Fire Mountain - Oceanside, CA

Fire Mountain was formerly part of North Carlsbad, but the city lines of Oceanside and Carlsbad have been renegotiated and reworked overtime. Two must-visit museums on the coast near Mission Avenue are the Oceanside Museum of Art, which features a wide variety of cultural events and a rotating collection of modern art pieces, and the California Surf Museum, which follows the history of surfing with in-depth exhibits of surfboards, famous surfers and more. Perhaps the most highly anticipated annual event is the Oceanside Harbor Days, which is a fun-filled weekend of arts and craft exhibits, tasty food and fun activities for the whole family. Most recently, the festival features a sand-castle-building contest, a boat parade and live entertainment. In Fire Mountain, exclusively, residents hold an annual community yard sale and art show for the public.

The nightlife in this area coincides with that of most any other beach town in and around San Diego; it's laid-back but fun. There are a good amount of dive bars in the area, Red Rooster Bar and Grill being one of the favorites among these. With 18 beers on tap, a fire pit, Wi-Fi, a jukebox and pool tables, this is a great spot to relax after a long day of work or to hang out with friends and meet new ones over the weekend. This establishment has also been voted as one that serves the best burger in San Diego for four years in a row by "San Diego's Best," so grabbing a burger there at least once is a must. Maxdon's is also close to Fire Mountain and is known for its friendly bartenders, shuffleboard and fantastic daily deals. For the most part, however, locals tend to head on over to the coast in Oceanside and Carlsbad for entertainment at night.

The Coyote Bar and Grill on Carlsbad Village Drive serves American food and drinks along with nightly entertainment, including karaoke and a dance floor. If you prefer to stay closer to Fire Mountain, then coastal Oceanside features the Local Tap House with a vast selection of regularly rotated craft beers. 333 Pacific is more upscale with its chic art-deco design; this is a great choice if you're looking for a high-end seafood eatery with a lively bar scene.

There are great options for public transportation in the neighborhood of Fire Mountain. A bus line runs on the east side of the neighborhood on El Camino Real; additionally, there is also a train and metro station on the coast of Oceanside for residents and visitors who need to travel long distances, with fares reasonably priced. Those who prefer driving have quick and easy access to the Interstates 5, 78 and 76. On the other hand, if walking or biking is more your speed, then taking a stroll or bike ride through the neighborhood is a fantastic idea, and streets around these parts are safe and lined with bike lanes. The parks in the area are also a great place to hike and explore on a sunny day as there are great views of the Pacific Ocean to satisfy your nature cravings.

Joseph Carrasco Park, Fire Mountain Park and Hosp Grove Park (just outside of Fire Mountain) are great places to hike, and the two former ones are the only parks that are located directly inside the neighborhood. El Corazon Park is just northeast of Fire Mountain and a great option if you are looking to play sports, Goathill Park is mostly a golf course, but a beautiful place to enjoy an afternoon picnic or simply to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors. Marshall Street Swim Center features a park and a pool west of I-5, and Buccaneer Park is right on Oceanside Beach with a great playground for kids, so it attracts plenty of families. If you are looking to get your furry friends off their leashes for the day, then head north to the San Diego Humane Society & SPCA Dog Park for a high-energy afternoon.

The cost of living in Fire Mountain is higher than the city average given it takes less than 3 minutes to drive strait to the beach from the edge of the neighborhood. A nice one-bedroom in the area usually runs between $1600 and $1700 on average; this is common pricing for a notable apartment in what is considered to be a beach community. Gas in Oceanside is priced on average just over the national average; however, you can find a station on the north end of the neighborhood that is right on cue with the rest of the country. The typical price of a beer at the local pubs and bars around town varies by day as there are a slew of happy hours and daily specials that are always occurring.

Fire Mountain residents have the opportunity to enjoy fantastic shopping opportunities being so close to Highway 101 and the eclectic coastal neighborhood stores that occupy it such as Clothing Cottage and the popular gently used clothing boutique Double Take. Furthermore, Fire Mountain Center, as is the Carlsbad Village Art & Antique Mall, which features fabulous second hand items and gifts. Just over 10 minutes away from Fire Mountain is the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, which are next to the beautiful Flower Fields and Lego Land. In terms of grocery stores that service the neighborhood, there are plenty of choices on the south side of Fire Mountain and one on each north end. For the residents who are interested in shopping at farmer's markets, there is one just west of I-5 on the Oceanside coast once per week.