San Diego Coastal Homestays

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Homestays in Northern San Diego County

How to find a good family to stay within San Diego County, and what to do once you get here! The sights and sounds of Southern California, covering San Diego, Los Angeles, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, Encinitas, Leucadia, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and anywhere else in California we think is worth visiting. If you're ready to come visit, be sure to scroll to the bottom to book your trip on Orbitz.


Be sure to drop by our San Diego Coastal Homestays website for more information!

2009 Student Info is Here!

Applications are arriving for our 2009 students. Visit www.SanDiegoCoastalHomestays.com for pictures and more information!

Why Stay With a Host Family? 

Or... Do I Really Want to Live With Those Crazy People?

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".

Favorite Places to Visit in San Diego County 

Not just the Tourist Traps

Here are our favorite places in San Diego County. (This started as a top 10 list, but we couldn't stop at 10!) We do include some of the touristy places, but only the really good ones. Feel free to vote on them or even submit your own. If you'd like to steal this list for your lens- Take it, please!

Oceanside Beach

One of the longest stretches of wide, sandy beach more...0 points

San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park

The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are world f more...0 points

Cabrillo Monument, Point Loma

Situated at the top of Point Loma overlooking and more...0 points

Hotel del Coronado

Huge luxury hotel built in 1880s. First place on W more...0 points

Oceanside Surf Museum

This is a must see for anyone interested in surfin more...0 points

Mt. Soledad

The pinnacle of La Jolla, Mt. Soledad is the highe more...0 points

Midway Museum

The Midway, a WWII vintage aircraft carrier that s more...0 points

Mt Palomar Observatory

The 200 inch Hale telescope was once the largest i more...0 points

Julian

Historic mountain town from San Diego's gold rush more...0 points

Anza Borrego Desert

Just a two hour drive from the coast, Anza Borrego more...0 points

Balboa Park

1400 acres (now 1200) set aside in 1868, Balboa Pa more...0 points

San Diego Coastal Homestays Videos 

Students, Families, and Fun

Here are some of our own videos from YouTube. Vote for your favorites and let us know what you think.

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San Diego County Museums 

You mean there's something more than beaches???

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.

Books About San Diego 

Mission San Luis Rey De Francia (The Missions of California)

The missions of California were the key to settling the area. This is a history of our own San Luis Rey mission in Eastern Oceanside.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

The Thomas Guide 2007 San Diego County street guide, including portions of Imperial County

This is a must have if you're going to explore on your own by car. Detailed street level maps of the entire county updated yearly.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

Hidden Coast of California: Including San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, San Francisco, and Mendocino (Hidden Travel)

A guide to some of the least known (and most beautiful) spots on the California Coast.

Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

San Diego Then and Now

A brief pictorial history of San Diego. Where we've been, where we're going, and why we're poised to be a powerful leader in so many areas.

Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 07/10/2009) Buy Now

Just For Duffers 

One of the best places in the world for Golf

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.

Photos From Our Flickr Account 

San Diego Coastal Homestay Photos

Photos from various homestays and student exchange groups we've hosted over the years.

San Diego Coastal Homestays on Merchant Circle 

The latest postings from our blog...

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Oceanside YouTube Plexo 

Vote on your favorite scene from Oceanside

Here are just a few of the great videos on YouTube that were shot in Oceanside and just a taste of what's in store for your visit. Vote for your favorite, submit your own, or share this on your lens.

Surf And Sunset Oceanside California

Surf And Sunset Ocea... 0 points

Surfers at Oceanside, California pier

Surfers at Oceanside... 0 points

Oceanside

Oceanside 0 points

Pan Flute at Oceanside, CA Farmers Market

Pan Flute at Oceansi... 0 points

Ironman 70.3 Oceanside CA - March 31, 2007

Ironman 70.3 Oceansi... 0 points

a couple days... in oceanside,ca

a couple days... in... 0 points

Reader Feedback 

Let us know you dropped by and tell us what you think.

We love to hear from our readers. Tell us where you're from and why you'd like to come to San Diego.

bgamall wrote...

I really like San Diego. I think it is especially beautiful around Del Mar. Pricey but cool, very cool.

ReplyPosted November 15, 2008

anthropos wrote...

Welcome to Anything and Everything Travel Group. We look forward to more travel related lenses from you.

ReplyPosted October 25, 2008

KimGiancaterino wrote...

Welcome to All Things Travel.

ReplyPosted October 16, 2008

Jewelsofawe wrote...

I have lots of relatives not too far from San Diego. I like parts of it.

ReplyPosted October 03, 2008

StephenC wrote...

Nice lens! Good stuff, enjoyed the visit!
Fun Facts about San Bernardino
StephenC

ReplyPosted September 23, 2008

 
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Here We Are 

Find us on Google Maps

Just a few short blocks from the Oceanside Pier, Transit Center, and Downtown. A perfect place to stay for your visit to Southern California.

How's the Weather? 

Up to date reporting from Weather.com

If you have to ask, you've never been here. San Diego County is famous for it's weather, and yes, we do gloat about it once in a while. But since you've asked, check out today's weather with our weather widget. Our Zipcode is 92054- don't you wish you were here...

Book Your Flight Today! 

Seen enough? Can't wait to get here? You can book a flight, car, or hotel right here. (But you don't need a hotel, right? Your going to stay with one of our wonderful host families.)

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