Encinitas, California, in North County San Diego, offers a lot to love for residents and visitors.

Located about 25 miles from San Diego and about 100 miles south of Los Angeles, there are many things to like about living in this seaside community.

Here’s the top 10 list (in no particular order):

Terrific weather – well, that can be said about America’s Finest City in general, but it really is true about the area. It never gets too hot or too cold (average temperature is around 72 degrees) in Encinitas.

Surfing – you may not be a surfer, but surfing here is a big deal. Famous beaches like Swami’s area known to surfers far and wide as a terrific place to ride the waves. And you can learn to surf, too – check out Surf eCo where you can learn to Hang 10 AND help save the rainforest in Costa Rica.

Read: Surfing USA

Beaches – as a beach lover I take my beaches seriously. And Encinitas has some terrific ones for beach lovers to enjoy, no matter what you like about beach life – Moonlight Beach, Grandview, Swami’s, Beacon’s and Stone Steps are the major ones. They are all different, and folks tend to have favorites. Try them all and decide which feels best to you. Whether you like to stroll, meditate, surf, sun bathe, swim, boogie board, take photos, dine al fresco, or socialize, you will likely find a beach that suits your style.

Read: Carlsbad Area Beach Life (yep that includes Encinitas)

Dining – Encinitas is NOT San Francisco, New York, LA or any other top rated dining locale, nor does it try to be. But there are a wide range of places to enjoy and to suit most food preferences, styles, and budgets. The downtown area alone probably has over 20 different places to experience, all within walking distance of each other.

Read: Encinitas Dining and Shopping Extravaganza

Shopping – nope, Encinitas is NOT Rodeo Drive or 5th Avenue, nor the Miracle Mile, Newbury Street, or Worth Avenue, but we have our own style, and folks living or visiting here love it. From funky clothing shops, tattoo places, furniture from around the world, imports from Asia, upscale gardening shops, second-hand clothing stores to the big package stores like Circuit City, Target, Home Depot, Office Depot, Best Buy, and TJ Maxx, you can likely find most of what you want in a pleasant mix of new and old, touristy and down-to-earth. (see link above for more info)

Things to do – well, there are the beaches. For some that’s enough – surfing, sun bathing, walking, painting, flying kites, beach volley ball, the list goes on. But there is public golf at Encinitas Ranch, the Self Realization Fellowship Retreat and Meditation Gardens, numerous places for yoga, the movie theatre in town, shop (see above), dine (see above), visit the Heritage Museum, the weekly Farmer’s Market, and more. This is NOT the big city, so don’t expect it. But there is plenty to keep you busy, or just relax and enjoy the people watching on the beach or in town at one of the sidewalk eateries.

The Arts – Encinitas has a number of galleries in the downtown area to enjoy, with a broad mix of artist styles and mediums. The Off Track Gallery is a co-op of multiple artists along the Coast Highway. The LUX Art Institute to the east of town is a newer, and unique venue to viewing art AND the artist at work. There’s even a gallery at the town offices. Like street fairs? Check out the arts and crafts fair in Olivenhain.

And the final 3 are...

Flowers – Encinitas is known worldwide for its flowers, especially poinsettias. There are still many nurseries in town, although they are disappearing in the name of development. The Self Realization Gardens at the south end of town are a sight to behold along the ocean on top of the bluff – worth a visit. Sunshine Gardens is one of the best nurseries in town to buy plant, trees and flowers for you home (and stop in Elizabethan Desserts while you are there).

Environmental Sensitivity – Encinitas, like other communities, is concerned about the environment, and being green. A couple of good examples – the NEW Encinitas Public Library and the San Elijo Lagoon Visitors Center (really in Cardiff but that’s part of Encinitas).

Housing and Neighborhoods – last but certainly not least, there is tremendous diversity in the Encinitas real estate market, from funky to estate homes, waterfront gems to upscale tract homes on the golf course. Being coastal, Encinitas is not inexpensive; prices for attached homes (condos, town homes, twin homes) range from $250,000 to $4.5 million, as of June 2008. Detached homes, including ocean front properties, range from $510,000 up to $7.3 million for an ocean front property. Olivenhain, Encinitas Ranch and Leucadia area communities in Encinitas offering vastly different lifestyles, property types, and pricing.

Read:

Olivenhain – Rural Residential Equestrian Community

Leucadia – Surfer’s Beach Community

Encinitas Ranch – Upscale Encinitas Residential Community

There you have it – the top 10 reasons to live in (or visit) Encinitas. Let me know what you think.

And please feel free to add YOUR best picks for the terrific seaside town.

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If I can provide more information about Encinitas, Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360
or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2007 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits