Encinitas holds a collection of captivating neighborhoods that range in style and character. Homes to the east, in the community of Olivenhain, present custom homes in a coastal-ranch style setting with spacious offerings of land. Moving slightly west you’ll find more established family-friendly neighborhoods such as Village Park, and the affluent golf-community of Encinitas Ranch. To the west of the I-5 freeway is the casual but lively Downtown Encinitas which presents an equitable variety of dwellings from charming beach cottages, to re-imagined mid-century and craftsman style homes, to cliff-side estates with panoramic ocean views.
Surfer magazine deemed Encinitas one of the top 10 surf spots in the United States, as surfers from all over the world are drawn here every year. There’s no shortage of surf shops along the Pacific Coast Highway and surfer signs can be seen frequently along the highway. Encinitas Beaches are extremely clean and well kept. Moonlight Beach is great for family gatherings with a playground, clean bathrooms, and beach volleyball courts. Swami’s Beach is a world-renowned surf spot – named after Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, because the grounds and hermitage of the Self-Realization Fellowship ashram, built in 1937, which overlook the reef point.
Residents of Encinitas take pride in living a healthy and active lifestyle. Running, cycling, mountain biking, hiking, Yoga and Pilates are regular activities that are simply part of the regular routine for a majority who live here. There’s plenty of shopping throughout Encinitas, from major marketplaces, to local farmers markets, as well as stylish independent boutiques, spas and salons that line-up along Hwy 101.
The food scene in Encinitas is thriving with a wide variety of locally owned coffee shops, bakeries, vintage diners, wine bars, and a special collection of healthy cafes, and novelty restaurants. Downtown Encinitas showcases some true local favorites with a variety of eateries in and around the historic Lumberyard Shopping Center, and the Pannikin Coffee & Tea in Leucadia, which has been in operation since 1968.
Families will find excellent schools in Encinitas. A majority of schools from kindergarten through 12th are evenly split between The Encinitas School District and the San Dieguito School District. Some are even recognized as California Distinguished Schools, such as Capri Elementary and Flora Vista Elementary. There are two unique “schools of choice” in the area with Canyon Crest Academy, and San Dieguito High School, both of which hold a lottery application process to determine the attendees. Encinitas is also home to several distinguished private schools such as The Grauer School, and The Rhoades School.
