North County San Diego Self-Guided (GPS) Audio Driving Tour, California - Where to live tour

Just north of Downtown Encinitas, you’ll find the popular Moonlight State Beach, located just down the street to your right. Before you cross B street, you may be able to smell the roasting beans of Lofty Coffee, which operates their original cafe on your right and their roasting works on the left.

The beach itself is well-known for its volleyball courts and is a regular practice spot for professional players. It has been a popular spot for beachgoers since the early 20th century. Early settlers of the area would do their laundry in nearby Cottonwood Creek, and hold family picnics on the beach while their clothes dried. By the 1920s, the beach had become a popular spot for North County residents and included a boardwalk, bathhouse, and even facilities for horse races.

Though that early beach infrastructure is long gone, Moonlight State Beach remains busy as ever. In addition to volleyball, this is a great spot for new surfers to learn the ropes – three local surf schools provide options for folks of all ages to get started.

Across the way from the beach, you’ll find Cottonwood Creek Park, where locals head for tennis, pickleball, and half-court basketball. There’s also a large playground where kids can run and play to their hearts’ content.

The north side of Encinitas is also home to the San Diego Botanic Garden, with 37 acres of plant life from around the world. The garden is a destination for plant lovers of all ages – it has the largest children’s garden on the west coast. With four miles of trails, you can get lost among exotic and native foliage as you learn about the history and cultivation of over 5,000 plant species.

Highway 101 will carry us most of the way on our journey today, serving as the main shopping street of most of North County’s beach towns. As you pass under the Encinitas sign that welcomes visitors to the city’s downtown area, you’ll pass the Encinitas train station on your left. Part of the COASTER line that connects North County with San Diego proper, this train provides fast and easy commuter transportation into the city. Parking at the station is free all day, and you can even ride the line three stops north to catch an Amtrak to LA in just a couple of hours.

Downtown Encinitas itself has a lot to offer. As you coast down the street, you’ll pass the bars and restaurants that keep the city fed and entertained. If you’re looking for a quick bite, consider stopping at the spot simply known as “The Taco Stand”. This local San Diego chain has recently expanded to include outposts as far away as Miami – they’re becoming well-known for their fresh, warm tortillas and authentic Baja flavors across the country.

Another cluster of restaurants and shops mark the southern end of Encinitas’ downtown strip. Some notable spots:

The Encinitas Fish Shop serves the “Freshest Seafood East of the Beach”. Their unique menu allows you to order exactly what you want, with hundreds of possible combinations that will have you trying something different with each return visit. First, you pick your fish, then choose from a list of 8 rubs and marinades, like a chipotle glaze or their house specialty cajun dry rub. Lastly, you pick your style - eat your fish as a sandwich, in a taco, on a salad, or just by itself!

On the next corner, you’ll find Union Kitchen and Tap, a gastropub that serves creative cocktails and cold craft beers alongside delicious shareable small plates. You’ll also pass Swami’s cafe, a small coffee shop and bakery located on the right-hand side of the street, across from the bookstore and gift shop of the Self-Realization Fellowship.

This area just south of downtown Encinitas is often referred to as Swami’s, named for Swami Paramahansa Yogananda. This famous Yogi is credited with bringing the practice of Yoga to the western world, and this hillside overlooking the Pacific served as his main headquarters beginning in 1936. The ashram and meditation gardens overlooking the sea are operated by Yogananda’s organization, the Self-Realization Fellowship.

At the foot of the hill, you’ll find Swami’s beach, a popular spot for surfers due to a point break caused by a curve in the coastline. Swami’s is the northern section of the larger San Elijo State Beach, which provides campsites, parking, lifeguard services, and a snack bar to surfers and beachgoers.

Farther up the hill you’ll find Encinitas Community Park, the city’s largest public recreation area. Especially notable is the massive Encinitas Dog Park, with almost three acres of space for your four-legged friends and agility equipment for playing and training.

Next, 101 will take us into Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a community that makes up the southern end of Encinitas.