Dan’s Encinitas guidebook
Coffee and breakfast scene
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
510 N Coast Hwy 101Coffee around the corner. Gets busy!
Amazing coffee and lighter breakfast. 10-15 min walk through the neighborhood. Moonlight park & beach are close by
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Lofty Coffee Company
90 N Coast Hwy 101Amazing coffee and lighter breakfast. 10-15 min walk through the neighborhood. Moonlight park & beach are close by
A new trendy healthy coffee & breakfast/lunch spot for those with gluten free requirements etc. It has a little outdoor spot and is in walking distance to a bunch of other places.
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Nectarine Grove
948 N Coast Hwy 101A new trendy healthy coffee & breakfast/lunch spot for those with gluten free requirements etc. It has a little outdoor spot and is in walking distance to a bunch of other places.
Amazing breakfast. Gets very busy on weekends. Probably a 10-15 min drive.
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Claire's on Cedros
246 N Cedros AveAmazing breakfast. Gets very busy on weekends. Probably a 10-15 min drive.
World famous donuts! It's probably 10 minute drive to Cardiff.
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VG Donut & Bakery
106 Aberdeen DrWorld famous donuts! It's probably 10 minute drive to Cardiff.
Food scene
Amazing casual fish seafood place. Definitely the locals favorite. There is one in cardiff too!
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Fish 101 Leucadia
1468 N Coast Hwy 101Amazing casual fish seafood place. Definitely the locals favorite. There is one in cardiff too!
Our favorite pizza spot. A hint of artisan, plus it's in the lumberyard so there are places nearby to check out or let the kids run around. Start with their truffle popcorn!
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Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria
897 S Coast Hwy 101Our favorite pizza spot. A hint of artisan, plus it's in the lumberyard so there are places nearby to check out or let the kids run around. Start with their truffle popcorn!
Very close and very popular! One of my wife's favorites!
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Birdseye Kitchen
540 N Coast Hwy 101Very close and very popular! One of my wife's favorites!
Very close! And very tasty…but not the cheapest.
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Vigilucci's Trattoria Italiana
530 N Coast Hwy 101Very close! And very tasty…but not the cheapest.
Delicious, trendy but pretty popular so try for reservation or go early or for lunch.
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Buona Forchetta - Encinitas
250 N Coast Hwy 101Delicious, trendy but pretty popular so try for reservation or go early or for lunch.
Outdoor cushion seating is fun for families/groups. Try the Jupiter pizza, it's awesome and different.
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Pandora's Pizza
828 N Coast Hwy 101Outdoor cushion seating is fun for families/groups. Try the Jupiter pizza, it's awesome and different.
Great local spot for tasty healthy food!
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GOODONYA® Organic Eatery
1051 S Coast Hwy 101Great local spot for tasty healthy food!
Haggo's Organic Taco
1302 N Coast Hwy 101One of our favorite little lunch spots.
A great casual family spot with a little outdoor area for little ones to play.
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The Crack Shack - Encinitas
407 Encinitas BlvdA great casual family spot with a little outdoor area for little ones to play.
La Especial Norte
664 N Coast Hwy 101Authentic casual mexican.
A nice/fancier restaurant overlooking the waves in Cardiff. If you're looking for a view you can't beat this. Las Olas is nearby option on the casual/cheaper side with task mexican food but less of a view!
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Pacific Coast Grill
2526 S Coast Hwy 101A nice/fancier restaurant overlooking the waves in Cardiff. If you're looking for a view you can't beat this. Las Olas is nearby option on the casual/cheaper side with task mexican food but less of a view!
A new local pizza spot with outdoor seating. Try the spicy honey sauce for the crust!
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Corner Pizza
1246 North Coast Highway 101A new local pizza spot with outdoor seating. Try the spicy honey sauce for the crust!
A new trendy higher end dining spot. It's in the seaside shopping center so conveniently located to other places. The center is busy with families and locals on nights/weekends.
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Waverly
2005 San Elijo AvenueA new trendy higher end dining spot. It's in the seaside shopping center so conveniently located to other places. The center is busy with families and locals on nights/weekends.
A locals favorite for the healthy yoga type! They have a large menu from smoothies, salads, to burritos.
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Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar
765 S Coast Hwy 101A locals favorite for the healthy yoga type! They have a large menu from smoothies, salads, to burritos.
