We have been going to Oceanside beach for about 5 years and we love it there. We usually stay at the Worldmark timeshare in Oceanside and we walk to the beach from there. It is a nice walk by the pier. There are a lot of little businesses with great sea food!
Parking can be difficult specially during the weekends. My kids love going to Oceanside and just play in the sand :)
O'Side is not the nicest beach in San Diego, but it is the closest to Temecula & there are secluded, less crowded pockets.
Parking can be tricky. Your best bet is to use one of the public lots NORTH of the main beach. They will require a bit more walking, but you will be much more successful finding a space.
Try not to haul too much - only take what you need: a few sand toys, a couple of towels, some drinks & sunscreen. You'll be happy when it's time ot pack up & go!
If you're looking for a beach to just hang out at for a couple of hours, this is the place. If you want a more scenic beach in a nicer area, try Silver Strand in Coronado or La Jolla Shores.
This beach has everything you need. There are great facilities, places for a bon fire, a play ground, and even a McDonald's. This is a great beach in San Diego County. There is a lot of parking here and plenty of things to do near by. This beach has great surf and you can sometimes see dolphins and whales on the horizon. I recommend eating at Ruby's on the pier.
If you have ever seen the movie "Brin it on" you might recognize the ampitheatre here as "Daytona" where they hold the final championship. Also, the house originally in "Top Gun" where he stands out on the porch over looking the beach is just above strand on the main road.