The last thing I wanted to do after finding my car broken into was drive 80 miles south of Los Angeles to Oceanside for a planned weekend getaway. Turns out, it’s exactly what I needed.
Packed up and ready to head out for a mother-son weekend, we had one last stop to make at my son’s school for a parent-teacher conference. During our short time inside, a desperate soul decided to smash and grab my backpack filled with snacks for our weekend away. Not remembering when I packed it that it also contained our passports, all of my camera lenses, our Gopro (with photos from our recent trip to Costa Rica still on it) and so much more, I left the bag in plain sight thinking it would be fine covered with squeezey pouches and veggie stick snack bags.
Walking out to the street to see shattered glass all around my car, my heart sank. I was devastated. Once the hours of formalities were complete and the window was fixed, I knew we couldn’t pass up our retreat carefully planned by Visit Oceanside. With a heavy heart and cluttered mind, we hit the road.
It was only on our approach to Oceanside, as we passed silhouetted palm tree lined beaches with the always epic SoCal sunset behind them, that my spirits began to lift. Entering Oceanside, my son said “Hey! We have been here before!”. We haven’t, but I’m sure it is the quintessential SoCal beach town feel permeating the air that breathes familiarity for him.
Jump to a Heading Below
Home Away From Home
Unloading our bags at the SpringHill Suites (by Marriott), we quickly headed up to our beach view room to watch the last remnants of the sun setting on what had been a long hard day. Our room was way more than we expected with perfect views over the ocean, a working desk, sitting area, mini-fridge, microwave and and a real closet. This was the perfect antidote for our tumultuous day, not to mention an ideal room for traveling families.
Freshening up, we headed downstairs to the vibrant Hello Betty restaurant adjacent to the hotel. The laid back, welcoming restaurant was already pumping with music, chatter and activity. My son LOVED playing in the real life dune buggy while waiting for our food, while I enjoyed a few minutes of mind numbing pinball.
Local friends had suggested the Mexican shrimp tacos, which were great, but I think my favorite ended up being the fried avocado tacos with chipotle aioli. Yum! Giving up on my gluten free, sugar free diet, we indulged in a fantastically extravagant bananas foster for desert. It was just what the doctor ordered after the day I’d had.
The Little Touches
Back to our room for the night, I can’t tell you the relief I felt upon seeing an iPhone clock/charger, since I had just realized all of my chargers had also been stolen from my car. It’s the little touches like this that can really make a person’s day so much better. Thank you SpringHill Suites!
Waking up to a new day, we were ready to get out and explore everything on offer in this cute beachside town often overlooked by the larger, more touristed towns to the south. As we headed downstairs for our included breakfast, I was expecting a very basic Continental breakfast that is all too common these days. Instead, we were surprised by a do-it-yourself waffle maker station, hot oatmeal, scrambled eggs and a sausage/peppers mix, fruit, various pastries, cereal and more. A wonderful way to start the day!
Location, Location, Location
The location of SpringHill Suites cannot be beat in Oceanside. Steps from the train station, the beach and a few blocks from downtown Oceanside, visitors will enjoy having some time away from the car. For families, it is a short walk across the street to the beach where there are two playgrounds, the pier and of course tons of places to eat. For visitors from Los Angeles, having the opportunity to ditch the car and just walk everywhere in gorgeous sunshine will set the stage for a weekend of relaxation.
Conclusion
Springhill Suites is a perfect family friendly hotel providing all that traveling families need for a great weekend away. With fantastic views, spacious rooms, a delicious breakfast and fun amenities (the lobby games room is a hit with kids big and small!), we can’t wait to get back.
What would have been a weekend sat at home fretting over my losses from my car fiasco, ended up being a perfect family retreat to rejuvenate, refresh and renew. Thank you SpringHill Suites & Visit Oceanside for a truly wonderful stay.
[button link=”http://www.booking.com/hotel/us/springhill-suites-by-marriott-san-diego-oceanside-downtown.html?aid=927174&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1″ color=”silver”]Check rates & availability now for your weekend away in Oceanside[/button]
If You Enjoyed This Post, Sign Up To Receive Posts By Email or...
- Join us on Facebook for regular updates and related articles
- Check us out on Instagram to see what we are up to in photos
- Follow us on Twitter for links to great travel articles curated just for you
- Or share this post with others by pinning on Pinterest!
