Transportation train between so many cities within San Diego from Oceanside to LA. Alleviates the…read morecrazy LA traffic and freeways. Convenient locations to board and an app to buy tickets. Can also buy tickets at each station. Schedules posted. Free parking at the stations. Lots of times throughout the day. Seniors ride all day for $5 on Saturday and Sunday. Super clean trains and comfy seats. Downside: no actual person at each station location to ask questions or find out about trains running late.

I love taking the train going to Los Angeles rather than driving two hours in a half or three…read morehours, depending on traffic! I highly recommend taking the train if you are going to Los Angeles ! It is very convenient and easy! Download the AMTRAK APP and you can purchase tickets online or ahead of time!

I have lived here many years but only taken the Coaster a handful of times…read more I was going down to Petco park for a Padres game and decided to give it a try. It is about an hour from Oceanside to the San Diego Santa Fe depot (about 20 minutes more than driving by car at 1030 am). There was an option for a day pass for $15 to take the Coaster down and back, but also to be able to use the Trolley as well. That was a good deal. Avoid a ticket and tap your Pronto card everytime you get on to a train or trolley. You get down to the Santa Fe Depot and you walk over to the trolley line and take the green or blue, green has less stops and it only takes like 10-14 minutes. The conductors do come by to check your tickets, so just make sure you tap your Pronto card everytime you get on to a train or trolley. I was able to leave the game with 2 outs to go and run to the trolley which was running late, and at about 407 got us over to the Santa Fe depot at 418 and we had to run to the Coaster that was leaving at 420 but we made it, even when I stopped to tap my pronto card. Enjoy the photos.

I've ridden the Coaster several times previously and always considered it the best train system…read morealong the California coast, but I rode it again recently and the Wi-Fi was out. Although, I had ridden it 2 days previously, and the Wi-Fi was out then also, on my next ride, I asked the conductor and he acted as if he wasn't aware of that and would report it. Also, at least 1/2 the bathrooms were out of order. That's a problem. I hope that's not a sign of deterioration.

Easy to buy tickets, time are clearly posted for next train. I hope they will redo the area, new…read morebenches, bathroom and maybe a small store. Plenty of parking which is nice, we've been taking the train to SD to avoid parking there.

This railroad station in Downtown Carlsbad serves the Coaster computer rail line between Oceanside…read moreand Downtown San Diego. It has a single side platform for the single set of tracks that go through Carlsbad. Overall, I think this is a very nice station. North County Transit District buses also stop here, most importantly in my book, Route 101 that runs on Historic 101 between Oceanside and UTC in La Jolla. There are over 400 parking spaces at the station, which is a short walk to restaurants, coffee shops, retail shops, and more. The Carlsbad Village station is not the historic Carlsbad station that was used by Santa Fe Railroad until 1960. That station still stands about 1/10th of a mile south.

Easy boarding access. Organized station. Bathrooms are a bit dingy. Busy on a weekend. Plenty of…read moreparking

5 stars for clerk Malita for helping us sort out our tickets after we got off at the wrong stop…read more She is such an efficient clerk and helped us so quickly we were able to board the train that was waiting. Thank you!!

My family and I have taken the Coaster several times to enjoy a nice relaxed ride…read moreto watch a Padres game. This Sunday when we returned to Oceanside upon Entering our vehicle I received a notification that my wallet was left behind. I immediately ran back to the Coaster and could see my wallet on the seat where it had fallen out of my pocket. However all the doors were closed, I noticed an employee walking towards the front of the train and ran towards him while repeatedly calling for him only to be ignored. I reached him as he was climbing up to where the driver was also sitting and asked him if he could please open the door so I could quickly hop on and grab it. He said NO we're going home You'll have to contact lost and found. That's policy he said.. Long story short, my wallet had an AirTag in it so I tracked it all night where it sat in the train yard, and went to bed at 11 PM. Woke up the next morning and my wallet was an hour and a half away near Hemet. Call the Hemet sheriff department and they went to the location and talked to the resident who said he was a manager for the train and he accidentally picked up my wallet and put it in his pocket. I wonder if that is policy needless to say it was empty and two days later all my cards & ID were returned to me by a sergeant from Camp Pendleton, who found them scattered along the road, leaving the train yard. So be careful not to leave anything behind on the train, especially your wallet because they're employees and management are thieves and very dishonest.

For the past 2 months I had to take the coaster beginning at Oceanside to the Santa Fe Depot. And…read moreI have no complaints at all in regard to the coaster and the staff onboard. The coasters are always clean. There's never been a foul odor. Even the people traveling on it are polite. The staff onboard the coasters are always courteous and answer and all questions I might have. I've always been greeted with a smile and a hello. You can purchase a pass at the transit center OR download the Pronto app and purchase them that way. The train is equipped with an upper and lower deck. Some seating have a table so you can do work or eat on. Do they run on time? Not 100% of the time. But a lot of that has to do with the fact that sometimes they need to wait for another train to pass by, weather conditions and some other factors that are out of their control. But you get to where you need to and safely. I highly recommend the coaster. Especially if you hate the 5 traffic! *Oceanside Transit Center: The public bathroom is atrocious!!!*

A friendly staff gave us a quick history of the mission. Admission to the museum is $8. The…read moremuseum is packed with artifacts and history. We took our time looking around the courtyard, the oldest pepper tree...San Luis Rey is a working mission still, they hold masses here, have parish office, and also cemetery. The mission is impressive and the chapel is beautiful. Im not going to reveal too much with my photos, you need to appreciate its beauty in person.

