Seven Fun Activities You Must Do While Vacationing In Encinitas
June 12, 2009 by Terry Hunefeld
Filed under Destinations
Encinitas is a lovely beach town along the Pacific Ocean just north of San Diego. There are other cute towns along the coast, but Encinitas is special, quite different from other beach towns in San Diego county because it is lost in time ” locked in the 1960s. To feel the flavor of Encinitas, here are seven things you must do while visiting.
1. Where Else In California Can You Take A Walk In A Rainforest?
Lovely Quail Botanical Gardens is less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean with more than 32 acres full of endangered and extraordinary plants from all around the world. Tours and nature walks each day take visitors down the wonderfully scenic trails (with killer views of the ocean!), through totally unique tropical gardens, arid desert gardens, enormous bamboo groves, California native plant gardens, a rainforest with its own waterfall, Mediterranean gardens, tropical fruit gardens and a unique children’s garden. At once beautiful and serene, Quail Gardens is a place to spend an entire day simply enjoying nature in all its splendor.
2. Yes, You CAN Learn To Surf
Kahuna Bobs Surf School has been a local legend in Encinitas for nearly 25 years. His distinctive and engaging teaching style puts brand new surfers at ease during his group or private instruction. In 2009, the City of Encinitas awarded Kahuna Bob with an exclusive surf-lesson license at the best beginner surfing beach in Encinitas, Beacons Beach, where the waves break perfectly for beginning surfers.
3. Become A Beach Boy (or Beach Girl)
World renown Swamis Beach was put on the map by the Beach Boys in 1963 when they sang about Surfin USA. Nearly fifty years later, Swamis draws the best surfers on the planet, making for exciting entertainment when watching them from above. An enormous staircase takes you down to the beach if you want to be closer, while picnic tables and benches up-top near the cliff edge give you an eagles view of phenomenal surfing feats.
4. Take In A Movie ” At A Real-Life Movie House
Do you have fond memories of the real old-time movie theaters? If so, get down to La Paloma Theatre built in the 1920s, where you can see first-run movies, eccentric art movies, and the premieres of many surfing and snowboarding movies. La Paloma is known around San Diego as THE movie house to partake in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. La Paloma was the first theatre to show “Talkies” back in the twenties.
5. Meditate At A Temple
Indias Swami Yogananda first visited Encinitas more than 60 years ago and built a temple that looks for all the world like youre in India. He built the temple on a spectacular setting ” a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Swamis beliefs of love, peace and mediation still attract tens of thousands of followers all over the globe. The lush temple grounds ” quiet gardens and lovely ponds ” are open daily day to the public for no charge. Here is a special place to walk, breathe deeply, meditate and put life into perspective while the distant surf pounds the cliffs below you.
6. The Best Beach To Work On Your Tan
If your visit is anywhere between June and November, Moonlight Beach is by far the most popular beach in North County San Diego to work on that tan. A five minute walk from downtown Encinitas, this State Park (free admission) is the perfect place to simply relax and soak up some sun, have a picnic with your sweetie, get in a game of pickup volleyball, test your surfing skills, try boogie-boarding or body surfing, read your favorite novel, watch people people-watch or simply have fun and take it easy. You will find lots of free parking, a cool life-guard station, a beach-gear rental concession, great showers and restrooms, a nice childrens playground, trendy snack and lunch shop and beach fire-rings to enjoy bonfires in the evening.
7. Relax In Your Private Hot Tub And Watch The Sun Set
The Inn at Moonlight Beach is a romantic little Inn perched on a hillside above Moonlight Beach overlooking both the Pacific Ocean and the quaint beach town of Encinitas. It’s a magical place of sand, sea, sun and surf. 4 lovely ocean-view suites recall a French-European Seaside Inn with spotless private baths, wi-fi internet, refrigerator and Cable TV. All this, yet prices are $50 – $75 less than other Bed & Breakfast Inns in San Diego. Inquire about the Penthouse Suite with its own private balcony and very private hot tub overlooking Pacific Ocean sunsets. Inn At Moonlight Beach, 105 N. Vulcan Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024.