Considered one of the best surf towns in the world, the delightful and vibrant city of Encinitas is set along 6 miles of Pacific coastline in northern San Diego County and offers a unique combination of old-world charm and elegance with modern culture that attracts visitors from all over.
About EncinitaS
Spanish for “Little Oaks”. Encinitas has a population just over 61,000 and was once the Flower Growing Capital.
The city is characterized by its beautiful and pristine surf-friendly beaches, mesa bluffs, rolling hills, quaint shops, and sidewalk cafes.
Surfer magazine rated the beaches in Encinitas among the top 10 best in the world. Each year surfers from all around gather to take advantage of the perfect surf conditions in and participate in local surf tournaments.
National Geographic also named Encinitas one of the 12 best surf towns in the world!
FUN FACT: An internationally known surfing spot known as “Swami’s Reef” was mentioned in a verse of The Beach Boys’ song “Surfing’ U.S.A.” and sets the mood and town of the famous beaches perfectly.
The city of Encinitas can be divided into five main areas each with its own unique small-town charm and history:
Old Encinitas: This is a laid-back surf area with plenty of local shops and eateries. It’s where you’ll find the Encinitas Historical Society, City Hall and the historic downtown area. It’s also home to Swami’s Beach, Moonlight Beach, the San Diego Botanical Gardens and the Self Realization Fellowship.
New Encinitas: This new area features a golf course, plenty of shopping centers and many larger homes.
Olivenhain: This rural region to the east of Encinitas is composed mostly of single family homes and has an active 4-H club as well as several private horse-riding facilities.
Leucadia: This is a coastal community filled with tree-lined streets and a series of art galleries, unique stores, restaurants and single family homes.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea: This southern oceanfront community features streets named after British cities and classical composers, the Lux Art Institute and the San Elijo Campus of Mira Costa College.
Encinitas Real Estate
As of 2022, the median property value in Encinitas is around $1,500,000. Condos and townhomes will generally start at $750K+ with single family homes starting around $1.25M and beyond into luxury homes $10M+.
The higher price point is reflective of having the ultimate lifestyle and the beach at your door step. The various areas and neighborhoods within Encinitas range home-styles and prices.
Old Encinitas is a lifestyle and beach-driven community that has its homes priced higher than other areas of San Diego County. It’s a place where locals are willing to pay more for a laid-back surf culture and highly sought after lifestyle.
The higher price point is reflective of having the ultimate lifestyle and the beach at your door step. The various areas and neighborhoods within Encinitas range home-styles and prices.
Old Encinitas is a lifestyle and beach-driven community that has its homes priced higher than other areas of San Diego County. It’s a place where locals are willing to pay more for a laid-back surf culture and highly sought after lifestyle.
Amenities in Encinitas
Pacific Station is Encinitas latest attraction, which offers a mix of shopping, dining and boutiques.
This historic and beachy city is full of thriving local shops, bars, salons, restaurants and art galleries and his home to one of San Diego’s oldest and largest surf shops - Hansens Surf Shop.
Encinitas has all the amenities you could expect from a city including: Bars & Nightlife, Golf, Restaurants, Food & Dining, Numerous Attractions, Beaches and More.
The city offers a some of the best schools in San Diego. School districts that can be found within Encinitas include: Cardiff School District, Encinitas Union School District and San Dieguito Union High School District.
Visual Arts schools and colleges include: Watts Atelier of the Arts, California Institute for Human Science, Mira Costa College District, St. Katherine College.
High Schools include: Grauer School (Private, college preparatory), San Dieguito Academy, Pacific Academy, Sunset Continuation High School
Middle and Elementary schools include: Diegueño Middle School, Encinitas Country Day School, Grauer, Oak Crest, The Rhodes, Ada Harris, Cardiff, Capri, Encinitas and many more.
Nearby areas
- La Jolla
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Del Mar Heights
- Carlsbad
- Carmel Mountain
- Del Mar
- Del Cerro
- Poway
- Sabre Springs
- University City
Transportation
Getting around Encinitas is made easier by utilizing alternatives such as public transportation, carpooling, biking, and walking. Not only can these alternatives be enjoyable, they can also help to improve your health and the environment.
NCTD - BUS & RAIL - Taking the NCTD buses and the Coaster around San Diego is quick and easy.
Amtrak has a station Downtown which stops 3 times a day in each direction between Oceanside to San Diego and Coaster trains stop here multiple days a week as well.
Services such as FLEX bring transportation to your door, at your convenience.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Master plans are in full effect. The City was recently awarded grant funds for the development of a citywide pedestrian-oriented Safe Routes to School Plan. This emphasizes pedestrian planning, safety and potentially designing an infrastructure around school zones to make walking more fun.
Helpful transportation links include:
Top Things To See & Do Nearby
- San Diego Botanical Gardens
- Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
- Downtown 101 - Coastal shopping district
- Surf Contests by the Beach
- Lux Art Institute
- San Dieguito Heritage Museum
- Moonlight Beach
- Swami’s for Surfing
- La Paloma Theatre
- Marine-Life Refuge Underwater Park
Special Events
September - July, On the 3rd Saturday of each month the Encinitas Historical Society offers a Free Tour of Old Encinitas.
Off Track Gallery San Dieguito Art Guild features Local Art for viewing, with over 100 artists with work on display that covers everything from sculptures to paintings.
A local Farmer’s Market with over 40 vendors sells fresh produce, cheeses and specialty foods every Wednesday from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
The April Street Fair is an annual two-day street fair, held every April in downtown Encinitas.
Encinitas Environment Day is held on the 2nd Sunday of June which features environmentally-themed games and entertainment for families.
Switchfoot Bro-Am is an annual free surf competition and outdoor music festival held in early July at Moonlight State Beach.
Overall Impression
Rated an A+ for its schools, family friendly communities and its overall livability score as per niche.com. Encinitas is a spectacular place to live, work, visit and raise a family!
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2820 Camino del Rio South, Ste.314, 