My goal is to visit all of the missions in California. As an elementary school teacher, I find it…read moreto be fascinating to explore the locations that I teach about during the school year. It helps to personalize all that is taught in classrooms across California. Mission San Luis Rey is one of the prettiest missions that I've visited so far. The parking lot is large, and it also has an overflow to accommodate larger crowds during special events. There is a large, white church that is in the center of the parking lot. Due to its size and proximity, it immediately grabs your attention. Many people begin exploring at the church, but there's much more to see. If you walk to the far left side of the property, you'll see the actual entrance. There is small gift shop as well as a counter where you'll pay your entry fee to explore the museum. One thing that I liked about Mission San Luis Rey is that replicas of various artifacts looked pretty authentic. Also, the backstory for each item was described in detail. The mission was incredibly clean, demonstrating how much pride people take in the presentation of the property. There is a small cemetery adjacent to the church. You can walk around and pay your respects to people who had either a physical or emotional impact on the mission and the community. The grounds are well-maintained and it remains inviting to people who want to explore around. The church is large and inviting. You can purchase candles and place them near the entrance as well as the room off to the side or another room closer to the front of the church. The displays are beautiful and well-lit to draw your attention to details. People maintain a low tone in the church to allow guests to pray, have a moment to themselves, or to make a connection with a higher power. Before you leave, make sure that you stop by the small coffee shop. It's located near the bathrooms near the south side of the property. There is a little gated patio area where you can hang out with friends, family, or even your dog! Mission San Luis Rey is a great place to visit. People are very friendly and quite helpful. When we went to the mission, the weather was perfect and we had a clear view of the area. It was a great experience and I will definitely come back for another visit. I don't know which mission we will visit next, but so far, this is my favorite.

Once you get bored of the beautiful beaches, you need to check out the local history of Carlsbad…read more Lots of posters, neat period furniture, a barn with tools and a buggy, and player pianos too. There is a small display for the police department, and another one for the schools. Carlsbad is a micro cosmos of much of California history.

From the owner: The Carlsbad Historical Society a non profit volunteer organization, was established in 1975 to…read morepreserve, promote, and enhance knowledge of the surrounding area's history, significant landmarks, institutions and memorabilia. Our museum and research center located in Magee Park is dedicated to reaching out to the community through educational as well as social events. Our site and knowledgeable docents present the complete Carlsbad historical story. Come visit and "Know Carlsbad" California.

I like Springhill Suites in Oceanside. It's centrally located amongst this walkable town and is a…read morefew short blocks from the beach. They do have some nice amenities such as a 6th floor rooftop pool and jacuzzi (towels are provided on the roof) with a game room attached to it. They offer free breakfast in the mornings. I think it stops at 10 AM. Some of the breakfast items they had were cereals and milk, different juices, coffees/teas, scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes, yogurts, oatmeal, bagels/ toast, make your own waffle bar, hard-boiled eggs, bananas, etc. They charge $40 per night for underground parking. They have a little general store next to the lobby where you can buy things like sunscreen, sunglasses food, wine, beer, etc.; it's convenient to have that in the hotel. They also have packages where if you can rent beach items such as chairs, umbrellas, etc. so you don't have to bring your own or buy them. I think the package family of 4 was $75 if I remember correctly. The hotel room was very nice and clean and the air-conditioning was working perfectly. I would definitely stay here again, but I would not pay the extra charge for the balcony room which we had. I thought maybe there would be chairs on the balcony but there weren't any and there was only one chair in our room, so it didn't make sense for the two of us to go out onto the balcony and there wasn't much people watching to do facing Myers Street (it may be different looking out onto Mission Avenue). Our room was a suite and had a small refrigerator, microwave, and safe in the room. Our room phone didn't work so we couldn't reach the front desk when our curtains wouldn't close. Since we were on the third floor, our room was near the second floor outdoor roof bar area. We could hear the band playing and people talking. We got back to the hotel at 10 PM and the band was done so I know they don't play past 10 PM, but if you want a quiet stay then do not get a room near the 2nd floor bar area. This is my 2nd time staying here and I would definitely come back again. The only things that need to improve are the speed of the 2 elevators. They are ancient and crawl up and down and are always packed full of people and the underground parking area smells like crap.

