Welcome to Encinitas
Coastal city combines beach-style living and urban convenience
Spanning across the Pacific coastline in San Diego County’s North County region, Encinitas is where modern beach town meets urban living and comprises several distinctive neighborhoods. “Old Encinitas” covers the coast on either side of the 101 Highway and is home to some of the region’s most iconic surf breaks, family-friendly beaches, surf shops, eclectic restaurants and retailers, coffee and juice bars and hip taverns. East of the I-5 freeway, “New Encinitas” offers family-oriented suburban neighborhoods, excellent schools, and the renowned Encinitas Ranch Golf Course and master-planned community. The main street is lined with big box retailers and grocery stores, chain and local restaurants, health and medical centers, fitness clubs and much more. Encinitas also includes the communities of Cardiff and Leucadia.
With a wide-ranging mix of Encinitas, CA real estate options to choose from, homes in the area can range from classic Cape Cod and American Craftsman styles in established neighborhoods to stunning luxury beachfront mansions as well as spacious contemporary single-family homes and condominiums in newer tracts.
What to Love
- Urban beach town with diverse communities
- Walkable, laid-back shopping and dining on 101
- Charming Encinitas, CA homes for sale and suburban neighborhoods
- Famous surf spots and golf course
- Train station serving Coaster and Amtrak routes
- Easy freeway access
Local Lifestyle - Living in Encinitas, CA
Encinitas offers the ideal mix of beach and urban living. With beaches and small businesses just minutes from the robust commercial district, residents enjoy surfing, swimming, walking, running and cycling along the coast, golfing and hiking at Encinitas Ranch, yoga and Pilates studios, and pickleball and tennis. The shops and restaurants along the 101 attract locals and tourists alike. The Encinitas train station provides convenient access to Downtown San Diego and points north.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping in Encinitas, CA
The Encinitas stretch of the South Coast Highway 101 is lined with laid-back shops, restaurants, coffee shops and craft beer spots. Union Kitchen & Tap pairs rotating craft beer taps and cocktails with a elevated American pub grub. Encinitas Fish Shop offers a boatload of fresh fish and seafood selections in build-your-own taco, sandwich, salad or plate options in a causal, dog-friendly atmosphere. Trattoria i Trulli serves authentic Italian cuisine in a bistro-style ambiance; top off dinner with housemade gelato at Gelato 101. Multiple taco shops run the gamut from traditional Mexican street tacos to artisan creations. Shops on 101 offer everything you need to enjoy Encinitas’ gorgeous beaches, bike lanes and surf. Hansen Surfboards is renowned for producing some of the best handcrafted surfboards since it was opened in Encinitas by legendary surfer Don Hansen in 1970. Stylish 101 shopping center The Lumberyard offers lots more retailers and restaurants.
Things to Do in Encinitas, CA
Encinitas is famed for its gorgeous coastal scenery, surf spots and holistic lifestyle. The Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Temple’s Meditation Gardens provides a serene place to relax and unwind in the
heart of Encinitas. San Diego Botanic Gardens has four miles of trails running through an urban oasis of beautiful colorful gardens covering 37 acres. The botanic gardens are divided into various habitat areas, including a bamboo garden, bird and butterfly garden, California gardenscape, olive tree garden, and tropical and temperate rainforest. At the southern end of Encinitas, Swami’s Beach is this famous surf town’s most iconic surf spot. A park above the beach is a popular gathering place to see skilled surfers riding the waves. Moonlight Beach takes its name from a century-old tradition of Encinitas residents congregating on the beach to enjoy midnight picnics beneath the moonlight. This tradition continues with fire pits along the beach that light up the evenings. Other popular activities at Moonlight Beach include swimming, surfing, and fishing. Moonlight Beach also has beach volleyball courts and an adjacent grassy park with tennis and pickleball courts. Close to Encinitas Station on South Coast Highway 101, La Paloma Theatre has been a landmark of Encinitas since 1928. Built in a striking Spanish Colonial Revival style, La Paloma Theatre now hosts specialty film screenings and concerts from a variety of touring acts.
Schools
Encinitas is served by the award-winning Encinitas Union and San Dieguito Union High School
