100+ Fun Things to Do at Home with Friends
There are plenty of fun things to do with your friends at home. It doesn't have to be a big, expensive shindig. Do it your way and it can still be cool! Integrate your personality and your friends into the party. Ask them ahead of time if they have any suggestions on what they want to do: play card games, watch a few movies, create a scavenger hunt. You could even have a slumber party or sleepover - click here for ideas on what to do.
Fun Things to Do with Friends at Home
Stuck at home? Invite a friend over and you can use this as a bucket list to get creative and check off as many things as possible! There are plenty of alternative ideas to choose from. This list is geared toward adults but you can modify many ideas for a kid's party or gathering.
You can take as many or as few of these awesome ideas as you want. Many of these are free but some require little planning, driving, or purchasing. For example, in order to watch Netflix, someone has to have a Netflix account, you get the idea.
Try kombucha, read a book, and hang out in the backyard. |
- Play records, cassettes, CDs, whatever you've got.
- Have a karaoke night.
- Snap photos. Download a cool photo app like Huji so it feels like you're taking real photos. Take turns taking photos of each other!
- Paint. Let the art flow through you. Use watercolors, fingerpaints, whatever you have available. Or you can take a friend group trip to your local Michaels or the craft store to pick up supplies. Paint and let your imagination soar. Use can use recycled paper or cardboard to paint on.
- Finger paint. It's tons of fun!
- Draw self-portraits of yourselves.
- Draw each other.
- Draw each other with your eyes closed!
- Craft something. Knit, crochet, collage, scrapbook, etc.
- Do a virtual art tour or museum tour. Visit the Louvre online tour or Boston Children's Museum via online tour.
- Conduct a science experiment.
- Fill in a coloring book. You can use colored pencils, markers, or Crayons.
- Create a Spotify or YouTube playlist of songs. That way you can learn a little bit about each other's music taste.
- Create a vision board and let your creative juices flow.
- Film a TikTok video or TikTok dance.
- Solve an online escape room.
- Do a taste test challenge to guess the food or brand. For example you could test out different kinds of orange soda, different kinds of cheese, etc.
- Bake and decorate cookies. There are so many awesome designs to create from Frankenstein to Pacman to a truck to a book.
- Make pizza. You can buy pizza dough, pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings and bake your own creations at home. My sister and I used to do this with our friends at home. It was so fun!
- Grab takeout food from a local restaurant and eat dinner in the backyard.
- BBQ night. Barbeque some veggies and meats.
- Host a dessert night. Each person brings a different dessert.
- Dinner night. Each person brings a dish they eat a lot at home.
- Dip night. Each person brings a different homemade dip (queso dip, spinach and artichoke dip, hummus, etc).
- Drink night. Each person brings a different cocktail or mocktail or fun drink.
- Host a beer or wine tasting, each person brings a different type of beer/wine.
- Try kombucha, sparkling waters, or some beverage of choice.
- Try a new recipe using ingredients you have at home. Google one or use a recipe book.
- Make ice cream sundaes.
- Make ice cream in a bag.
- Try different foods or snacks from around the world.
- Favorite movie night. You can view one of each of your favorite movies.
- Award-winning movie night. Whether it's an Academy Award, Golden Globe Awards, Visual Effects Society Awards, pick an award you want to focus on & watch a few movies that won.
- Nostalgia kids movie night. Watch movies that you saw as kids. It'll bring back quality memories! You could spend hours watching your faves.
- Watch scary movies.
- Watch a movie series (Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, Twilight, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek you get the drift).
- Watch a short-ish TV series (Twin Peaks, Schitts Creek, Pushing Daisies, Lie to Me, etc.)
- Watch a sporting event on TV. Depends on the season or if you can catch something on TV, perhaps something live streaming on Hulu, etc.
- Join a Livestream.
- Host a sleepover. Have your best friends spend the night. You can watch movies, play board games or games like Heads Up on your phone.
- Pool party. If you have a pool, use it. It'll be refreshing in the summer and for hot days too.
- Bored of watching TV? Tell scary stories. Take turns telling your scariest story. Bonus points if it's real!!!
- Have a dance party.
- Have a costume party.
- Hosta tea party.
- Spa day. Take care of your skin, do face masks, you could even make body scrub at home.
- Read a book together. Take turns reading paragraphs/pages.
- Start a book club.
- Talk about your goals.
- Go around and discuss the stories of how you first met.
- Challenge each other with video games.
- Listen to an audiobook.
- Listen to a podcast series.
- Rearrange the furniture so it feels like a totally new vibe.
