Brimming with character, Encinitas sits along six miles of beautiful Pacific coastline in northern San Diego County and is embraced by the Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and the San Elijo Lagoon to the south.  Encinitas has a population of approximately 60,000 and is distinguished by coastal beaches, cliffs, flat-topped coastal areas, steep mesa bluffs and rolling hills. 

Encinitas is made up of five communities that take pride in their own distinct personalities.  "Historic Encinitas" which fills the Highway 101 Corridor and parallels the beautiful beaches and ocean, "New Encinitas" which centers on El Camino Real, "Cardiff By The Sea" which is made up of quaint homes on the hillsides overlooking the sea, "Leucadia" which is famous for its giant eucalyptus trees that line the main thoroughfare on the Coast Highway and "Olivenhain" which boasts plenty of open horse country, pastures and a rural way of life.

Historic Encinitas ~ This historic highway 101 corridor, founded over 100 years ago, offers that old style California coastal flavor filled with shops, restaurants, cafes and historic architecture.
New Encinitas ~ A vibrant centerpiece of commerce and opportunity and although this area has seen explosive growth in the past 10 years, it continues to retain that small town feel. 
Cardiff By The Sea ~ Named after Cardiff, Wales in 1914, many streets still reflect that British flavor, while offering spectacular views of the Pacific.  For the outdoors person, there is plenty of hiking, bird watching, biking and surfing.  With Swami’s Beach, this area is known as the surfing capital of southern California.
Leucadia ~ A true eclectic nouveau experience on the coast with everything from eucalyptus lined streets, to antiques and quaint cottages and stunning homes with ocean views. 
Olivenhain ~ This unique area offers a rural setting filled with ranches, horses and impressive homes nestled in the hillside. 

The natural beauty of these communities, along with the year around temperatures between 40 and 85 degrees, make Encinitas a spectacular place to live!

• City of Encinitas
• Encinitas Chamber of Commerce
• Encinitas Historical Society
• New Encinitas Network
• Cardiff-By-The-Sea Chamber of Commerce
• Leucadia 101 Mainstreet Association
• Colony Olivenhain

Historic Downtown Encinitas
Downtown 101 is a coastal shopping district over 100 years old and features historic architecture, quaint shops, sidewalk cafes and restaurants framed by beautiful flower baskets.  The organization “Downtown Encinitas Merchants Association” (DEMA) is a great resource for information on business in Encinitas.  The La Paloma Theatre was built in 1928 and was one of the first theatres to show "Talkies" talking pictures.  This theatre is a big part of Encinitas and hosts many community and city functions as well as music concerts, theater performances and movies.

The Beaches
There are many beaches in Encinitas, each having its own unique appeal.  There is truly a beach for everyone.  Whether it is surfing, scuba diving, tide pooling, sunning, hiking, camping or just basking in the serenity of a secluded beach, it is all there.  For the surfer, there is Swami's Beach, which was forever immortalized in the Beach Boys’ song “Surfin USA”.  There is great scuba diving just offshore from Swami's at the Encinitas Marine Life Refuge which is North County's only underwater park.  Finally, Moonlight Beach is “the beach with everything” since it has all the typical amenities including lifeguard towers, play areas, restrooms, telephones and a snack bar.

The Flower Growing Capital
There is a significant flower growing industry in Encinitas and many people claim that it is the “Flower Growing Capital”.  San Diego Botanic Garden is the only botanical garden in San Diego County and is dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered plants from across the globe.  Tours, nature walks, lectures, landscape advice and instructional programs are offered to advance public awareness of plant diversity and scenic trails take you through unique gardens, a tropical rain forest and North America's largest display of bamboo.  Furthermore, the gardens of the Self Realization Center are beautiful and sit overlooking the ocean in a serene garden-like setting.

The Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
This resort offers golfers a wonderful mix of challenge and excitement along with panoramic ocean views.  Encinitas Ranch offers 18 championship holes and also has a golf school for players of all levels as well as golf clinics, a pro shop and snack bar. 

San Elijo Lagoon
Walk through the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County and a haven for more than 295 species of birds and over 300 species of plants.  The reserve encompasses approximately 900 acres of diverse habitat with six plant communities including coastal strand, salt marsh, freshwater marsh, riparian scrub, coastal sage scrub and mixed chaparral.  You may enjoy the beauty of the San Elijo Lagoon where there are over 5 miles of hiking trails in the reserve and they all open to the public.

The main routes in Encinitas include I-5, Highway 101, Encinitas Boulevard and El Camino Real.  “Encinitas” is also one of the stops for the Coaster Rail System, located at 25 East "D" Street, which provides rides into downtown San Diego and also connects with Amtrak to provide rides on one of the many Amtrak northern routes to enjoy many wonderful stops along the western coastline.