01 Aug Everything Encinitas
Things to Do
Self Realization Fellowship, Meditation Gardens
Free to visit, the internationally renowned gardens offer a diversity of colorful plants, meditation nooks, koi ponds, and spectacular ocean vistas – providing a unique & inspirational setting where one can pray, study, meditate, or just sit quietly enjoying the expression of such beauty in nature. Your answer to a peaceful and serene experience.
Candles on Tap – DIY Candle Bar
The perfect date night or girls night out… Head on down to Candles on Tap where you craft and hand pour your own custom candles. They offer 90+ unique and premium fragrance oils to choose from and can be blended to create your own options – they are all made from natural soy wax and skin safe oils so that each product is paragon-free, vegan and toxic-free. They have Scent Stylists that help guide you through the entire hand-pouring process and make it a very memorable experience.
San Elijo Lagoon
Whether you are a runner, hiker, bird watcher or photographer, San Elijo Lagoon provides natural solace and recreation for all. One of San Diego’s largest wetlands, this 979-acre reserve is primarily a shallow-water estuary, formed where the Escondido and La Orilla Creeks meet the Pacific Ocean. From sunrise to sunset, explore 7 miles of easy-to-moderate trails and hike the quarter-mile, moderate-to-strenuous Annie’s Canyon Trail. Kids can even enjoy TRACK Trails, a nature-themed scavenger hunt to win prizes online.
https://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SanElijo.html
Leucadia Farmers Market
The Leucadia Certified Farmers Market is held every Sunday from 10 am – 2 pm on the school grounds of Paul Ecke Central School. The market has 75+ vendors with amazing flowers, plants and fresh produce, including a large Certified Organic section. In addition you will find specialty foods like bakeries, beef, seafood, marinades, pastas, sauces etc. Come hungry, as they also have a very nice food court serving breakfast and lunch and don’t miss the crafty local artisans where you can find unique gifts and treasures!
San Diego Botanic Gardens
Established in 1970, a 37-acre urban oasis with 4 miles of trails & the West Coast’s largest children’s garden. Enjoy four miles of trails that display more than 5,000 plant species and varieties, including 300 plants for which SDBG is the only garden maintaining a population of. A walk in the park with views you won’t be able to beat.
Coastal Rail Trail
The Coastal Rail Trail is a continuous bike route that runs approximately 44 miles between Oceanside and Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego. Spend a day cruising up or down and taking in the beautiful coastal views while on a safe, paved trail.
Visit Encinitas Historical Society – Walking Tour
Even if you’re a San Diego resident, we recommend you go on a historical walking tour of Encinitas. Check their website to plan a date and be intrigued as you are taken on a two-hour long tour that includes many historic interests such as the iconic boathouses, Cottonwood Creek, Encinitas’ one-room 1883 school house, relocated historic buildings and much more. P.S. Dogs are always welcome and donations are gratefully accepted for an all-volunteer organization.
Cal Pacific Orchid Farm
Cal Pacific Orchid Farm is a family owned and operated 36,000 sq. ft. greenhouse conveniently located less than a mile from the beach in Encinitas. Cal Pacific is open to the public 6 days per week and serves both orchid enthusiasts and novices alike. Their museum-like showroom always hosts 100’s of blooming orchid plants from all over the world and dozens of beautiful living arrangements that are great for any occasion. Whether you want a custom arrangement created and delivered, need some orchid growing supplies, or just want to stop by and check it out, it offers a wonderful floral escape.
Local Landmarks
Check Out the Boat Houses
Quite literally two houses built to look exactly like boats! Dubbed the SS Encinitas and SS Moonlight, these two “boat houses” stand 15 ft. tall by 20 ft. long and have a floor space of 1,100 sq. ft., which is larger than your standard-sized apartment. Architect Miles Kellogg used salvaged timber from two local businesses to erect these unique residences all the way back in the 1920s, and they are still used as private dwellings to this very day…so don’t go KNOCK up to the door! 😉
Lou’s Records – Local Record Shop
Selling a unique mixture of new & used vinyl, CD’s, cassettes, turntables and DVD’s, Lou’s Records is one of Cardiff’s beachside favorites. Over the years their reputation continues to expand for having hard-to-find releases. Known for holding performances and events inside the store, you never know what you are going to hear when taking a stroll into Lou’s.
La Paloma Theater
Encinitas’ original theatre and San Diego’s oldest, opened in 1928. The historic La Paloma Theatre has been providing coastal Encinitas with quality entertainment with first run movies, surf premiers, live concerts and community events for almost a century. Whether catching a show or just checking out the iconic theatre, it is an Encinitas must. With it’s convenient location, you can then walk around all of the local shops in downtown Encinitas.
