Encinitas Welcomes You...

Encinitas is found North of San Diego between the San Elijo and Batiquitos Lagoons. It’s has six miles of beautiful coastline and is known for it’s historical charm and relaxed beach culture. In 1669 the Governor of Baja California came upon present day Encinitas and named it ‘Encina Canada,’ which is Spanish for ‘Hills of Live Oaks.’ 

The city of Encinitas was established in 1986 and is made up of five distinct but united communities, each with its own character. Old Encinitas is built up around Highway 101 parallel to the coast, and makes up the city’s most historic and popular downtown area. New Encinitas is much younger and is centered around El Camino Real, the street that runs through the heart of the city and offers scores of shopping plazas along it’s borders. English spiritualists just north of Old Encinitas founded Leucadia, known for it’s sleepy coastal character. They named the eucalyptus-lined settlement after one of the Greek Isles, meaning ‘Isle of Paradise.’ Cardiff-by-the-Sea is a dazzling collection of homes on a bluff overlooking the sea. Olivenhain, which was settled by a small group of German immigrants is the inland portion of the city, offers a rural haven of open space for horses, groves, pastures, and the more rural side of Encinitas.

Encinitas was once recognized as the flower growing capital of the world. Flower growers have inhabited the area for generations, and Encinitas has grown up around them. As testament to their past and continuing presence, Encinitas maintains the Quail Botanical Gardens, the beautiful and unique gardens of the Self Realization Fellowship, and is home to the world-renowned Ecke poinsettia, which was introduced in 1923.

If Golf is something you enjoy, you’re sure to love the brand new Encinitas Ranch Golf Course. Situated on top of a mesa, you can enjoy wonderful views of the ocean while making your way through the 18-hole par 72 course. This great public facility open to golfers of all ability levels.

Downtown Encinitas is situated in Old Encinitas along Highway 101 and is the city’s coastal shopping district. Developed over 100 years ago, this charming and historic area features shops, restaurants, cafes, and great historic architecture. The famous La Paloma theatre opened its doors in 1928, and was possibly the first ‘talking’ theatre in the rural United States.

The San Elijo Lagoon Reserve is one of the few remaining coastal wetlands in San DiegoCounty. Over 300 species of birds live in the lagoon throughout the year, and it is home to six different plant communities, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna. The reserve is nearly one thousand acres and offers seven miles of trails throughout. The park welcomes bird watchers, nature observers, hikers, and even dog walkers to enjoy its unique beauty.

Encinitas has eleven public beaches that stretch along it’s 6 miles of coastline. Each beach has it own unique characteristics, so there’s a place for everyone. Swami’s is famous for classic surfing, Moonlight for the central locale and great amenities, Cardiff for tide pools, and San Elijo for camping. Whether you’re a surfer, swimmer, kayaker, kite flyer, sunbather, or family beach goer, the beaches in Encinitas are clean, safe and beautiful, and always have something to offer.

With warm weather, great beaches, and historic charm, Encinitas welcomes you!