Leucadia is a community in the northern part of Encinitas, clustered along historic Route 101 (the Coast Highway), right next door to Carlsbad. The community stretches for over a mile along the road (on the west side only; to the east are the railroad tracks) with retailers, business services and other commercial enterprises bordering the densely built residential area between the 101 and the ocean just a couple of 2 blocks away
READ MORE: Leucadia - Surfers Beach Community
Leucadia offers an eclectic mix of retail and dining, the sort one would expect in a small beach town with a strong surfing history and a resistance to becoming gentrified and upscale.
Want a tattoo or need acupuncture? No problem. Places to buy pet food or have your dog groomed. Got it. Mexican markets and Hair salons? Yep, they're there. Love donuts? Try the famous Leucadia Donut Shop. Old fashioned liquor stores? You'll find them too. There are a bunch or surf shops (to purchase or have them repaired) and places to buy the touristy t-shirts. There are several art galleries (one, the new Andrews Gallery) and a number of clothing and gift stores (check out Sanctum). Need building materials? The Builders Candy Storer is sure to please.
Restaurants along this scenic stretch of road provide a casual mix of seafood, California, Mexican, Japanese, Thai and more. Want raw food? Try The Greenery. There's the Mozy Café, Le Papagayo (my personal favorite, with live music and their fun Cuban Night on Thursdays), Calypso, The Sake House, Robbie's Roadhouse, and another personal fave, Auggie's House of Crab (celebrating their 1st year in town). A casual, beach-town ambiance is obvious in all, and jeans and sandals are perfectly acceptable. Good food, a lack of pretension, and a pleasant mix of residents and visitors allow for an enjoable way to have brunch, lunch or dinner. The Pannikin is a favorite breakfast place in the old railroad depot closer to the downtown area of Encinitas.
The beaches in this part of town are some of the best in the area, with surfing and places to watch the sunset. Because of the bluff all are located well below so stairs are the only way down, and up. Be prepared for some significant climbs, but the views are amazing. Favorite Leucadia beaches include Grandview (at the north end), Beacon's, and Stone Steps.
Leucadia real estate is some of the most eclectic around, in part due to the town's history and growth as a popular surfing destination and vacation area. The dense residential area to the west of the coast road to the edge of the continent overlooking the ocean is a mix of bungalows, mobile homes, vacation rentals, small motels, condos, apartments, and ocean-front homes. Since the stretch of road is over a mile, some homes in this area will have more limited amenities within walking distance than others, depending on where you are located.
Other homes, some newer, are located to the east of the coast road and the railroad tracks. Whether they are truly walkable to the commercial area is debatable, since only two roads cross the tracks over a mile or so span of road; walking across the tracks is the only way to get there quickly BUT fines for crossing the track, if caught, can run $1000 since it's considered trespassing.
There are 11 Leucadia homes for sale (detached) in the Somewhat Walkable to Very Walkable category, ranging in price from $605,000 to $7.3 million (for an ocean-front home on Neptune Avenue, of which there are several). In contrast some of the least expensive housing can be found in Leucadia as well - manufactured/mobile homes at The Sands in the heart of Leucadia and 2 blocks to the beach range from $69,500 to $142,000 (with land leases) with several other similarly priced manufactured homes on nearby streets within walking distance of Leucadia amenities. Attached homes, several of which are ocean-front, range from $379,000 to $2.495 million.
Here are the previous articles in the Walkable Neighborhood Series:
Rancho Santa Fe Real Estate Near Rancho Santa Fe Village
Solana Beach Real Estate on the Coast
Del Mar Real Estate Near the Village
Carlsbad Village Real Estate in Carlsbad, California
Cardiff Real Estate in The Walking District in Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Carlsbad Homes for Sale in La Costa, Carlsbad
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If I can provide more information about 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 © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits
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