Dave’s Rock Garden
Frustrated with an empty lot next to his house that seemed to always gather trash, Encinitas resident Dave Dean decided to take matters into his own hands. A once neglected dirt lot has now been turned into a work of art. Dave started the transformation in 2015 and went to town with succulents and painted rocks galore, determined to make the garden so beautiful that no one would want to destroy it. Stop by and check out all of the bedazzled details!
https://hiddensandiego.com/things-to-do/places/daves-rock-garden
See the Surfing Madonna
Next to the Encinitas Boulevard sidewalk, just east of Coast Highway 101, there’s a tiny open courtyard with a beautiful ocean mural and a shrine-like mosaic titled Surfing Madonna. The 10 by 10 feet mosaic depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe on a white surfboard, praying. The Surfing Madonna Oceans Project brings the community together through events that promote sustainability, oceanic responsibility and a healthy lifestyle.
See the Cardiff Kook Statue
The Cardiff Kook is a famous, roughly six feet high statue along State Coast Highway 101 welcoming visitors and residents to the Cardiff-by-the-Sea neighborhood of Encinitas. The nickname comes from the fact that the bronzed surfer in the statue has a strange surfing form and has been labeled a “kook” by local surfers. It is frequently adorned with various items and sometimes completely dressed up in outfits to fit the occasion or holiday. Stop by to check it out on your trip to the beaches of Encinitas.
Parks in Encinitas
Encinitas Parks
Cottonwood Creek Park
Restrooms
Gazebo (not reservable)
Basketball Court (not reservable)
Tennis Courts (not reservable)
Beer & Wine Allowed
Parking Lot (includes ADA spaces)
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
Not Reservable
Encinitas Viewpoint Park
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
On-Street Parking
No Alcohol
Off-leash dog hours are Monday, Wednesday Friday and Sunday 6am – 9:00am and 3pm – 8pm
Special Events permits available for Limited Special Ceremonies
Mildred MacPherson Park
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
On-Street Parking
Basketball Court (not reservable)
Beer & Wine Allowed
Not Reservable
Oakcrest Park
Parking Lot (includes ADA spaces)
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
Restrooms
Bocce Courts (not reservable)
Horseshoe Courts (not reservable)
Beer & Wine Allowed
Special Events permits available for Limited Special Ceremonies
Orpheus Park
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
On-Street Parking
Beer & Wine Allowed
Off-leash dog hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 6am – 7:30am and 3pm – 8pm. Sunday 6am- 9am and 3pm – 8pm
Not Reservable
Scott Valley Park
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
Basketball Court (not reservable)
Beer & Wine Allowed
On-Street Parking
Not Reservable
Sun Vista Park
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
Beer & Wine Allowed
On-Street Parking
Off-leash dog hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday 6am – 9:00am and 3pm – 8pm (east side of park only)
Not Reservable
Cardiff Parks
Encinitas Community Park
Restrooms
Maggie Houlihan Memorial Dog Park (8am – sunset. Closed each Thursday 1pm-3pm for maintenance)
Skate Park (8am – sunset)
Parking Lot (includes ADA spaces)
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
Beer and Wine Allowed
Outdoor Facility Use Permits and Limited Special Events
Softball/Baseball Fields (8am – sunset) (reservable)
Soccer/Multi-Purpose Fields (8am – sunset) (reservable)
Glen Park
Park Hours – Dawn to Dusk
Parking Lot (includes ADA spaces)
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
Restrooms
Basketball Court (not reservable)
Tennis Court (not reservable)
Volleyball Court (not reservable)
Horseshoe Courts (not reservable)
No Alcohol
Not Reservable
Leucadia Parks
Las Verdes Park
Recreational Trail Head
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
Beer & Wine Allowed
On-Street Parking
Not Reservable
Leucadia Oaks Park
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
On-Street Parking
Skate Feature (not reservable)
Basketball Court (not reservable)
Volleyball (not reservable)
Beer & Wine Allowed
Not Reservable
Leucadia Roadside Park
No Restrooms
No Alcohol
On-Street Parking
Not Reservable
Hawk View Park
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
On Street Parking
Beer & Wine Allowed
Not Reservable
Olympus Park
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
On Street Parking
Dog Park
Skate Feature and Pump Track (not reservable)
Basketball Court/Pickleball Court (not reservable)
Beer & Wine Allowed (no glass containers)
Not Reservable
Olivenhain Parks
Little Oaks Equestrian Park
Recreational Trail Head
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
Equestrian Facilities
Parking
Beer & Wine Allowed
Not Reservable
Wiro Park
Recreational Trail Head
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
No Restrooms
On-Street Parking
Beer & Wine Allowed
Not Reservable
Sports Parks
Cardiff Sports Park
Open 8am – 9pm
Parking Lot (includes ADA spaces)
Restrooms
No Alcohol
Softball/Baseball Fields (reservable)
Soccer/Multi-Purpose Fields (reservable)
Leo Mullen Sports Park
Open (8am – 9pm)
Recreational Trail Head
Parking Lot (includes ADA spaces)
Children’s Play Area
Picnic Facilities
Restrooms
Basketball Court (not reservable)
Beer and Wine Allowed
Baseball Field (reservable)
Synthetic Turf Soccer Field (reservable)
Paul Ecke Sports Park
Open 8am – 11pm
Parking Lot (includes ADA spaces)
Restrooms
No Alcohol
Softball/Baseball Fields (reservable)
Soccer/Multi-Purpose Fields (reservable)