Location: Encinitas
Top Things to do in Encinitas
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Things to do in Encinitas, California (CA): The Best Nature & Parks
Encinitas is a beach city in the North County area of San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of San Diego and about 95 miles (153 km) south of Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 59,518, up from 58,014 at the 2000 census.
Restaurants in Encinitas
1. Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 526 reviews
Reviewed By kittymcooper
A peaceful place to meander through and perhaps even meditate. Lush lovely plantings in a wonderful setting. A jewel of a garden beautifully maintained with nooks that have benches for your pleasure
2. Moonlight Beach State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By johneM6312MS
This is our local beach, and we particularly enjoy it in the less-crowded off-season. There is something for everyone, including a tot lot with very welcome shade covering.
3. Swami's Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 232 reviews
Reviewed By OceanLovers4
Right on the famous 101, at the south side of Encinitas is my favorite breakfast place. The menu is diverse and delicious - I love the artichoke chicken scramble, but don't overlook the Acai Bowls and Acai Pancakes. They even have a choice of over a dozen coffees. Always yummy and friendly service!
4. San Diego Botanic Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 546 reviews
Explore four miles of garden trails, enjoy restful vistas, flowering trees, majestic palms, and the nation’s largest bamboo collection. Thanks to our mild climate, plants from all over the world thrive here. Our diverse topography provides a variety of microclimates giving the visitor a sensation of going from a desert environment to a tropical rainforest, all within 37 acres.Located 30 minutes north of San Diego in Encinitas, California, San Diego Botanic Garden features numerous exhibits, including rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, succulent gardens, an herb garden, firesafe landscaping, a subtropical fruit garden, and native coastal sage natural areas. In June of 2009, we opened the Hamilton Children's Garden, the largest interactive children's garden on the West Coast.
Reviewed By W7083YEbrians - Meaford, Canada
We found the volunteers to be very friendly and helpful. We loved the diversity of the geographic areas presented, including California, Australia, Central America, New Zealand, succulents, desert gardens, a subtropical fruit garden, bamboo gardens and more. The gardens are a dream set for photographers. We appreciated learning about the diverse habitats. There are a number of "exhibits" for children to enjoy. We appreciated the native plants exhibit and the natural coastal habitat, featuring ways to use native plants to protect your property against fire. For those that appreciate botanic gardens, this was a must see.
5. Moonlight State Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 637 reviews
Reviewed By MychelleF_12 - San Francisco, United States
We found this beach while taking a walk in the neighborhood. They had clean public bathrooms, outdoor showers, large parking lot, rentals, long sandy beach and perfect waves for boogie boarding. Not too many surfers around but lots of families. Great fun!
6. San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 76 reviews
Reviewed By drbodysrfr - Encinitas, United States
Tidal wetlands are among the most biologically diverse and abundant habilitates known to scientists. Salt, brackish and fresh water species of fishes and mollusks, and crustaceans depend upon the in and out flux of fresh and salt water microbiota (food). Further, the mud banks along the water coarseways provide unique intertidal caverns and mud holes occupied by species rarely seen by the casual observer. Marshland and waterways attract thousands of bird species, many of whom hunt for fish and crustaceans as they fly north in the summer and south in the winter. The eco center describes the varied biomes within the region and help visitors identify the species found there. Currently the lagoon is suffering near disaster as expansion of the I-5 corridor has given permission to ransack the backwater lagoon, plowing under innumerable “mini” species to provide larger, more open waterways and fewer mudflats to avoid seasonal blockage of flow. The years of “improvements” will take decades to repopulate the microbiome required to reinstate the subtle balance of life and nutrients provided for the biology (like osprey, clapperrails and numerous other wonderful creatures which visitors can see. Well worth the donation to visit.
7. Cardiff State Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By invertpaleo - New York City, United States
It is worth paying to park here, or maybe you have a state parks pass, and so can park for free? It is so great to walk along the beach here for a mile or two or three or four, see the sea birds, and enjoy the sensation of the sand under your feet, and the song of the Pacific Ocean as it stretches out for thousands of miles to the west of you and the waves come rolling in to greet you.
8. San Elijo State Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By onthlesstraveledroad - San Diego, United States
We've camped here dozens of times, overlooking the ocean. You get an outstanding view plus are in walking distance of good stores and restaurants. It's best to camp on the less crowded weekdays. We've camped in many RV parks near the ocean - this is the best.
9. Cottonwood Creek Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By on_the_go_98765
Our evening walk from the Inn at Moonlight Beach took us to this little park; from here we further walked over to the Lazy Acres located in a near-by shopping mall. But back to the park ... The park sits alongside the active and fast-running creek that makes its way to Moonlight Beach. In this park, play equipment and covered picnic areas (gazebos) occupy the area. The park also has restrooms, basketball and tennis courts, and play areas. This is a very nice park! On our walk back through the park, caring locals were setting up fire pits and dinner opportunities for the less fortunate. Nothing fancy but the recipients were so very appreciative. Sometimes we all need a little help. Our impressions (based upon our very brief 2 day stay) were that Encinitas is a caring involved community that reaches out to those in need. Big thumbs up!
