Oceanside, Calif.--When visiting Oceanside, a north San Diego County beach destination, don't forget to take time to stop, park, see and walk the Oceanside Pier, one of the greatest piers in all of California.

The 4th longest Pacific Ocean pier in California at approx. 1,942 feet in length, Oceanside Pier isn't one of those quickie walks where you hop out of your car with 15 minutes in the meter, expecting to be back before the meter readers have found and placed a ticket on your car. Be sure to keep the meter fed if you get one of the parking spots at the base of the pier. The city meter people drive around constantly looking and waiting for cars to expire!

What you don't anticipate in thinking that you are going to do a quick stroll, then hop back in your car and head to San Diego or wherever the road leads, is that you can be swept away with the beauty of the Oceanside Pier when you begin to stroll on it. It really becomes a journey of exploration.

The stairs leading to the pier are interesting in themselves. From a distance the white painted hand rails on ramps and steps look very regal. A sign at the entrance to the pier announces that you have arrived at "Oceanside Municipal Fishing Pier" it states. And it also says that the pier was reconstructed in 1987.