- Call or FaceTime a long-distance friend who couldn't be there.
- Hungry? Call in an order for food delivery.
- Host a clothing swap where each person brings some clothes, shoes, accessories that they don't want anymore.
- Make slime.
- Make a scavenger hunt.
- Make friendship bracelets.
- Make a flower arrangement.
- Write letters to each other.
- Write letters to your future selves.
- Write a short story by each writing one sentence. Write one sentence, then the next friend writes a sentence, and then you keep going back and forth between however many friends are over.
- Practice writing with your non-dominate hands.
- See if you can decipher each other's notes created with the non-dominant hand.
- Tie-dye t-shirts (or socks, shorts, sheets, the sky is the limit).
- Stretch out to a yoga video on YouTube.
- Meditate. You can do a guided meditation on YouTube or download an app for it.
- Practice mindfulness.
- Listen to ASMR videos on YouTube.
- Build a fort.
- Do a puzzle. Puzzles are a perfect way to liven the mood with little effort.
- Do a crossword puzzle.
- Do an online workout video.
- Band night. Jam together and play music with whatever instruments you have, tambourine, keyboard, bongo.
- Play truth or dare.
- Play Simon Says.
- Try playing 20 questions.
- Try playing Rock Paper Scissors.
- Do a round hangman.
- Play tic tac toe.
- Play Monopoly.
- Have fun with the game of Life.
- Play a card game. Poker, rummy, go fish, war, etc.
- Play Telephone.
- Try a game of charades.
- Play I Spy.
- Play Cards Against Humanity.
- Play a board game.
- Invent your own board game or game.
- Play an indoor mini version of basketball, badminton, tennis, soccer, football, handball, baseball.
- Play a murder mystery game. You could find an app or buy something online beforehand.
- Do the 5 Senses game where you each say what you can See, Hear, Smell, Taste, Touch. It's pretty fun, almost meditating in a way and great way to calm down or slow down after a long day.
- Learn some cool magic tricks.
- Challenge yourselves and learn a language (you could use Duolingo or a free app).
- Plan a future trip.
- Book a future trip.
- Set up a tent and do indoor camping.
- Do outdoor camping. Camp in the backyard or garden.
- Do a water balloon fight outside or in the yard.
- Pot some plants or flowers. Each person can take home a small potted plant or succulent.
- Hang out in the backyard and set up a self-hanging hammock stand to relax.
- Catch up and just hang out. Enjoy the night!
- Enjoy the sunset.
- Enjoy the sunrise.
- Watch the clouds.
- Stargaze.
Make a flower arrangement. |
Enjoy the sunset. |
You and your friends will have an absolute blast in the night to remember. The great news is there are fun things to do with friends at home in the morning, the afternoon, or at night, it doesn't always have to be a sleepover or evening activity. You can have fun in the morning experience as well all while making it a budget-friendly or even free process.
What can you do with your friends at home?
You and your friends can have a great time at home. Want to make it a fun night? Dig deep within yourself and identify what you actually like to do. There are a lot of fun things to do with friends at home for kids, teens, and adults alike. Teenagers might appreciate movie night, sleepovers, makeovers, a home spa day, a pool day, cooking or baking something fun like rainbow cake, video games, making TikTok videos, home indoor picnic.
What do 13-year-olds do at home with friends?
Look through these exciting activities with your friends. That way you can determine what works best for your family. In some cases, you might have to get something if you don't already own it (games like Life or Monopoly, access to movies, DVDs or streaming services, etc.) Ask your parents or see if your friends have them at their house to bring them over; it could be a potluck but for parties and everyone brings something different. There's anything that you're not sure about or if they're some supplies you want to pick up, ask your parents.
What do you do with your best friend?
If you are bored at home there are plenty of ideas to have a cool night. Invite your best friend over and do as many things on this list as you can. You can do fun things with friends without spending a lot of money. From having a picnic in the garden to cooking your favorite comfort food to blasting music on your iPhone, you can create an amazing experience without having to spend a load of money.
What can a teenage girl do when bored at home?
There is a lot for girls to do at home. You can read a book or listen to podcasts. There are so many podcasts about unique subjects you might be interested in and maybe even about your favorite shows or movies to learn more about behind-the-scenes. You can write. Get your brain moving and grooving and do a crossword puzzle. No matter what you decide to do, you and your friends will make memories and have a great time.
Oceanside Pier: Restaurants, Fishing, Parking
Each step of the Oceanside Pier of California has entertaining things to see. From fishing to enjoying the scenery, the O'Side Pier is a great place to spend a fun day with family or friends. You're likely to make real memories to last for years to come. You just can't visit without walking the longest wooden pier on the West Coast at least once!
