You’ve made a smart decision to live or vacation here. You are now in one of the top rated cities in the United States. Since its incorporation as a city in 1986, Encinitas has gained recognition as being one of the top twenty places to live in America. If you think we’re bluffing, a population of more than 58,000 citizens can’t be wrong. Encinitas is home to a thriving culture based on the arts, medical sciences, retail, and don’t forget the beach and surf. almost twenty-five percent of our population surfs or has surfed.

Whether or not you can hang ten or not, you can still enjoy some of the other aspects of Encinitas. We have a lot to show you before you get out there and enjoy life in the city, so let’s get started!

From that point on the area flourished as a farming community, and many farmers and flower growers began to settle in the region and produce their goods, including Albert Ecke, who settled in 1906 and whose ranch was instrumental in the growth of poinsettias in the region started by his son, Paul Ecke, Sr. (1895-1991), making Encinitas known worldwide as “the flower capital of the world.”

The well-known Ecke Ranch has made Encinitas world famous for the growing of Poinsettias.

Paul Ecke, Sr. as he tends to his many flowers in 1988.

Not only was farming instrumental in Encinitas’s growth, but transportation led to the commercialization of the city as we know it today. In 1881, the California Southern Railroad Company built the Encinitas train station as a place where trains could stop to refuel their engines using the water flowing from Cottonwood Creek. From there, downtown Encinitas developed into a thriving commercial center of the developing city. In 1916, the Pacific Coast Highway, then known as First Street, consisted of a car garage, a saloon, a general store, and the Encinitas Hotel, which was built in 1883 as a lodging for people traveling on the railroad.

Downtown Encinitas today, which runs along the Pacific Coast Highway, is estetically similar to it's appearance in the past.

In the 1930’s, Encinitas became a religious retreat as well as a commercial and farming society. In 1937, Paramahansa Yogananda settled in Encinitas traveling from his home in Mukunda Lal Gosh, India. He established the Self-Realization Fellowship, a 17-acre religious retreat that attracted many religious figures and people to the city.

A portrait of a young Yogananda, ca. 1920.The Self-Realization Fellowship of Encinitas as it stands today. Notice the famous 'Surf X-ing' sign in the front.

He was known as a yogi and professed his religion to many of the people in Encinitas, which in turn made the new

The Self-Realization Fellowship of Encinitas as it stands today. Notice the famous 'Surf X-ing' sign in front.

religion very popular. Today, the Self-Realization Fellowship is still a popular retreat as well as a well-known landmark with many gardens and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.

From humble farming town to thriving commercial center to religious destination, Encinitas is a town of rich history and diverse culture, which has made it a popular and well-known community of Southern California. The rich mix of the art, music, medical, agriculture, and surf cultures have made Encinitas become the city that it is today.

Old Encinitas  

One of the oldest communities, Old Encinitas comprises the downtown area, nearby Moonlight beach, and Swami’s Beach at the south end. This community represents a look at Encinitas in the days of years gone by, with many of the buldings in the area from as early as the 1920′s still being  renovated and restored. The reason that the city has kept it so esthetically pleasing is so that remind us of the past of our little town by the sea as we move into the future and onto bigger and better things.  

the S.S. Encinitas (left) and the S.S. Moonlight (right), in 2009, celebrated their 84th birthday.

One of the most notable landmarks are these boathouses, located on 3rd street in Downtown. These houses were built in 1928 by local architect Miles Minor Kellogg. In 1925, he salvaged the wood from the defunct Moonlight dance hall and spent the following three years building these two boathouses. He named them the S.S. Encinitas and the S.S. Moonlight, and they still serve as on of the most well known symbols of Encinitas and it’s past.  

Olivenhain  

Another one of the older communities, Olivenhain was settled in the late 1800′s by German settlers that came here in search of new and prosperous lands in the west. Once here, they established a farming community known as Olivenhain, German for “olive grove”. The area became prominent in the production of flowers when Albert Ecke, a German immigrant, established his ranch in 1906, and thus an empire was born.  

The Colony Olivenhain Town Hall, est.1885.

Olivenhain has still retained its rural esthetic as well, with many of the multi-million dollar mansions being kept in an old-west style of architecture. It’s town hall, built when the colony was established in 1885, is still used as the community’s  center for events and meetings.  

Cardiff-by-the-sea  

Cardiff-by the-sea was settled by Welsh immigrants in the early 1900′s. They named it Cardiff to commemorate their homeland in Cardiff, Wales. This is also why many of th street names are synonymous with many cities in the United Kingdom: Birmingham Dr., Manchester Ave., etc.  

The Cardiff sign.

Pipe's Cafe...a breakfat place.

This seaside community hosts many single-family homes, beach houses, shopping centers, restaurants, and schools including a community college. It is home to famous places like Pipes Cafe and VG Donuts, which are both popular eateries in Encinitas.
   

Leucadia  

Leucadia is one of the most historically significant areas of Encinitas. The area was first inhabited by the Kumeyya Indians who lived on the banks of the Batiquitos lagoon. It was later established as an agricultural community by English spiritualists, which is why the area is home to many greenhouses. They were heavily influenced by Greek mythology, and they named the area Leucadia, meaning “sheltered paradise” in Greek, and many of the streets are named after gods and goddesses: Orpheus, Vulcan, Pireaus, etc.  

