Oceanside, California's
many visitor attractions includes its colorful Oceanside hotels, restaurants,
3.5 miles of some of Southern California's widest and most beautiful
beaches, a 900-slip small craft harbor, the longest over-water pier
in Southern California (1,954 feet), Mission San Luis Rey (founded in
1798 by Father Junipero Serra) and a wide variety of cultural and recreational
facilities. Water sports are highly popular here, especially surfing,
sailing and fishing (there is no permit needed to fish off of the pier).
The Oceanside Transit Center is a major rail hub and offers services
on the Metro link and Coaster commuter rail, as well as AMTRAK trains.
Plaza Camino Real mall is the area's major shopping center.
Oceanside Early History: Oceanside's first inhabitants were the
Luiseno Indians who were part of the large Shoshonean tribe. They inhabited
the San Luis Rey river valley area, originally named, "Rio San Luis
Rey de Francia," after St. Louis King of France by the Franciscan friars
who passed through the valley in 1769. The Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
was established in 1798, four miles up river from the coast. The Indians
who were gathered at the Mission (called "San Luisenos" by the Franciscans)
were hunters and food gatherers until the friars taught them farming
and other trades. Among these padres was Father Antonio Peyri who planned
and oversaw the construction of the Mission's many buildings which included
three churches, the last of which still stands and was finished in 0ctober
of 1815. Mission San Luis Rey was the largest building in Califomia
when completed and was the most prosperous of the missions
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