Spend the night near the coast. Dig your feet in the sand. Listen to the waves crash and savor the nature that surrounds Oceanside. Oceanside is a beautiful area to get away for a bit. Stare at the water, enjoy the sun, search for a sport to play, catch fish, and savor the sandy beach.
Scroll down to learn about the history of the pier, the restaurant at the end of the pier, what you can do, places to eat, and where to shop nearby!
* This post has been updated as of September 2022
History of the Oceanside Pier
The historic Oceanside Pier was originally proposed in 1887. At the time the pier was called a wharf. It went through a lot of trials and tribulations, suffering irreparable damage from a storm in 1890. Over the past 100+ years, there have been 6 iterations of the pier. The current pier is 1,942 feet long and was dedicated in 1987. It remains one of the most popular things to do in Oceanside, CA.
The pier is located in the city of Oceanside, California which is just north of San Diego. You can walk on this long, beautiful pier to get a great view of Oceanside. If you're coming to town, be sure to give it a stroll.
Address location: Pier, Oceanside, CA 92054 at the cross-section of Pacific St. and Pier View Way
Hours: Closes at 10 p.m.
Total length: 1,954 feet (596 m)
Opening date: 1888
Oceanside CA North County San Diego
You can't visit the city of Oceanside, California without walking the Oceanside Fishing Pier. This is one of the most classic things to do in Oceanside. The Oceanside Pier is popular amongst both locals and tourists. You can watch folks fishing or watch surfers pretty much anytime you're there.
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
Ruby's Diner
You used to be able to eat at Ruby's Diner at the end of the pier; Ruby's was a 40s-style diner with American classics like fries, burgers, and milkshakes, but it has since closed. Unfortunately. It was such a perfect spot!
As of April 2022, a sign went up to say something new will be opening soon! There's a new restaurant coming to the Oceanside Pier. Stay tuned.
Restaurants Near Oceanside Pier
Hungry for a meal? There are dining options close to the pier.
- 333 Pacific
- Hello Betty
- Camp Coffee Company
- Harni Sushi - Oceanside
- Miss Kim’s by That Boy Good
- Banana Dang Coffee
Fishing
Leisurely stroll your way through to the end of the pier to look out on the Pacific Ocean. While you're strolling the pier, enjoy the wildlife. I've seen a sea lion, a seal, pelicans (on separate occasions not all at once although that would be cool), and of course tons of seagulls and pigeons. I saw some dolphins from afar. The pelicans are known for frequenting the pier especially since they can get some free fish. You might be lucky enough to see the pelican(s) and get a photo or two; they're not always there but they're there pretty often.
Shopping
Oceanside Pier has a small bait shop on it where you can get some convenience items and snacks. There are also restrooms if you need to use them. There're benches placed occasionally along the way if you want to rest or take in the scenery. There are also some shops, vendors, food stands, and picnic tables at the bottom of the pier before you walk on. Since the pier is located in Oceanside 92054 at the cross-section of Pacific St. and Pier View Way, there are plenty of local restaurants nearby to dine at or pick up some food to eat at the beach!
Beachcombing and Walking
The best way to get to know a city is by walking it. Oceanside literally hugs the coast. It's an idyllic spot. I like going for walks and checking out the shoreline. Downtown Oceanside is nearby. Southern California has a lot of beautiful places to visit. No matter what month you visit, from December to summer months like June or August, you'll love the nice weather at Oceanside Pier. There's even a beach amphitheater so you just may catch a band or someone performing. There are concerts there often.
Sunset Views
The historic Oceanside Pier is one of the longest piers in California at 1,942 feet in length and is the longest wooden pier in California. If you enjoy the outdoors and just want to walk around with a beach view, this is a great spot! Plus, it's free, so you can't go wrong there. No matter your favorite place to visit in the city of Oceanside, make sure you add this one for a lovely pier view. Come for a Pacific Ocean sunset as you enjoy a fun day on the coast. The Oceanside Pier is a perfect place to end the day. It's actually open until 10 p.m.
Oceanside Harbor
Oceanside Harbor is around 1.5 miles away from Oceanside Fishing Pier, which should be a 10-minute drive depending on traffic. There are kayak rentals and other fun stuff to do over there. You can ride your bike across the area! Read about the Oceanside Harbor restaurants.
When you visit, go to the beach in Oceanside, maybe a couple beaches. There are things to do at any time of day. You walk directly to Oceanside Pier from the beach and then stroll along the coast. Tyson Street Park is nearby within walking distance. You can go surfing the waves, swimming, or hang out on the beach. Spend the day like local residents, enjoying a casual beach day. It's beautiful morning, noon, night, whenever you come.
