Encinitas in North County San Diego

Encinitas in North County San Diego is a laid back town that covers six miles of rugged coastline and 21.5 square miles of land.  Visit Encinitas and enjoy beautiful ocean views and a great surfing culture from San Elijo Lagoon on the southern end of this surfer’s paradise to Batiquitos Lagoon to the north.

The San Diego Botanic Garden is a beautiful oasis to visit with an Amazon Rainforest and the largest display of bamboo in the world. This garden of discovery is located just 30 minutes north of San Diego. The 37-acre San Diego Botanic Garden offers visitors a chance to see all sorts of lovely foliage: rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, succulent gardens, an herb garden, a subtropical fruit garden, and native coastal sage natural areas.

Downtown 101 is a coastal shopping district featuring historic architecture, quaint shops, sidewalk cafes, and restaurants.  Encinitas has a downtown rich in history and character. The unique combination of an old beach town atmosphere, a healthy outdoor lifestyle, and beautiful, expansive beaches is what brings visitors back time and again.

The San Elijo Lagoon Reserve is the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County and is home to nearly 300 different bird species throughout the year. Whether you visit for the surf, history or culture, life is great, no matter what you do in Encinitas.

Two historical icons offer glimpses into the rich Encinitas past. Visit the San Dieguito Historical Museum to learn about Indian tribes that once dominated the region, or sit in the historic La Paloma Theatre (possibly the first ‘talking’ theatre in the rural United States when it opened its doors in 1928) to watch a current movie.  Once recognized as “the flower capital of the world,” Encinitas is where the renowned Ecke poinsettia was introduced in 1923. Today, their commercial nurseries are open to the public where you can purchase a traditional poinsettia.