San Diego Neighborhood Profile: Ocean Beach

Of all San Diego's beach communities, none exemplify the community and neighborhood ethos better than Ocean Beach. This funky beach town sits between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the more upscale enclave of Point Loma on the hill to the east. It's a laid back and less rowdy than its brethren Mission Beach and Pacific Beach a few miles north.

Ocean Beach was given its name by developers Billy Carlson and Frank Higgins in 1887. Obviously, the beachfront was the main attraction, although in the early 20th century, getting to Ocean Beach was a bit of a trek. There was even an amusement park, Wonderland, at the northern end of the neighborhood but was washed away by tides in 1916. Cottages, bungalows and apartments were built through the years and attracted (and continues to attract) students, young adults, and the free-spirited. O.B. was somewhat isolated from the rest of the city until Interstate 8 was built in the mid 1960s.

Besides the obvious fact that O.B. sits on prime oceanfront real estate, the neighborhood still exudes a small town neighborhood feel. Where other beach communities have embraced commercialism, Ocean Beach remains fiercely independent and skeptical of wholesale change. In fact, residents of Ocean Beach often refer to themselves as OBceans, pronounced "oh-BEE-shun."

Ocean Beach is fondly looked upon as the neighborhood that time forgot and it still has that hippie vibe - a carryover from the 1960s and '70s that never really left. But that's what makes it O.B. Surfers, couples, students, Deadheads, families, and the politically independent make up a community that is protective of their neighborhood, where you're more likely to see a food co-op than a slew of retail chains.

The beach. That's why you head out to O.B. - a nice, wide, swath of sandy beach. There's also the Ocean Beach pier, the longest pier on the West Coast, where you can stroll or try your hand at pier fishing. If you have a dog, then head to Dog Beach, just north to the main beach, where you can unleash your dog to romp in the sand and surf. Or stroll along Newport Ave., the main drag in O.B.'s business district and take in the small town feel.

Thee Bungalow is the place to go for fine dining. But Ocean Beach is about casual, and Hodad's is where you go for burgers (as seen on Food Network). For a change of pace, there's the Kaiserhof for German food and beer. Newport Pizza and Alehouse is known for their motto, "no crap on tap." Old Townhouse restaurant is where you go for diner breakfasts. And if you're into healthy eating, definitely make your way to the Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Cooperative and order food from the deli.

Hey, it's a beach community, so what else can expect but...dive bars, right? Winston's Beach Club is your place for live music, usually some sort of cover band in the Dead/Reggae/Jam band vein. Comedy is also served up there. If you're looking for harder eddged origianl bands, then head to Dream Street Live. The Catalina Lounge is your popular, friendly dive bar, as is the Tilted Stick. The Arizona Cafe has cleaned up its act and is now a cool hangout. And if you want a more low-key hangout and don't care for beer, the Vine is a wine bar for a nice change of pace.

O.B. shopping begins and ends with the Black - a neighborhood institution if there ever was. Kind of a head shop/novelty/music/hippie store, the Black is like going back in time - just like O.B. itself. It's just fun to stroll around for the heck of it. Newport Antique Center is where to go for antiques. Sunshine Daydreams is a little hippie clothing boutique. And the Black Bead is a mecca for bead and jewelry hobbyists.

Take Interstate 8 to its western terminus at Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Continue on Sunset Cliffs as you cross a couple of O.B.'s main thoroughfares, West Point Loma Blvd. and Voltaire St. Turn right a Newport Street to drive down O.B.'s downtown district. At the foot of Newport is the beach and the pier.

Public transit is served by bus routes 35 and 923.