How much is parking at Oceanside Beach?
Parking in Oceanside is fairly affordable and there is plenty of metered parking. You can find free street parking as well as one free parking garage. If street parking isn't available by the time you arrive, consider using pay lots out of convenience. No matter where you park, read all signs in the parking lots carefully as parking restrictions are subject to change at any time. There are parking lots such as Oceanside Pier & Beaches Lot 28 Parking lot (351 The Strand N), Oceanside Pier & Beaches Lot 30 (Betty's Lot) Parking lot (101 The Strand N), Oceanside Pier & Beaches Lot 21 Parking lot (214 Surfrider Way), and more.
Are there any beach restaurants in Oceanside? What are the best places to eat in Oceanside?
While there aren't any restaurants directly on the beach, there are some close to shore. Definitely within walking distance and of course more if you drive the coast. Things to Do in Oceanside, California: Restaurants, Coffee Shops, What to See! Oceanside, California is a city with a rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and outdoor adventure located in North County San Diego. For residents and tourists alike, Oceanside boasts an array of activities. Of course, you can head south to San Diego too.
Soak in the amazing scenery of the Pacific Ocean or watch a surf competition as you stroll your way to the end of the pier. Eat at a restaurant, grab a craft beer, and enjoy the view from San Diego's iconic landmark. There are plenty of events that occur throughout the year so you can check the Oceanside Welcome Center or browse online! They even have surf competitions.
Related reading:
Vista Breweries: Craft Beer in North County San Diego
San Diego is well known for its sunshine & the sheer amount of breweries that freckle the county. North County San Diego has its fair share of breweries too, from Oceanside to Carlsbad to Escondido. But I know why you're here, you want to know about breweries in Vista, CA.
* This list is updated as of May 2023. Enjoy Vista beer country!
San Diego is not only one of the craft beer capitals of California, but one of the top ones in the country. There are so many local breweries & brewers that you can support. Due to Coronavirus, many of these breweries have outdoor patio, socially distanced options. Make a trip to San Diego, California, where the brewers are passionate about their craft & find yourself endless craft beer to sip on. There are plenty of unique things to do in North County San Diego, California. Depending on the craft brewery and what's available, you might also be able to buy delicious beer by the bottle or beer cans to go.
There are quite a few Vista breweries to check out. Due to the long journey of COVID, the breweries now usually include food or some sort of food credit or ticket. Many are opened back up for events and other good times. Some breweries are still in production whereas some have not made it through & others are new! Come on down, there is a decent number of things to do in Vista and of course loads of beers to try!
Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California
Breweries in Vista, CA
If you're in search of the most rated breweries in the city of Vista, California, Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill, Prohibition Brewing, Mother Earth Brewing Company, Belching Beaver Pub 980 have the most online reviews. These are the best local breweries in Vista! If a brewery has them, try to buy a gift card to give to friends, coworkers, or family, or just to use later for yourself! It's a great way to support local Vista breweries!
Related reading: Things to Do in Oceanside, California: Restaurants, Coffee Shops, What to See
Aztec Brewing Company
Aztec Brewing Company specializes in California style beers & good, local music. You could always count on them to have some groovy local bands or singers, although that has been postponed until further notice due to COVID. Some of their beers on tap consists of El Dorado (Aztec Blonde), Aztec Coffee Blonde (El Dorado Blonde with Mayan Blend Coffee), Macaroon (Nut Brown Ale with Coconut & Vanilla), Aztec Amber (Gold Ribbon Winner in 2014 & 2012), & Simrillo IPA (San Diego Style IPA). You can even get some cans to go.
Address: 2330 La Mirada Dr #300, Vista, CA 92081 United States
Website: Aztec Brewing
Phone: (800) 706-6324
BattleMage Brewing Company
Geeks rejoice, BattleMage is your cozy fortress. Some of their beers include the Divine Light w/ Cherry Light Ale 4.8% ABV, The Beer is Dark and Full of Terrors Milk Stout w/ toasted Cacao Nibs and Coffee 6.3% ABV, Hooded Assassin English Old Ale 10% ABV, Summon Ifrit American Amber Ale 6.1%, Shroud of Mist Hazy IPA 6.9%, Hopdouken West Coast IPA 7.7%. My personal favorite is Hopdouken! They recently updated their outdoor space with benches & heaters as well as a food vendor. Friendly team members, brewers, & service, great craft beer, good times. View the BattleMage website for a full brew list.
