California Welcome Center Oceanside Gets A Makeover

OCEANSIDE, CA — The California Welcome Center Oceanside celebrated its recent renovation last week with an open house reception hosted by Visit Oceanside.

The updated look reflects the surf-skate culture that is a defining characteristic of the Oceanside experience and draws so many visitors to our fair city. This popular trip planning resource, and first stop for many visitors to the San Diego region, recently emerged from a top-to-bottom makeover designed to inspire exploration of Oceanside’s unique history, adventurous lifestyle and enviable beach culture.

“Ensuring that visitors discover the best of the destination through insider tips curated by locals has always been our mission at CWC Oceanside,” says Leslee Gaul, CEO of Visit Oceanside. “The center’s new design better reflects this personalized, hyper-local experience through its destination-specific décor and enhanced amenities.”

From shiplap walls to distressed wood floors, the CWC Oceanside now has the feel of a throwback beach cottage. Integrated into the experience is oversized destination photography that emphasizes the cultural diversity and natural beauty of the area. There is also a wall-size mural created from an image by award-winning Oceanside photographer Myles McGuiness of a surfer duck diving through a wave.

Another new addition is the unique custom skateboard display donated by Tracker Truck founder and Oceanside resident Larry Balma. The display showcases the progression of skating over the years through changing board styles and even includes boards from legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and his professional skateboarder son Riley, who is also a local business owner.

“From board styles to skate parks, Oceanside has always been at the epicenter of the skateboarding industry,” said Balma. “It was a blast curating an installation that documents the tremendous growth and progress of the sport so that we could share it with visitors and locals in a one-of-kind display that appeals to all generations from those who ‘remember when’ to young visitors just getting into the sport.”

A historic surfboard on loan from the California Surf Museum Oceanside is another nod to Oceanside’s action-sports heritage. And, taking center stage, is a 1977 convertible bug — with surfboard in the back seat— that has already become a selfie stop.

To help visitors with customized itineraries and exploration tips, there is an expansive and inviting concierge desk staffed by local volunteers. Information also is available in designated sections with literature on local, regional and statewide points of interest. In addition, the CWC Oceanside sells tickets to many Southern California attractions like the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. A curated retail area featuring locally made products such as jewelry, T-shirts, books and candles is the perfect place to pick up a gift or souvenir.

“We are a wonderful resource for both visitors and locals who want to learn about hidden gems or the latest things to see, do and experience in our city and region,” says Welcome Center Manager Lydia Petroff, an Oceanside native and graduate of Oceanside High School. “Our services not only benefit our local businesses, but also help visitors discover places that are off-the-beaten path. Engaging with visitors allows us to provide tips on how to explore responsibly and best care for our destination and coastal resources too.”

Part of the state’s official network of visitor information centers, the CWC Oceanside typically serves over 50,000 visitors annually. Established in 2000, the Oceanside location was one of the first California Welcome Centers, which now number 21 scattered throughout the state. CWC Oceanside has earned a Traveler’s Choice Award from Trip Advisor for excellence in service and consistently receives top rated reviews on both Trip Advisor and Google platforms.

“We are often the first impression for many people coming to the area,” says Petroff. “Our new space is not only more welcoming and easier to navigate, but it’s more reflective of the awesome experience you are going to have in Oceanside.”

The California Welcome Center Oceanside is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located conveniently off Interstate 5 at 928 North Coast Highway, Oceanside.

Drop by to check out the new digs and get treated to a Special Locals-Only Discount during their Open House Week, March 14-19.