Ocean Beach Municipal Pier

Elite '08

307

410

Teej T.

San Diego, CA

Whenever I can't deal with the stresses of life, or just find myself in need of clarity and understanding, the Ocean Beach pier is where I find myself headed.

I find piers to be ridiculous and awesome things at the same time.  Who thought it a good idea to create a huge ass piece of artificial walking/land space extending far out above the ocean?  I don't know, but it's brilliant.  As you walk out, you begin to feel like you're flying, as the waves move far beneath you, and your feet carry you onward to the horizon that beckons, ever playfully, out of your reach.  On Saturday nights, the electric lights glow overhead with an impersonal orange glow, and create an eerie illumination for a dark oceanic vision.  I feel rather like a Victorian tourist, striding up and down the grand boulevard of some aquatic imperial city, nodding politely at the sea spray and the fish odor while taking in my daily stroll.

Last night, after gong to my high school's graduation and seeing my students march off into the future, I was in a mood to reflect.  So, still dressed in dress shirt, tie, and slacks, I strode down the pier, iPod playing into my ears as I just tossed memories overboard for the waves to catch and toss back and forth.  I tanked God for the chance to be a teacher, I reflected on the awesomeness that life has been so far, and I just hoped for the future and let go of many of the fears I was experiencing.  In short, I left happy, changed, and satisfied.

And I will miss you so much, OB Pier, when I move this fall.

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66

187

Amy C.

La Mesa, CA

This is probably my favorite spot in San Diego.

I absolutely love to walk the pier when I have some sort of head-war to sort out, and by the time I go all the way to the end and back to the car, typically I have figured myself out. It's also very energizing to seriously, yell off the side of the pier; people might turn their heads to look, but then again it's OB and they are probably used too it. It's very refreshing.

Walking this right before a huge "storm" is about to come in makes for a scary but fun experience. Nothing like watching the waves almost make it to the pier. Scary.
If the fee for jumping off the pier was non existent, and I would be assured the tide would not sweep me into the barnacle covered pillars, jump into a bed of sharks, or break my limbs on a sand bar, I totally would do it. Way to have common sense be a buzz kill.

And seriously, this pier has to be something because the local transients have an established spot for themselves. There is an elderly black man who plays keyboards with dreadlocks on the pier seriously EVERY TIME I am there, no matter the time of day or the weather. Devoted, I tell you.

Just look out for the tweakers, and don't lean on the railings; I have almost put my hand in the remains of a dead fish.

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Elite '08

176

343

Mason T.

San Diego, CA

Who loves Ocean Beach.. This Guy.
The pier is great to take your out of town friends and what not. It is long, scenic, has a cafe and gift shop, and is easy to get to and park at.

Good things you can do on this Pier:
Harrass fisherman when you are drunk. (They enjoy the entertainment) / Sober up a bit when you are drunk. (You don't need the drunk in public charge or worse a DUI) / Check out the hottie surfers riding the waves below (Sometimes I hope the cute long haired one is actually a girl). Take sweet drunken photos with your ASU buddies (Then they never send you the shots).

UnGood things to do on the pier.
You can't take your dog / You can't ride a bike / You can't jump off / You can't drink / You can't streak either.

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Elite '08

30

155

Ric B.

San Diego, CA

I love this pier.  I used to fish here when I was a kid.  My family would spend most summer weekends at this pier fishing, if we weren't at Shelter Island pier, we were here.  

I still like fishing here, mainly because you do not need to buy a fishing license to do so.  Also, you can watch people surf, which can be fun.  An odd dolphin will swim by now and again, pelicans hang out here, and even some interesting people.  

It is just a very nice place to spend some time and soak up some of that end of land sadness.

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Elite '08

280

271

Jamie J.

Campbell, CA

Ahhhhh...... there's nothing like doing a little night fishing at the Ocean Beach pier.  That's if you like the smell of people doing marijuana or getting thrown off the pier!  I probably haven't been here for about 5 years.  We used to fish there a few times a week during the summers.  It was nice for a few years.  Then all of a sudden people found it to be the perfect place to get stoned.  That didn't bother us too much (I mean, well, you know what I mean), but then we heard a bunch of people were getting thrown into the water.  And let's face it, with that long walk to the end of the pier, that would be a mighty long swim back to shore!  