Address: 2870 Scott Street #102, Vista, CA 92081 United States
Website: BattleMage Brewing Company
Phone: (760) 216-6425
Beach Grease Beer Company * temporarily closed due to COVID
They may be temporarily closed but you can still shop online to support local. When open, peruse the hotrods as you sip on a West Coast style craft beer. Back when they were brand new, I went there with a couple friends & one of the beertender team members showed us around. Check out the Beach Grease Beer Company shop.
Address: 1280 Activity Dr, Vista, CA 92081
Website: Beach Grease Beer Company
Phone: (760) 295-7984
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
Bear Roots Brewing Co.
There are a couple of Bear Roots Brewing Co. locations, one of which is in downtown Vista, California. Some of the beers on tap are Kolsch 45 KΓΆlsch, Secret Garden American Pale Ale, Blitz Bar German Pilsner, American IPAs, & more. They also offer hard seltzer options such as Mango Apricot Seltzer or Pineapple Strawberry Seltzer. Bear Roots has inside/outside seating, pick up & delivery service through their website. They're dog friendly. The downtown location has an indoor area is woodsy & green with a welcoming feel. Their best seller is the Pineappless Express IPA. Wanna know a fun fact they told me? "We started off as a HomeBrew shop, and transformed into a local craft brewery. We still offer HomeBrew supplies."
Phone: (760) 726-4204
Bear Roots Brewing Downtown
Address: 135 E Broadway, Vista, CA 92084
Website: Bear Roots Brewing
Phone: (760) 726-4204
Belching Beaver Pub 980 Vista Breweries! |
Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern and Grill
Belching Beaver is another one of the highest-rated breweries in Vista since they've been around since 2012. They offer multiple locations with quality beers. The Brewery Tavern and Grill has an outdoor space with firepits & now with COVID there's a full-on outdoor area in the parking lot. Belching Beaver Pub 980 also has a popping outdoor area. Drinks encompass IPAs, Hazers Gonna Haze, Buenos Tiempos Mexican Lager, Blackberry/Raspberry Hard Seltzer, & more.
Address: 302 E Broadway, Vista, CA 92084
Phone: (760) 295-8599
Belching Beaver Pub 980
Address: 980 Park Center Dr Suite A, Vista, California 92081 United States
Website: Belching Beaver Pub 980
Phone: (760) 599-5832
Booze Brothers Brewing Co.
Booze Brothers Brewing Co. has a captivating indoor space with plants & wood that give it a homey, cabin vibe. Run by a pair of brothers, Booze Brothers has an eye for business & expansion; they offer The Wood Shed wedding venue, they've opened up a second brewery location in Oceanside, & their pizza joint, Pizza Bros. Their merch & beer can designs are eye-catching & witty. You can buy beers such as Penny Blonde Blonde Ale & 1-800-Tropics Hazy IPA online with more on the taplist at the brewery.
Address: 2545 Progress Street Suite D, Vista, CA 92081
Website: Booze Brothers Brewing Co.
Phone: (760) 295-0217
Dogleg Brewing Company
Beer buffs & golf groupies alike can find solace at Dogleg Brewing Company with their range of craft beers, putting green, golf simulator, TVs, & an outdoor patio. Dogleg has an epic outdoor area with lights, canopy, food, tables, you name it - perfect for social distancing away from fellow patrons. Some of the beers on tap are the Sunday Red red ale, Breakfast Ball chocolate milk stout, Persimmon Pilsner, Overlap Outlaw Hazy IPA. You can also buy their gift card!
Address: 1347 Keystone Way Suite A, Vista, CA 92081 United States
Website: Dogleg Brewing Company
Phone: (760) 295-0402
Ebullition Brew Works Tasting Room & Live Music Venue
Since the Vista Ebullition Brew Works location doesn't offer food options, the Ebullition Brew Works tasting room remains closed. You can order to-go & takeout beer at their Carlsbad location. You can also drink outside in the Ebullition Carlsbad location as they have a full food menu for the COVID-compliant mandates. You can find Double Hazy IPA, Hard Seltzer, Attaboy Irish Red Ale, & more on their tap list.
Address: 2449 Cades Way, Vista, CA 92081
Website: Ebullition Brew Works
Phone: (760) 842-1046
Eppig Brewing - North County Brewery & Bierhalle
Get beer to-go from Eppig's Vista brewery! Order in person or online if you want to go touchless. Eppig's open space feels warm & light, like a comfortable, familiar second home. The tasting room actually overlooks the brewhouse, so you might spot brewers in action. From the complex Schwarzbier German Black Lager to the light-bodied Hoppy Pils Dry Hopped Pilsner, you can find barleywine, sours, stouts, ales, & other crafty delights at Eppig Brewing.