Parks and Beaches
Large sandy beach with a big playground. It's a nice 10 minute walk or short bike ride. A fun spot for families. It can get crowded on nice weekend days.
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Moonlight Beach
400 B StLarge sandy beach with a big playground. It's a nice 10 minute walk or short bike ride. A fun spot for families. It can get crowded on nice weekend days.
The closest beach access. Be forewarned there are steep steps to get down to the beach. If the tide is high there may not be much sand so keep an eye out. Otherwise, it's great for low tide walks and definitely a neighborhood spot.
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Stonesteps
340 S El Portal StThe closest beach access. Be forewarned there are steep steps to get down to the beach. If the tide is high there may not be much sand so keep an eye out. Otherwise, it's great for low tide walks and definitely a neighborhood spot.
The largest park in Encinitas. It has a huge playground, tons of grass, ball fields, skateboarding/scootering park.
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Park Komunitarju ta 'Encinitas
425 Santa Fe DrThe largest park in Encinitas. It has a huge playground, tons of grass, ball fields, skateboarding/scootering park.
A smaller locals park, less crowds than Encinitas or Moonlight. It has a playground, open areas, volleyball, basketball, and a little skate/scooter park. Combine it with Fish 101 or even Haggos/Corner pizza as they are all in the same area. They are on the other side of the train tracks. Drive north on vulcan and then at la costa blvd head west back on to the 101 south to these resturants.
Leucadia Oaks Park
1511 N Vulcan AveA smaller locals park, less crowds than Encinitas or Moonlight. It has a playground, open areas, volleyball, basketball, and a little skate/scooter park. Combine it with Fish 101 or even Haggos/Corner pizza as they are all in the same area. They are on the other side of the train tracks. Drive north on vulcan and then at la costa blvd head west back on to the 101 south to these resturants.
Ponto beach probably has the most sand of all the local beaches. So if you are planning on throwing the football around or playing volleyball this is your best bet. It is also a good surfing spot most of the year. There is both a paid parking lot and first come first serve spots right on the 101.
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South Ponto Beach
Carlsbad BoulevardPonto beach probably has the most sand of all the local beaches. So if you are planning on throwing the football around or playing volleyball this is your best bet. It is also a good surfing spot most of the year. There is both a paid parking lot and first come first serve spots right on the 101.
Tidepools can be fun for the kids to get accustomed to the beach. If you go on low tides (ideally a negative low tide) oftentimes you can find little sea creatures! Check the following website for the tides during your trip.
TIDE CHART WEBSITE - https://www.tideschart.com/United-States/California/San-Diego-County/Encinitas/
Stonesteps - on negative low tides out front of the house can sometimes have little tide pools. Generally a little north of the steps. If the tide isn't low enough or it's filled with sand check the options below for more year around options within a short drive.
I took the descriptions below from this website ( https://www.sandiego.org/articles/parks-gardens/tidepools.aspx )
CARDIFF STATE BEACH/SEASIDE BEACH TIDE POOLS
This stretch of sand that connects Cardiff and Solana Beach has easily accessible tide pools just south of Lifeguard Tower #10. At low tide, kids can play on the flat rocks, part of Table Top reef, and discover myriad creatures tucked in the nooks and crannies. The rocks here are 45 million years old and contain clam fossils as well.
SWAMI'S STATE BEACH TIDE POOLS
At this local's favorite beach in Encinitas, you'll find tide pools north of the stairs. After looking for sea hares, brittle stars and hermit crabs, hang out for sunset and watch the surfers catch the day's last waves.
BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS
In addition to offering incredible ocean views, the Preuss Tide Pool Plaza at the aquarium has an interactive pool filled with sea stars, sea anemones, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, lobsters, abalone and more. Birch also offers guided tide pool adventures on the beaches below with trained naturalists who offer a lesson and an in-depth look at the creatures that inhabit these natural wonders.
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Encinitas
Tidepools can be fun for the kids to get accustomed to the beach. If you go on low tides (ideally a negative low tide) oftentimes you can find little sea creatures! Check the following website for the tides during your trip.
TIDE CHART WEBSITE - https://www.tideschart.com/United-States/California/San-Diego-County/Encinitas/
Stonesteps - on negative low tides out front of the house can sometimes have little tide pools. Generally a little north of the steps. If the tide isn't low enough or it's filled with sand check the options below for more year around options within a short drive.