Today, Leucadia is mostly a residential area with a few community stores and restaurants, as well as a local park. The area is still covered in trees from 60 years ago and one of the few well-preserved  areas in town.  

New Encinitas  

Encinitas is one of the newer communities in Encinitas located on the east side of the I-5 freeway. It represents the growth and development of Encinitas into the future. It is composed of many large housing tracts, shopping centers, restaurants, and recreational areas.

Raul’s, a small but wonderful Mexican take-out restaurant, is located on Hwy 101, walking distance from the beach.  Raul’s serves fresh, handmade, delicious food ranging from two dollars to about nine dollars.  It has no delivery or reservations, but you can take out or eat at the tables outside.  It is also wheelchair accessible!

The menu has many items such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more!  It’s a popular spot because of the low prices and amazing food.  Many locals consider this the best mexican restaurant in Encinitas.

Pros: fresh and great food, good prices

Cons: dirty, needs more space to sit, long wait, maybe add ice to the soda!

For more information, go to:  http://www.yelp.com/biz/rauls-shack-encinitas.  Or stop by for lunch or dinner with your family or friends!

A picture of a tall palm tree at Moonlight Beach

Moonlight State Beach is a very popular and well-known beach in Encinitas, located to the west of I-5 on Encintias Boulevard.  It is open from dawn to sunset.  It’s surrounded by tall bluffs, and enormous palm trees.

Playground at Moonlight Beach

Moonlight beach is a clean,  flat beach great for kids (and all ages) who wish to swim, surf, fish, suntan, play volleyball, stroll in the sand, hang out with friends, or simply enjoy the beauty of the ocean.  This beach is equipped with many special features including: volleyball courts, recreational equipment rentals, a snack bar, picnic areas, many lifeguards, bathrooms, fire rings, public parking, a park, showers, and even a wheelchair ramp that extends towards the ocean, which could be used by families with a stroller.

Pros: very pretty location, good place to swim, clear and warm water in the summer

Cons: can be crowded (so move further north or south away from the opening of the beach), not a good place to surf, lots of birds (don’t feed the wildlife!)

Interesting fact:  The beach was named “Moonlight” because local residents in the early 1900s would go to that area for midnight picnics.

If you need more information, visit: http://www.beachcalifornia.com/moonlit.html

Description: Queen Eileens is a cute little shop that specializes in gift baskets and balloons. Theyoffer over eighty different baskets, and a large selection of balloons. Their store is also packed with all sorts of things from keychains to pajamas to jewlery to cards, just to name a few. They also have a huge selection of gag gifts. This store has something for everyone!

Time:

Mon-Sat:9-7

Sun:9:30- 5

Pros:

Something for everyone

Gifts at all prices

Variety

Address: 481 Santa Fe Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024-5134
(760) 753-6425

Description: Today’s Pizza is a great restaurant to enjoy pizza, salad, hot subs, pasta, wings and more! The restaurant brings great ambiance and is a fun place to hang out, and maybe watch a sports game.  Pizzas come in three sizes: individual (4 slices), medium (8 slices) and large (10 slices). Today’s is a family owned restaurant with very nice workers and a wonderful environment. They cater, and offer free delivery. One of today’s specialties, is their fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. Their most popular pizza is the Classic Combo which includes different vegetables and meats.

Pros:

Different sized pizzas

Clean bathrooms

Good pizza

Some arcade games

Something for everyone

Cons:

No slices

Address:
Leucadia in Encinitas, at the end of Neptune street, North of Beacons Beach

Description: Grandview is a quite, local beach that is the hidden gem that is secluded at the end of Neptune street. There is a decent sized parking lot and the stair case leads you down into the steep cliff that turns into the sand and the waves rolling in and out of the shore. Grandview is good for surfing, running, swimming, walking, sun baithing, yoga, boogieboarding, sand castle making, and looking at the beautiful sunset or the sunrise. Surfers can enjoy the breaks that are North and Sounth or the main peak, or just surf in the main peak! And non-surfers can also enjoy playing in the water.

Time:
Beach Parking lot: 5am-10pm          
Beach Use: 4am-2am

Pros:  
Great beach to be at

Cons:
No dogs, alcohol, glass allowed

*The lifegaurd tower opens at 10am-6pm during the summer season (late June to Labor Day)    

Address: Orpheus Ave. at Union Street
                 Encinitas, CA 92024

Description: Orpheus Park is a community park that has a beautiful view of the ocean. It is also an off-leash dog park, but also has a playground for kids, and picnic tables for families, so it is a great park for the whole family! Orpheus has wide open spaces for your dogs, good climbing trees and play area for the kids, family picnic tables and it’s pretty quite. A good place to relax and unwind. It’s good free fun!

Pros:
off leash dog parks
grassy areas
beautiful view

Cons:
none!

Welcome sign at the entrance of the parking lot

Address:   

Cottonwood Creek Park
95 N. Vulcan  

(760)633-2740  

http://www.ci.encinitas.ca.us/Government/CityD/ParksAndRecreation/Parks+and+Beaches/Parks+in+Encinitas.htm  

Description: Cottonwood Creek Park is only a few years old. It is a great place to have a picnic, throw a party or just hang out. There are a few tennis courts there, a small basketball  

Time: 5am to 10pm (unless otherwise noted)  

Price: Free!  

Pros:  

• Great location
• Lots of space
• Good facilities
• Maintained very well
• Free

Cons:  

• Crowded on weekends
• Smaller parking lot