Address: 1347 Keystone Way C, Vista, California 92081 United States
Website: Eppig Brewing - North County Brewery & Bierhalle
Phone: (760) 295-2009
Five Suits Brewing
Five Suits Brewing address might seem familiar as they're based in the former location of Barrel Harbor Brewing. All seating is outdoors for COVID & they have quite a large setup with table, chairs, television, & a covered canopy tent if you want to stay out of the rain or shine. Al Toque Peruvian Kitchen comes in for food, so you can order at the table; the yucca frita was delicious. Five Suits draft list consists of Follow Suit West Coast IPA 7.3% ABV, Pit BOS Hefeweizen 5.5% ABV, Cover You Snout Stout 6.7% ABV, & more.
Address: 2575 Pioneer Ave STE 104, Vista, CA 92081
Website: Five Suits Brewing
Phone: (760) 278-3483
Guadalupe Brewery Tap House
Although the beer itself is born & brewed in Carlsbad, the tasting room lives in Vista. Hecho en Carlsbad, tomado en Vista. (Made in Carlsbad, Tasted in Vista.) It all started when the owner started brewing beers in Valle de Guadalupe, known as Mexico's wine country. I actually visited El Cielo Winery Resort on Ruta del Vino Valle de Guadalupe & it's a beautiful place. They ended up brewing again in North County & Guadalupe Brewery was born.
Address: 631 S Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92083 United States
Website: Guadalupe Brewery Tap House
Phone: (740) 302-3377
Helia Brewing Company
Get a taste of Southern California craft beer at Helia Brewing Company with their mix of ales, pilsners, and lagers. The cheerful tasting room includes vibrant art, spacious & open ceilings, as well as ample indoor & outdoor seating to enjoy your brew. Perfect to savor one of those magnificent North County afternoons where the temperature is just right. Beers on the menu include Helia IPA, Helia Happy Pale Ale, Layers of Love DIPA, Helia Porter, Hazy Jae IPA, & much more. You can order for pick-up at the tasting room or order to get delivered to your house.
Address: 1250 Keystone Way, Vista, CA 92081
Website: Helia Brewing Company
Phone: (760) 216-6023
Mother Earth Brew Co.
The Downtown Mother Earth Brew Co. Vista Tap House is closed, but they're open for to-go orders out of their Mother Earth Thibodo Road Brewery in Vista three days per week. Browse your map app to make sure you're in the right spot located in Shadowridge Business Center. Mother Earth Vista offers Cali Creamin' Vanilla Cream Ale is one of their flagship beers with a cream soda bang. There's Hop Diggity Double IPA, Boo Koo IPA, Sin Tax Imperial Peanut Butter Stout, & more goodies available to order online or pick up at the Thibodo taproom.
Address: 2055 Thibodo Rd Suite E, Vista, California 92081 United States
Website: Mother Earth Brew Co.
Phone: (760) 295-3074
Prohibition Brewing Company
Founded in 2011, Prohibition Brewing Company is one of Vista's older breweries. The family-owned craft brewery serves craft beers with an extensive food menu filled with appetizers like fried avocado, soups, salad, burgers, & other specials & desserts along the way. Buy pints, 22 oz Bottles, Growlers, & Kegs from Prohibition's brew list including Derringer IIPA 8.6% ABV, St. Valentine Blood Orange IPA 7.6% ABV, Coconut Blonde 5.7% ABV, & more.
Address: 2004 E Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084
Website: Prohibition Brewing Company
Phone: (760) 295-3525
Wavelength Brewing Company
Wavelength Brewing Company has prime real estate on the continuously buzzing downtown Main Street, near what was once Mother Earth Brewing Company prior to COVID. Wavelength mixes beer in an environment that welcomes education in science, engineering, technology, & math. I walked by one night & they had a telescope out to watch the moon phenomena that was occurring at the time. Their tap list includes White Walker 5.9% ABV Witbier, Subsonic 5.5% ABV Kolsch, Hop Squanch 6.7% ABV Juicy IPA, & more. Nice spot to visit if you're in downtown Vista craft brewery hopping.
Address: 236 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084
Website: Wavelength Brewing Company
Phone: (760) 820-9283
WestBrew Brewery
WestBrew is a newer craft brewery in Vista, California. They have a solid outdoor set up in the back parking lot area with plenty of room to sip your beer & stay distanced from others. Get a brew & something to eat from their food-stocked fridge with sandwiches & other things to grub on. Stay a while as you view the place, taking in the art & open ceilings. They have beers such as the Hazy by the Sea New England Style IPA & the WestBrew Blonde American Blonde Ale.
