Ocean Beach, CA

 Google describes Ocean Beach (San Diego) as "a vibrant, bohemian neighborhood, with a classic SoCal beach vibe." I think that's pretty accurate. It feels old school: Older homes, unique stores and restaurants, and dripping with personality. It's like the big money developers have somehow missed this slice of beach heaven, and that's exactly why we wanted to spend a few days here.

We stayed at the Ocean Villa Inn. Nothing fancy... It's your basic motel, although pretty rundown, but it had two important things going for it: [1] Location (right on the beach) and [2] dog friendly. On one side of the motel is Dog Beach, so this place (and actually the whole town) is like taking your dog on vacation! Dogs seem to be welcome everywhere. In the photo above, you can see my wife holding our dog, a rescue that had joined our family only a few weeks prior.

 

For this post, Lilly & I will take you on a walk to Ocean Beach Pier.

 

From our motel, it was a nice walk down the beach to the pier. I think I recall reading that Ocean Beach Pier is the longest concrete pier in California. Or maybe in the US? Anyway, it's long and has an unusual "T" shape. 

On the pier, looking at the left side of the "T"

 

About half way out on the pier was one of those wonderful old seafood restaurants. This one looked like it had been here a long time and weathered many a storm. The perfect spot to enjoy fish & chips and a cold one, but we had already eaten, so I settled for a photo of the view out one of the restaurant windows.

Photo opp outside of the restaurant. Watch out, Lilly!!

 

I don't recall what we were laughing at, but I know we were having fun!

 

Classic SoCal beach vibe!

 

One of the locals. Might be a vendor, packed up his wares and done for the day.

 

 

The beautiful sunset over the ocean already had me on skywatch overload, but facing away from the beach I was also being treated to a gorgeous moonrise!

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.