Encinitas

Encinitas is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of San Diego and about 95 miles (153 km) south of Los Angeles. The city offers a unique blend of old-world charm and sophistication, and new-world culture along with a small-town feel. Found along six miles of Pacific coastline in northern San Diego County, the city was incorporated in 1986 from the communities of historic Encinitas, new Encinitas (Village Park, etc.), Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and Olivenhain.

Encinitas is home to some of the most spectacular beaches in California. These beaches attract surfers from all over because of its excellent surfing conditions. There are plenty of local surfing tournaments happening all over so if surfing is your thing then you will love it here. A favorite beach would be Swami’s, take in a few waves or just enjoy watching top-notch surfing from visitors from all over. If surfing is not your thing there are plenty more beaches to choose from. Another favorite would be Moonlight State beach, named for the midnight picnics locals used to have in the early 1900s. With a more family-friendly feel, Moonlight State Beach has volleyball, tennis courts, recreational equipment and a snack bar. Something you don’t usually see at most beaches these days, Moonlight Beach features fire rings, for post-sunset bonfires and barbecues.

Encinitas also features the San Elijo Lagoon, the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County. It is home to over 300 bird species throughout the year as forty percent of birds in North America passes by the San Elijo Lagoon on their annual migrations. The eco-friendly San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center offers free admission and guided nature walks on the first and last Saturdays of each month at 10:00 AM. The interactive exhibits focus on the ecosystem, environment and history of lagoons, and the building’s “green” components. If “green” is your thing then you’ll love the San Diego Botanical Gardens, with nearly 4,000 kinds of plants from all over the world and more than 37 acres of exhibits including the largest display of bamboo in the U.S., desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, Mediterranean climate landscapes, an undersea succulent garden and a subtropical fruit garden. There is a beautiful serene locale featuring meditation gardens, koi ponds and views overlooking Swami’s beach, this is the Self-Realization Fellowship.