Address: 1061 La Mirada Ct, Vista, CA 92081 United States
Website: WestBrew Brewery
Phone: (858) 412-4226
Distilleries: Misadventure & Company, 117 West Spirits, Henebery Spirits
The city of Vista is located in North County San Diego. The search for another craft brewery just got easier because I covered all the Vista breweries that exist (unless something has opened or closed in the meantime). Experience the beer, food, & views that San Diego has to offer. You will find an impressive list of beers on tap so please any taste. From family-owned businesses to buzzing hotspots, there always seems to a new business in the city of Vista!
Click here to visit the City of Vista, CA website.
Click here to visit the Downtown Vista CA website.
Thank you for reading; I hope you found a beer or brewery for you!
San Diego Influencer: What is Influencer Marketing? What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
I'm a blogger.
I'm an influencer.
I'm a social media manager.
I'm a blogging coach.
I'm a freelance writer.
I'm all of the above!
There are so many buzzwords these days - blogger, influencer, influencer marketing, engagement - but what does it all mean? Well, some have different meanings, some are similar, & some are industry words much like you'd view on a resume. I don't go around introducing myself as a San Diego influencer in all instances.
I've written over 500 blog posts & hundreds of posts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, over the years. I've had a blog since 2011, long before I ever had an Instagram page. I majored in journalism & decided I didn't want to spend my life at a newspaper, the next best thing was a lifestyle blog. In 2011, it wasn't about followers, it was about finding a place on the internet where you felt at home. What a different time! In 2017, I quit my corporate job to find the next step for me: freelancing, remote work, writing, social media management.
Read my yearly freelancing anniversary updates from Years 1, 2, & 3!
Hanging out & hiking in Julian, California. |
When I do social media management for small local businesses & other clients, I'm a social media manager. What does a social media manager do in a day? Read here. When I'm completing contracted writing for magazines, I'm a freelance writer. If I'm invited to a restaurant opening in San Diego, it's probably because of my blog or social media accounts, so in that case, I'd call myself a San Diego influencer.
I remember attending a press trip for Visit El Paso in 2018 & talking to a man in his 50s. He was on the press trip too, but more on the event planning side, I was on the blogger side. He asked me about the term "influencer" & asked if that's what young people refer to themselves as these days. It was a good question.
Click here to contact me. I'd love to learn more about you & your top business needs.
Related reading: Life in Quarantine as a San Diego Blogger + Social Media Manager from April 2020
What Are Influencers vs. Bloggers?
Influencer marketing isn't just in San Diego or the United States, it's all across the world. There are influencers everywhere, from San Francisco & Los Angeles to New York & Paris & Warsaw, Poland. Overall, being a top blogger, influencer, etc. really depends on the person & what they want to be called. Generally, a blogger has a literal blog. Whether on WordPress, Wix, BlogSpot, SquareSpace, what have you, a blogger is a blogger because of a blog.
Someone who blogs is a blogger; someone who knits is a knitter; someone who plays basketball is a basketball player. It's more about the action, not about semantics.
Read this post for a whole exercise on how to find blogging inspiration & blog ideas.
An influencer might not have a blog but instead has a social media presence, such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, the list goes on. PS, read this blog post for tips to increase your Facebook reach. So because an influencer could be on any/all social channels, the term influencer is a general description of what we do. Social media influencers have influence because of the followers & online presence they've created, similar to a blog, but in a different capacity.
For example, at one point in May 2020, I had up to 2.2 million monthly viewers on my Pinterest profile. Is Pinterest social media?
A blogger might also have an active social media presence, & an influencer could have a blog. Because there isn't a magical exact preciseness to it all, each person might refer to themselves as something different! You can view examples of what a person calls themselves on their blog or social media channels, sometimes in their email signature.
Have questions about influencer marketing in the city of San Diego? Click here to contact me.
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What is Influencer Marketing?
Both the top influencers & bloggers create content, write (whether it's captions or blog posts), take photos, negotiate, & so much more. Whether you are a therapist, beauty brand, or a beach towel company, there are ways to improve engagement, get a follow or two, increase visits, increase page views to your contact page, & more.
Influencer marketing is basically like user-generated marketing for the brand; they essentially hire the influencer to do work, ie. content or photos & then share it with their family, friends, audience that they personally developed.
