By Samantha Mason
I’ve been a resident of San Diego for the last six years. I originally hail from Orange County, so I didn’t have to go far when I moved to the College area to attend San Diego State University in 2019. In the years since, I have had the privilege of exploring most of the neighborhoods of this wonderful county, until I finally landed in Del Mar in 2023.
Since then, I’ve rubbed elbows with the rich soccer moms and private school kids on the perfectly-paved roads of Carmel Valley. It’s an odd place to live as a 24 year-old postgrad, but when your partner’s dream job calls and tells you to head north, it’s what you do.
As a writer, I am not geographically bound to one area; I luckily can go wherever the wind takes me. That being said, I regret to admit that I rarely leave my North County bubble. Life gets busy, we need groceries, the dog needs a walk – rinse and repeat. By the time the work week is over, I’m too tired to do anything new, or we venture out to our tried-and-true Del Mar spots (shoutout to Monarch Ocean Pub and the Brewer’s Deck).
This isn’t to say I don’t love my neighborhood. It’s beautiful, safe and lush. However, I can’t say there’s much action. The lack of potholes does not make up for the lack of personality. I do find myself craving the party scene of Pacific Beach or the hustle and bustle of downtown. I want character. Carmel Valley is boring (at least in my experience). So, on this beautiful Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to explore San Diego’s crown jewel of character: Ocean Beach.
I’ve spent some days here and there in OB, but always to grab a quick beer or see Sunset Cliffs. Today, I wanted to take some time to revel in this lively community.
To start my journey, I headed south and made my way to OB Thrift. As soon as I got off of the freeway, I was met with crowded sidewalks and colorful, little homes. I appreciate the uniqueness of the neighborhood, with every structure telling a different story, just from its facade. It’s a nice change from the manicured suburbs.
In the heart of the action on Newport Ave., OB Thrift is regarded as one of the best thrift stores in San Diego. It had a lot of great finds and I ended up walking out with some nice items. How sustainable of me! I used to shop at thrift stores often, but, you guessed it – there aren’t any near where I live now. It was a nice treat being able to scour the racks of people’s previously-loved things. The thrift store was the only place I had planned to visit, so the rest of my day was left up in the air.
From there, I walked up and down Newport getting a feel for this bustling neighborhood. I walked by jewelry shops, restaurants and vibrant murals, all with loud music and conversation at every turn. As an anxious person, I was overstimulated. But, in a good way.
My next stop was Johnny Mañana’s, a fast-casual Mexican spot. Like any good San Diegan, I always crave a California burrito. I ordered it at the counter (along with a $7 glass of fresh fruit sangria!) and sat alone at a corner table. I immediately appreciated the beachy-casual vibes of the place, with reggaeton blasting from the speakers, the open windows showing out onto the street) and the friendly nature of the staff. They all were taking orders as they were laughing and talking to one another. It made me smile.
My food and drink came out quickly and were nothing less than a 10/10. I sat in this Mexican restaurant, appreciating the vibrant interior decor and laid-back energy. I would consider my time at Johnny Mañana’ to be a quintessential SoCal experience, further emphasizing my reasons for why I will never leave the great state of California.
To wrap up my OB visit I walked to Nova Easy Kombucha. Admittedly, I could only stomach paying for 2 hours of parking – $27! Albeit egregious, I am unfortunately used to it, as it’s a small price to pay for living in America’s Finest City.
I was also unfortunately almost hit by a gaggle of middle school boys on e-bikes as I crossed the road. This is by no means an OB-only issue, as I battle with preteens on the road on a daily basis. As Southern Californians, we need to put a stop to unlicensed children riding electric death traps on our streets. But, that’s not what I’m talking about today. Moving on!
I am a big fan of the Nova brand already and wanted to check out their storefront. Upon my arrival I was greeted by an adorable small dog, who really seemed to have made herself at home. San Diego’s dog-friendly nature is something that will never cease to warm my heart. The bar patrons chatted with me as I waited for my to-go six pack, and the overall atmosphere in Nova was welcoming. I felt warm and comforted. I realized at that moment that I don’t get that feeling too much in public.
Too many experiences have turned into get-in-and-get-out, don’t speak to anyone, don’t stand too close. I’m guilty of it too – I have more food delivered to my home via DoorDash than I would like to admit. We all have lost the human connection of being in public. So, it was nice to have a neighborly experience.
I know that one day can’t be entirely reflective of everything Ocean Beach has to offer. I didn’t lay on the beach, try out Noodle House or attend a full moon dance party (do they still do those?) My goal was to get myself out of my bubble, and remind myself of everything San Diego has to offer. Community is good for us. Culture is good for us.
Today showed me that the character I have been craving is still out there. Sometimes, you have to go find it yourself. I’ve missed this side of San Diego. I feel very privileged to live in a nice townhome near Torrey Pines, but sometimes it’s too quiet. The energy of OB is why I fell in love with San Diego the moment I moved here. Any suggestions on where I should go next?
Samantha Mason is a journalist based out of North County. An alum of San Diego State University, she has written for Coast News, the San Diego Gulls and more. When she’s not chasing a good story, you can find her trying out a new brewery or walking her 3-year-old lab, Clover. Follow her on X @samantha3mason.
Craving the party scene of Pacific Beach? Gotta admit this is the first time I’ve seen someone actually admit that lol. Yeah OB definitely has more character than PB ever could. One easy way you can avoid parking issues. You take your bike on the coaster from Solana Beach, get off at the Old Town stop, and get on the bike path on Pacific Highway just past where Perry’s used to be. It’s a flat relatively easy ride.
Samantha, loved your escape to OB.
Chris, very clever: Old Town station to Pacific Highway and then to the bike path to Ocean Beach! That avoids the dreaded Sports Arena and Midway!
you paid $27 for parking in OB?!! omg… definitely come down more so OB can really rub off on you. no one in their right mind (or enough time in a place like OB) would be that silly to get suckered into overpriced parking when there’s plenty of free street parking and basically free lots if you know where to look. get out of the rich folk bubble and sharpen your street smarts!
Robb Field.
I lived in the similarly sterile UTC area in the early 90s when I was about your age. I couldnt tell you who lived in the apartments to the left or right of me, everyone seemed to scurry from their yuppie jobs to their little boxes every night. I was much happier moving back to OB where I spent the next 2 decades. On another subject, while its been a few years since I was there Encinitis used to have a number of great thrift stores, both downtown on the highway and closer inland. I think theres a flashbacks location there, a few other resale shops. Oceanside also has some large goodwills (whose prices have gotten not so thrifty lately) and SA.
I live in PB, and I love being able to walk down to the bay, or stroll to a nearby restaurant. But I do also love the character of OB, and we spend a fair number of weekend days on Newport. On a recent Sunday afternoon, I heard live music streaming out of no fewer than three bars that were packed with locals. I enjoyed a delicious brunch at Wonderland while I watched the surfers. And of course, I had to stop into Tony’s for an espresso martini and easy conversations with the regulars. BUT, I never pay for parking, lol. I’d rather park on the other side of Sunset Cliffs blvd in the neighborhood and walk. It’s not that far. :)
If you love OB,you should have lived here in the 60’s-70’s,it was pure paradise.