Literally just across the street from two resorts costing twice the price. Here are the differences…read morelisted as "Resorts" vs Marriott: * free water bottles and a welcome champagne (vs free cold water and cups at Marriott at every level) * free family entertainment room (vs paid arcade at Marriott) * slightly larger pool with view of beach (vs warmer pool with rooftop view at Marriott) * smaller hot tub with view of beach (vs rooftop with beautiful sunset view) * much more expensive food such as $18 for a waffle (free unlimited waffles with included breakfast which also had eggs, yogurts, fresh fruits, cereals, etc.) * free sunblock * free rentals of beach supplies (vs rentals and purchases available at Marriott) * farther from train (vs right next to train at Marriott) * resorts have short activities like crafts for kids once a day and something like a movie night once in a while (they literally could not tell us the schedule and despite saying nothing was happening, a movie night popped up after our stay) * resorts have chairs on the room balconies (vs Marriott does not but there is that lovely 2nd floor seating area) Our Marriott room was clean and spacious. My only complaint is there was no way to direct the AC and it blew right into my face on the main bed.

We drove in late from out of town. We called ahead to let them know not to give away our room, and…read morethey noted that we would be late and they were open 24/7. The valet who also took our bags up was very nice and helpful. Front desk greeted us with a smile. They do have a handicapped elevator with lots of room. The building had a fresh scent and welcome feel to it. Ice cold water on the main level and coffee in the morning. We got a two bedroom condo. It was not accessible, but the six was beyond what we expected.we were able to fit both scooters. It also has two bathrooms and we were able to call down for a shower chair for the walk in shower in the suit. We had an issue with the safe and the jets in the tub didn't work, but they fixed it quickly when we called. They are all so friendly and helpful and quick. The beds are a little on the firm side, but the space was comfortable. When the windows and doors are closed you can't hear the outside noise except when the guests are slamming their doors in the halls. The pool is on the second floor and heated but mildly. The hot tub is great temperature with powerful jets. They do have a decent sized gym and nice activities center. Each day they have something different going on by the members desk. It is conveniently located across from the pier, attached to two restaurants, and within walking distance of the markets. The balconies are small, but nice. The chairs are metal so a little uncomfortable. The property was clean. The check out was easy. The valet who picked up the luggage when we left greeted us with a smile. They were both quick and helpful. We do plan to come back.

This review is way long overdue since I had stayed at this hotel in January for my birthday. I got…read moreinvited to a timeshare presentation in exchange for a two nights stay at the resort. Sounded like a good deal to me, especially when it's located right in front of the beach. Good way to start off the New Year into my birthday week. I was super stoked to take my family with me. As we arrived at the hotel to check in, it went smoothly without any complications. Our room was a bit tiny for the 4 of us, but we managed to make it work. I had the impression we were going to get a bigger room with a full kitchen, but since it was such a busy week for the hotel this is what we received. The whole entire stay was complimentary, therefore we were happy in whatever room we got even if it was a small studio. Our room was super clean though with a huge bathtub. The kids enjoyed taking a bath in the evening. We had an excellent view on the balcony of downtown Oceanside. Never stayed in Oceanside before and I thought it was all wonderful vibes. Lots of nice people in the town. The resort had this lounge room where you can relax and overlook the Oceanside Pier which was the highlight of it all. I mean the sunset was just so beautiful. Then having a drink in our hands while soaking in the amazing views couldn't get any better. The pool area had great views as well overlooking the beach. This location was perfect for walking distance to bars, restaurants, stores, and easy access to the beach. My only downfall of it all was the timeshare presentation. It took longer than expected and the sales rep was overly aggressive. It totally ruined my morning because it didn't feel like a vacation when you are getting hassled for almost 4 hours when it was supposed to be 2 hours long. I tried to bypass it and enjoyed the rest of the day with my family. Other than that, it ended to be a good mini vacay.

As a young boy, 50+ years ago, LEGO bricks helped me to hone my creativity and wonder when I built…read morejets and planes. And today, I still have that wonder and creativity that attracts me to LEGO and its abundance of creativity for anyone young at heart. It is so much fun to build with LEGO bricks!!! The LEGO community has expanded exponentially with the help of Social Media and places like Bricks and Minifigs in Oceanside. Don't let the humble entrance deceive you because once you enter you will transported to a place full of wonder and amazement of LEGO. There's a great selection of LEGO products and so many mini figures. You can spend a lot of time here just looking and admiring the vast selections. Found LEGO keychains and was able to sign up for their rewards program. Look for them on Instagram. What will make me return again and again is the knowledge and experience of the staff with LEGO. They are aware of the LEGO community and have their thumb on the pulse of the community. I had a great conversation with Will, a manager at Bricks and Minifigs. I was impressed with his knowledge and understanding of how LEGO has evolved and impacted so many generations of people. He was very passionate about LEGO and I appreciate his warmth and friendly perspective. I look forward to receiving the emails about future events. I will return!!!

Decided to drop in to create a customized mini figure family for a wedding anniversary gift…read more Pleasantly surprised on the F1 bodies available as the family are McLaren fans. We ended up spending close to 3 hours in the store, but had a blast and the end product turned out better than we expected. Staff were friendly and helpful with our needs, even more-so with our sweet golden, @pete_the_goldenboy, who accompanied us. As aforementioned we ended up spending close to 3 hours sifting and crafting our mini-figs from the table bins, so our backs were aching from bending over during this build, so highly recommend asking for a seating option if you're like us...the demographic that looks for seating options at concerts. Iykyk