Sometimes I'm a lifestyle blogger, travel influencer, travel writer, social media consultant, the names change because I'm all of them. It depends on who I'm speaking to or what I'm doing! When I went on that press trip in Texas, it makes sense that I'm a California blogger/San Diego influencer since I'm coming in with a California perspective & California viewers make up one of my biggest percentage of followers.
Want to contact me? Click here.
What Do Social Media Influencers Do?
Lifestyle influencer marketing revolves around things people use, eat, or experience on a regular basis, such as tea or a toothbrush or a short trip with family. After the Texas press trip, I created content on my blog. I found a particular aspect about El Paso that I loved & felt my followers & Google searchers would be interested in or would search for later. I wrote a blog post about Franklin Mountains State Park & then shared that content on my social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TripAdvisor).
Going on the press trip gave me content to write about; it gave me experiences, memories, & furthered my own blogging/influencing career by being part of a full-on fly me out, pay for my hotel room type of press trip! In return, the influencers/bloggers create content, take photos, or tag the brand, link to the website, generate interest, views, website clicks, or bookings, etc.
A lot of times a top influencer becomes an influencer by being themselves. For example, I wrote a post about rainbow eucalyptus trees in Balboa Park, San Diego (which you can read here) & it started getting organic search traffic from people Googling fun things in San Diego or where to see rainbow eucalyptus in San Diego.
As an influencer or blogger, you don't work for someone else, it's your platform to use as you wish. As an influencer, it becomes a business that the person chooses what's best. They can choose if they want to work with fashion & style, news, beauty, travel, food.
And remember: it's not always about the number of followers, how much reach do they get? How much engagement?
For example, I had a campaign with Del Taco to promote the Beyond Meat range of burritos & tacos. As someone who has been meat-free for 15 years, I was already buying this product. It made sense to me when the email popped in my inbox about doing a sponsored post on Instagram to talk about it. Make money talking about something I already used, ate, tried? Yes, please. Take a look at my Instagram post!
If you'd like to contact me, click here.
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Examples of San Diego Influencer Marketing Events I've Attended
- I went to an event at Home & Away Encinitas for Thorn Beer. They invited foodie influencers to attend. These are regular people. Most of them have a day job, a life other than influencing. These are people who love food & probably post about it frequently, perhaps they use certain hashtags to find new followers. Take a look at my Instagram post about the event & experience here.
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
- I was invited to the opening of the Scripps Ranch location of Juneshine. View my Instagram post from that event. This event was a bit younger, more modern, & fresh. Most influencers were young, under 40. It's all about the brand, Juneshine is a hard kombucha, which might have a fun, fresh young audience compared to a craft beer brand. The influencers you invite to your event should reflect your brand!
- I attended a mindfulness app launch party in San Diego a few years back at the start of influencer marketing. There was a range of professionals - not just bloggers. Each professional might have a different niche & audience, whether influencer or other local business representatives.
Is Influencer Marketing Free? What Does it Cost?
I've been invited to events across San Diego County. Sometimes a public relations company contacts me via email or sometimes you get a quick Instagram message about something from a brand itself. Each company or event is different. Sometimes there are no requirements for a particular event, they just invite you to feel free to post or not post. Sometimes they want you to post a couple Instagram Stories & other times it's more involved. This is where certain influencers have the leverage to have sponsored posts, posting fees, or other requirements, especially if a lifestyle influencer has a large following/reach. And yes, sometimes there is payment, depending on the campaign or type of sponsored collaboration.
Contact me or see about Coaching, Consulting, & Management for your small business.
On a press trip in Lompoc, California with Explore Lompoc. I wrote Fun Things to Do in the City of Lompoc, California on my blog. |
Finding an Influencer for Your Business
From La Jolla, Balboa Park, Del Mar, all the way up to Julian, there are events, restaurant openings, local businesses all around San Diego that could use lifestyle influencer marketing. It's all about finding the correct person for your brand. One influencer might offer daily posting on Instagram about local eateries to try in San Diego County while another might share home decor tips. Follow a few to get a feel for who's out there.
Related reading: How to Set Effective Personal & Business Goals So You Actually Get Things Done
You made it all the way to the bottom so what's the next step? Sometimes you have to take a leap & see what happens. If you need some help, I work with businesses on their engagement, blog writing, social media content, & more.
Whether you live in the city of San Diego or somewhere else, your business might benefit from influencer marketing. Have a question about social media influencers or small business influencer marketing? Contact me. Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Testimonials
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"Carmen helped me prioritize my goals for my brand as a whole. She provided me with skills to improve my decision-making in everything from blog topics, gauging my audience, and making my personality really shine through in my work." -K.S.
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Want to hire me for social media management, consulting, or something else? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.