Encounter Encinitas: San Diego County's Coastal Treasure

San Diego County is home to a number of communities, many of which, offer access to a multitude of beaches, bluffs and stunning sights. However, there is one distinct coastal city that stands out, one which has continued to entice newcomers with its inherent beauty, thriving arts scene, its free spirit and its strong sense of diversity.

Hailed as one of the top surf spots in the country by both Surfer magazine and National Geographic, Encinitas has long provided San Diego with an eclectic mix of 60's inspired beach culture combined with a unique and dynamic blend of premier surf shops, contemporary restaurants and cafes, historic locations, boutique shopping, and new age meditation gardens and yoga studios. It is home to an approximate population of 60,000 and is divided into five distinct areas: Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Olivenhain, Leucadia, and Cardiff-by-the Sea, each with their own distinct identity.

Located along six miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, Encinitas a stunning reminder of the historic Highway 101 beach culture that thrived throughout the mid-1900s. The beaches in Encinitas are coveted by locals as hidden gems, with the terrain ranging from white sand beaches to rocky bluffs. Legendary surf spots line the coast line, making Encinitas the best venue for catching that perfect wave. Swami's, Moonlight Beach and D Street just being some of the excellent locations to visit.

Encinitas is also celebrated as the "Flower Capital of the World", a moniker that can be attributed to its extensive collection of unique nurseries and gardens, the most extensive being the San Diego Botanical Garden, a beautiful oasis to visit with the largest display of bamboo in the world. Composed of four miles of garden trails, the Botanical Garden's diverse topography provides a variety of microclimates, giving visitors a sensation of going from a desert environment to a tropical rainforest, all within 37 acres. Another stunning location is the gardens of the Self Realization Center, with its serene setting overlooking the ocean. The largest single industry in the city is the growing of ornamental flowers, particularly poinsettias.

For golf enthusiasts, the Encinitas Ranch Golf Course is a championship 18 hole par 72 course that also boasts panoramic ocean views. Designed by world-renowned gold course architect Cary Bickler, Encinitas Ranch is perched upon the ocean bluffs with sweeping Pacific Ocean views and has welcomed golfers since its 1998 grand opening. A public facility, the golf course has five tees available and can be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities.

Shea Real Estate is a full service real estate agency in San Diego, California. Our core strengths and principal focus are new home & traditional residential sales together with land valuation & acquisitions.

Jared Brock is the co-founder of Hope for the Sold, a charity that fights human trafficking. He is the author of A Year of Living Prayerfully, a humorous travel memoir about prayer.