San Diego Coastal Homestays

First let us briefly introduce ourselves. We have lived in sunny Oceanside, CA for 20 years. In that 20 years we have personally hosted over 100 students and visitors of various ages from all over the world, and enjoyed every minute of it. As founders of the student exchange program "Gateway to International Friendship & Travel" we have developed programs for both individuals and groups visiting areas all over the western United States, but mostly focused right here in sunny Southern California. We still enjoy hosting, and would love to have you come visit us or one of our fine families.

UPDATE: By request we are once again forming a group with tours and Surf Camp for next Summer. For a look at the itinerary, visit our San Diego Homestay Itineraries lens!

Staying with a host family can be both an intimidating and exhilarating experience. Intimidating because you never totally know what to expect. Exhilarating because you are not only seeing new sights, but meeting new people and making new friendships that can last a lifetime.

Staying with a host family gives you a much truer version of the culture than you'll get from a book and a more real vision of what life is like here. Southern California isn't necessarily what you see in the movies, and the only way to really find out what it's like is to live it from the inside.

If you wish to hone your English skill, living with a family where you must speak English is the best way there is to do it. We've seen students come in barely able to put a whole sentence together who improved their ability 1000% in just two weeks.

Lastly, living with a family gives you a great home base to explore from, and knowledge of the area to draw from. Home cooked meals are something that no hotel can offer, and the only way to learn the best places to go and which ones to avoid is from the locals.

Having traveled considerably ourselves, we can truly say that the best experiences we've had were staying in the home of someone who knows the meaning of the word "hospitality".

Yes, we know people come to San Diego for the beaches, sun, sand, water, weather, good food, great people...um, what was I writing about?

Oh yeah, museums. Museums aren't exactly the first thing people think of when they think of San Diego, but San Diego County is home to some of the best museums in the country, some of which you probably didn't know existed.

There are, of course, the 15 fantastic museums at Balboa Park, where the architecture itself is part of the exhibit. Originally built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, the buildings are still standing and house most of the museums including the Museums of Man, Natural History, Art, Science, Aerospace, and more. Typical museum fare and well worth your time when you visit.

But those aren't the museums we're here to talk about. San Diego County also hosts museums for some more unusual (and for many, more interesting) items.

In Oceanside you'll find a museum you might expect in Southern California- The California Surf Museum. Dedicated to the history and some of the great names and innovators of the sport, you'll find photos, films, and boards covering over half a century of surfing.

A few minutes south in Carlsbad is the Museum of Making Music. This excellent museum is dedicated to just that, all the various forms of music and instruments that have been used to make music over the centuries- focusing mostly on the last hundred years or so. Exhibitions cover one specific area, genre, or time period and are updated frequently. Most include performances and hands on demonstrations and teaching sessions by experts and performers in that particular field.

Finally, over in Vista, is the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum. Located on Sante Fe Dr. on the north edge of town, the Gas & Steam Engine museum houses some very cool machines dating as far back as the turn of the last century when steam was taking the place of horse and human power and all sorts of contraptions were being designed to make life easier. The Gas & Steam Engine Museum host biannual threshing bees and power up some of these amazing machines as well as demonstrate what life was like 100 years ago. They also host various car shows and other events throughout the year.

Southern California, and San Diego in particular is a true Mecca for Golfers. Home to courses such as Torrey Pines, La Costa, and The Bridges, San Diego County hosts some of the best players and tournaments in the world. With near perfect weather year round, you can't miss making plans to visit any time of year.

What you may not know is that little old Carlsbad, right here on the San Diego Coast, is home to some of the top names in golfing equipment. Callaway, Taylor, and Top Flight are all based here and have most of their manufacturing facilities here. Come visit, take a tour, play a few rounds, and oh yeah- visit the beaches too while you're here.

Why not book your flight right now with Orbitz. You can find them at the bottom of the page.