Things To Do In Encinitas, CA

The city of Encinitas, CA features a multitude of activities for every person of every age. From the youngest tot to the oldest senior, there are local parks to peruse, beautiful beaches to discover, a world-class championship golf course to play, and several popular art galleries and museums to wander, all within a short drive of one's home. 

For simple family picnics and community recreation, nothing equals the 16 city parks of Encinitas. All park amenities are available on a first come, first served basis. Ten of the city's parks have handicap access. Beer and wine are allowed in several parks; however, glass containers are not allowed in any of the parks. Three of the parks have hours set aside during the week for off-leash dog walking. The city owns two sports parks, the Paul Ecke and Leo Mullen Sports Parks, which boast baseball and soccer/multi-purpose fields as well as a ½ court basketball court at the Leo Mullen Park. The Mullen Park also has play equipment and picnic facilities available. Both parks have restrooms and phones available. Several other city parks also have play equipment and ball fields available for family fun, in addition to volleyball courts and such features as a skateboard park and a climbing rock.

Arguably the most attractive feature of Encinitas is its miles of beaches! Encinitas boasts no less than 11 beaches, each one unique, offering something for everyone: surfing, scuba diving, camping, hiking, or just sunning. For surfing, Swami's Beach is like no other, known as a world-class surfing location. Just south of Swami's, Cardiff beach also offers surfing, swimming, windsurfing, and surfcasting, with boat launches at one end of the beach and tide pools at the other end. San Elijo State Beach is best known for its 171 camping sites, being the southernmost developed campground in the state. It's also a great place to watch a beautiful California sunset! Boneyard Beach and Encinitas Beach are two more secluded beaches, accessible only on foot from other beaches. Boneyard is just north of Swami's, offering small coves at low tide, perfect for romantics and others who desire privacy. Encinitas Beach is the northernmost beach of the area, and is secluded enough for those seeking space and privacy. The D Street Beach is a small beach located directly in the city of Encinitas. Finally, Moonlight Beach, at the foot of Encinitas Boulevard, is the city's large-scale beach, offering free parking, lifeguard towers, play areas, telephones, and a snack bar – the beach with everything!

For the golf enthusiast, the 18-hole championship Encinitas Ranch Golf Course offers beautiful ocean views from 15 of its holes. Managed by JC Resorts, this public golf course is considered one of the most beautiful courses in San Diego County, featuring natural red sandstone bluffs and wind rows of mature eucalyptus and Torrey pine trees accentuating the design of the course. The course contains two water hazards, existing agricultural lakes that come into play on four holes. The front nine fairways are wide and forgiving, while the back nine require precise tee shots in order to maintain a low score. Course features include a double-ended driving range with grass or mat tees; complete golf shop with the latest equipment and apparel; and the JC Resorts Golf School, which offers PGA and LPGA Professional instruction, tailored to individual students' skills and goals in a relaxed atmosphere, allowing the golfer to learn at his or her own pace in one to three days. Tournament packages are also available for groups of any size.

For the artsy resident of Encinitas, the city offers several fine art galleries and museums. The contemporary Leucadia Art Gallery features sculptures, paintings, and pencil drawings by modern artists. This gallery also features brilliant imitations of famous works, such as Van Gogh's “Sunflowers,” by local art students. In its attached frame shop, visitors may choose from a vast selection of frame styles and have their artwork custom-framed onsite. The 101 Artists' Colony is a gallery dedicated to encouraging art appreciation in the North County area. Operated by volunteer art lovers and artists, the gallery a performance venue, visual art gallery, and working studio space for artists. Exhibitions are held monthly, but the gallery is open to the public to view its studios and visit the gift shop, open daily except Monday. For those seeking a museum experience, the San Dieguito Heritage Museum offers information on and artifacts of Encinitas' long, colorful history. The museum collects, preserves, and interprets the local history all the way back to the time when the area was home to the American Indian tribes of the Diegueno, Luiseno, Kumeyaay. The museum owns over 8,000 photographs documenting the history of Encinitas and the surrounding area, as well as artifacts such as Indian wicki-ups and grinding stones, Mexican Ranchero costumes, and a rotating collection of old-fashioned toys and other artifacts. There is also a store at the museum where visitors can purchase souvenirs, books, and memorabilia, the sales of which are rung up on an authentic antique cash register!

No matter what the tastes, whether looking for an active evening or a relaxed afternoon, the homeowner of Encinitas has a multitude of choices for his leisure activities.