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Shops and restaurants on Ventura Street in Mission Beach, San Diego
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Mission Beach

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...your mission: catch a wave

If you want to live in Mission Beach, you need to pick your side of the 2-mile intercoastal beach.

Sun worshipers, swimmers and surfers hit the ocean side, while jet skiers, wind surfers, and sailors opt for the bay side. A cement “boardwalk” runs along the beach with a yellow lane painted down the center to accomodate pedestrians, runners, cyclists and bladers.

Historic Belmont Park, a beachfront amusement park, provides family fun with its restored 1925 rollercoaster, antique reproduction carousel and obligatory Wild West photos. And on Ventura Street, near the lifeguard station, you’ll find a beachy blend of surf shops, boutiques and restaurants. Of course, college students are drawn here like moths to a flame.

There’s a great variety of housing for rent and purchase, including upscale, pastel-colored homes and condos, as well as old-style cottages and beach bungalows. Serious shoppers head just a block from the beach to Mission Boulevard…how convenient!

Whether you're bay- or ocean-side, wrap up your days strolling the boardwalk, watching the sunsets, and inhaling the delicious scent of beach fires. It’s the quintessential laid-back SoCal beach experience.

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Known for:

Surfer beach town

Main drag:

Ventura Street

Mission Beach blogs and events

New map sites help you navigate your San Diego neighborhood

These new map tools help you find your way around your San Diego neighborhood. Looking for a good yard sale to score some decor for your new digs? Need help finding a jogging route near your new apartment? Read on.

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Apartments in Mission Beach