off mission bay around Ingram street. That's bayside and low key.

As far as wetsuits, bring a 3 mil or spring suit. You can get away with a 2 mil even. I just never trunk it until kid July or August. If people say its trunk able in June they are lying .

There are some nice hotels down on shelter island and harbor island by the airport and Sam Diego bay. Or go HUGE and stay at the hotel del Coronado

 

Ohh, and yes 9 out of ten times the June gloom is gone by late late June. 2 an 3 years ago it lingered into July 4th weekend but that is not common.

 

zach619 and zaGaffer are right, PB OB and MB are good for beginners, especially PB. In the summer though, it's madness...not exactly "uncrowded" or "family oriented".

Johnnydon'tsurf has a great recommendation for San Elijo/Cardiff. Very mellow breaks with mellow crews for the most part, and not as crowded as the City breaks.

My personal recommendation would be any of the North County areas, particularly between Cardiff and Carlsbad. Plenty of glassy and uncrowded breaks, away from the hassle and urban "ick" of PB MB and OB. Leucadia and Carlsbad have tons of uncrowded glassy consistent surf...just find a decent place to park and walk down the stairs.

I would definitely bring a 3/2 for late June. A short sleeve spring suit would probably work too. You won't be trunking it unless there's a heat wave. "June Gloom" usually burns off by 11am-noon, but gives way to daily NW onshore winds of 10-15 knots.

BTW: I was born and raised in SD, lived there for 30 years, and surfed it for 15 of those years. I still make annual trips there. I've traveled the entire coast there, as well as Tijuana to Cabo. I have also surfed OCMD and OBX as well.

 

the place you're talking about in Coronado can be crazy in summertime. Takes any swell from a southerly direction and the prevailing NW breeze blows offshore there. Add the fact that it breaks on a super shallow sandbar in super cold water (for SD), and you have a neck-snapping freight train combination. You'll need a pass to get on there, so there will be zero crowds. Not a good place for a beginner, but a great place to watch some smoking summertime barrels.

FYI, since you have a pass, there's another place that's similar in Oceanside. Great lefts, no crowds. Like zaGaffer says, any more info than this would be too much. Not necessarily "secrets", but probably a couple of the last uncrowded spots in SoCal.

 

In the summer, unless there is a bigger South Swell, North PB doesnt pack much punch and unless its super low tide, you will always be surfing in 5-8 feet of water.... Hitting the sand or reefs for that matter are really a non issue unless you are on the La Jolla reefs, which I assume you will not be... 95% of the Sunset Cliffs reefs are pretty deep. I have surfed them thousands of times, literally and never hit a reef. Well, i have hit a couple messing around on a small day on the inside, but as far as actually surfing the reefs on decent swells, they are all pretty damn deep. On good days, you will be a mile out. I have gotten held down for what felt like a mile under water out there and never hit anything.

 

Carlsbad/Tamarack has some easier waves to surf also, and it's up north.
Personally my favorite part of San Diego is the stretch from Carlsbad to Encinitas
Check out Blacks too if you can handle it and it's not too big. It's the best surfing experience there I think.

 

Ohh, and the place I think he was talking about is Oceanside Marine base (Camp Pendleton). The North end of coronado doesnt really break with all the dredging for the ship. The central, public area on coronado fires with a straight South Swell... No east, just south.... Its rare, but I proposed to my wife right in front of the Hotel Del on a Sand Dune and sunset... The way I tricked her into going onto the beach was by saying, Wow, its like DOH on coronado, ive never even seen a wave here before... So she grunted, took her shoes off and we walked down there... It was dumping.

But the DM Jetty etc that is litterally on Camp Pendleton is a sweet setup... Completely private. I surfed it while on based with some friend who just got back from Iraq a few years ago.... Its military only and its a sick setup... Its not a secret, you just cant get on it without a Marine with you and a few car searches on your way in.

 

and a bunch of wangs...

 

there's a jetty break at the northernmost end of North Island near the entrance, faces almost directly due south. Breaks like Outlet, pretty crazy. An old friend of mine was the guy who got paralyzed at Outlet.

And since the cat's out of the bag, yes...I was talking about DMJ.

 

9/11 kinda changed everything as far as accessing surf spots within military bases. Growing up I remember bases used to be open to the public. After the twin towers fell, 100% ID checks!

Not that I'm complaining, hehehe, more for me