During the times I went there, it was awesome.  We wouldn't catch much fish (except for bunch of mackeral), but like they say, "the worst day of fishing is better than the best day at work!"  Amen to that, brother!

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558

525

Julie G.

Cardiff by the Sea, CA

The tide pools under this pier are great! Go for this alone and it's worth the trip. We found some awesome creatures living in between the reefs. The beach around it is pretty dirty and you have to bring your parking karma energy with you to find a spot close by. But OB in general is a funky town  with some Venice Beach vibe mixed with a little NYC East Village.

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Elite '08

30

307

Wes T.

Menlo Park, CA

This is a very long pier adjacent to a pretty mellow neighborhood. There's a cafe about midway out, but I did not eat there. It looked nice enough, if not a little worn down from years of weather and wear.

There were ubiquitous peeps with fishing poles, I was jealous and wanted to fish. I only saw one guy pull up anything, and it was a small fry.

The view out to the sea from the end and back towards the shore was pretty amazing. The swells are pretty high at times, too, which makes you feel almost like you're out there with the surfers on the water.

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67

258

Daya C.

Oakland, CA

when my husband and I lived here, we use to have great romantic walks on the pier....it was sooo beautiful, just seeing the whole ocean and the sunsets.....aawwww...i miss you O.B.... i miss the summer bond fires on the beach....i miss hearing the drum circles....and the smell of ocean and mary jane..........aaawww

I love this pier.....and the tide pool on the bottom is the best....there are also great tide pools on the left side of it (if you are looking towards the ocean), by the cliffs ...yeah, there are really cool tide pools with all sorts of cute creatures there!!!

:)

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4

44

Amanda A.

San Francisco, CA

OB pier is awesome.  You can take the kids to the tidepools under it, make sure the tide is out and that you help them...very slippery.  I've spent hours here though just watching the little crabs and sea life hang out.  The pier itself is cool...walk out all the way to the end...it's so quite that it's like being in the middle of the ocean.  I think that OB pier is the largest pier in CA, but don't quote me because I haven't checked validated the claim yet.  The beach is a great place to hang out and let the time go by.  One of my favorite places on earth.  I've spent a lot of time here.

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Elite '08

47

143

becky k.

San Diego, CA

i think that this is my first non-food related yelp.  eek.  maybe i'm crossing over to be an all around yelper.

yesterday at the pier i had a great only in san diego moment.  there was a kids lifeguard training camp going on and as i leisurely strolled down the pier i was engulfed by their energy, excitement, and the electricity in the air.  one of the kids (teenager?  youth?) stopped for a moment to share what was going on: they were going to the end of the pier and jumping off the side, treading water for what turned out to be quite a long time, and swimming back to the beach.

i must have stood there for at least 30 minutes watching successive groups of kids approach the railing, climb up, jump in.  each one approached and the body language and posture--how strongly did they hold their fins above their head? were they the first in the group off the edge?--revealed so much about their individual state of mind.  but the universal cheers that sounded immediately following the splash and the echoes of their cheers for one another were such great sounds.

when i first moved to san diego i used to go to the pier when i felt sad, melancholy, and was missing my former life in san francisco or my family and friends that were far away.  yesterday at the pier i had this big burst of love for san diego.  only in san diego on a random tuesday afternoon.  

thanks ob pier, mission bay lifeguard camp, and all those brave kids facing fear and diving right in.

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3

22

c arlos c.

La Jolla, CA

Cool place to stick yer mugg into the wind and to check out the Pacific. High surf days are quite impressive. Wind your way southwards ( past that creepy apartment building where a rather unsavory element seem to live/hang out/transact business) towards Sunset Cliffs and you will be treated to tidepools and great crashing waves, the waft of marijuana, some cool carvings in the sandstone, the odd guitar player singing to the Sirens, an occasional yogini. Real close to dog beach for you canine affiliated folks.

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Elite '08

5

30

Courtney W.

San Diego, CA

its a wonderful walk with a good friend. just be careful of fishermen over-head casting (almost ate it a few times) and stepping on little squids once used for bait.

i wouldnt recommend sitting on the benches or the railing. they're covered in bird poo, fish guts, and the stench of urine. however, the bathrooms were well stocked and quite clean.

had a grand old time at the tide pools under the pier. also kind of uriney-smelling but still quite enjoyable

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