I took the descriptions below from this website ( https://www.sandiego.org/articles/parks-gardens/tidepools.aspx )
CARDIFF STATE BEACH/SEASIDE BEACH TIDE POOLS
This stretch of sand that connects Cardiff and Solana Beach has easily accessible tide pools just south of Lifeguard Tower #10. At low tide, kids can play on the flat rocks, part of Table Top reef, and discover myriad creatures tucked in the nooks and crannies. The rocks here are 45 million years old and contain clam fossils as well.
SWAMI'S STATE BEACH TIDE POOLS
At this local's favorite beach in Encinitas, you'll find tide pools north of the stairs. After looking for sea hares, brittle stars and hermit crabs, hang out for sunset and watch the surfers catch the day's last waves.
BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS
In addition to offering incredible ocean views, the Preuss Tide Pool Plaza at the aquarium has an interactive pool filled with sea stars, sea anemones, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, lobsters, abalone and more. Birch also offers guided tide pool adventures on the beaches below with trained naturalists who offer a lesson and an in-depth look at the creatures that inhabit these natural wonders.
Sightseeing
If you're looking to get out of the bubble of north county this is a fun family spot without the crowds of the Zoo or Sea World. Nice relaxing park to stroll around an a number of exhibits etc to check out.
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Park tal-Balboa
If you're looking to get out of the bubble of north county this is a fun family spot without the crowds of the Zoo or Sea World. Nice relaxing park to stroll around an a number of exhibits etc to check out.
Probably one of the most iconic travel activities in San Diego.
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San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo DrProbably one of the most iconic travel activities in San Diego.
An alternative to the Zoo. Both are awesome but the Wild Animal park is a little less mainstream. Check the weather as it can get hot/sunny out there so bring hats and sunscreen!
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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley RdAn alternative to the Zoo. Both are awesome but the Wild Animal park is a little less mainstream. Check the weather as it can get hot/sunny out there so bring hats and sunscreen!
The local botanical gardens are a perfect for families and even those looking to stroll around an amazing outdoor paradise. They often have events depending on the time of the year/holidays (Santa and christmas lights etc) so check it out before you go!
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Ġnien Botani San Diego
300 Quail Gardens DrThe local botanical gardens are a perfect for families and even those looking to stroll around an amazing outdoor paradise. They often have events depending on the time of the year/holidays (Santa and christmas lights etc) so check it out before you go!
A fun family spot especially if you are into Legos or are curious how there is an amusement park built almost entirely out of Legos!
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LEGOLAND California
One Legoland DrA fun family spot especially if you are into Legos or are curious how there is an amusement park built almost entirely out of Legos!
A fun family activity with a nice little aquarium and amazing sweeping la jolla views.
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Birch Aquarium at Scripps
2300 Expedition WayA fun family activity with a nice little aquarium and amazing sweeping la jolla views.
Take a coaster ride down to the historic old town and grab lunch at an amazing Mexican spot while soaking up some old mission history. Lots of things to do for a fun full day outing.
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Old Town San Diego
4002 Wallace StTake a coaster ride down to the historic old town and grab lunch at an amazing Mexican spot while soaking up some old mission history. Lots of things to do for a fun full day outing.
A large beer/food spot for families and groups looking to visit the extremely popular craft brewing spot. It's a bit of a drive so plan accordingly. Tons of new micro brews etc popping up all around if you want something more underground.
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Stone Brewing
1999 Citracado ParkwyA large beer/food spot for families and groups looking to visit the extremely popular craft brewing spot. It's a bit of a drive so plan accordingly. Tons of new micro brews etc popping up all around if you want something more underground.
Looking for a popular San Diego tourist activity on the water? It has the iconic carousel, face paint, and endless little shops and dining for just about anyone's taste.
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Seaport Village
849 W Harbor DrLooking for a popular San Diego tourist activity on the water? It has the iconic carousel, face paint, and endless little shops and dining for just about anyone's taste.
Pariri dwar il-belt
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Electric bikes rentals/stations around town
There are a number of electric bike shares/stations that are available to rent to cruise around town. Simply get the app and login to find the bikes.
https://encinitas.bcycle.com/about-encinitas-bcycle