Cardiff-by-the-Sea, usually referred to as Cardiff (pop: 12,000 / elev 25ft) is a beach community that comprises the southside of the City of Encinitas. In 1911, this scenic farming community began to transform into residential home tracks where many of the streets bear names familiar to the British Isles.

Cardiff State Beach
One mile south of Cardiff on Old Highway 101. 760-753-5091; State Beach Website;
Located on a gently sloping sandy beach with warm water, this site offers swimming, surfing and beachcombing. Located next to Cardiff's Restaurant Row.

San Elijo State Beach
Coast Hwy, Encinitas; (760) 753-5091; State Beach Website;
Just south of Encinitas - features swimming, surfing and picnicking. The narrow, bluff-backed stretch of sand has a nearby reef popular with snorklers and divers. The Cardiff Reef is located just off the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon and is a popular surfing spot. The beach extends along Coast Highway 101, 3/4 mile north from San Elijo Lagoon's entrance channel. This is the first California state park to feature wireless internet service.
:Campground - 171 campsites with fire rings.

City Beaches of Solana Beach
There are 1.7 miles of city maintained beachfront bordered on the north by Cardiff State Beach, and on the south by the City of Del Mar. It is divided into four main Beach Parks: Fletcher Cove, Tide Beach Park, Seascape Surf, and Del Mar Shores. These beaches provide a wide variety of recreational activities for City residents and visitors.

Quail Botanical Gardens
The only botanical garden in San Diego County, this park has one of the world's most diverse plant collections. Scenic trails take visitors to 20 unique gardens, a 60 foot waterfall in a tropical rain forest and North America's largest display of bamboo.

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Del Mar Racetrack & Fairgrounds
Over 360 acres and hosts more than 1 million visitors annually. There are a number of big shows, expos, concerts, and festivals scheduled here throughout the year.
County Fair - June -
Racing Season - July-Sept

Cardiff's Restaurant Row
Find a number of quality restaurants, nightclubs, retail shops and art galleries along the Encinitas Coastline, the Cedros Design District and across from the Solana Beach Train Station.
Las Olas Mexican Restaurant - Great Mexican Food served by a friendly crew.
Firenze Trattoria - Italian cuisine
Meritage Restaurant & Bar -
Martini Ranch - This casual, upscale neighborhood bar and lounge
The Potato Shack Cafe -
Trattoria I Trulli - Nouvelle Italian cuisine.
Tomiko - Japanese restaurant
Amici Peruvian and Latin Food -
Swami's Cafe - Encinitas sandwiches, wraps and vegetarian dishes.
When in Rome - Italian restaurant.
Hershel's Restaurant & Deli - New York style deli
Sakura-Bana Sushi Bar - Sushi and Japanese specialties.
Chesapeake Bar & Grill - Steaks, seafood, oyster bar, and prime rib in Encinitas Ranch Town Center. Live entertainment.
El Callejon - Traditional Mexican food

La Paloma Theater - Encinitas CA
Since 1928, this Spanish Colonial style building has been a landmark cultural center of Encinitas hosting many celebrity movie stars and concert performances. Still today when the stage is not in use, the theater runs art house cinema screeings.

Poinsettia Festival - November
Annual event since 1978 with over 400 special vendors presenting music, arts and crafts. This premier North County holiday shopping event features the Flower Capital Pavilion and toga parade.

Cardiff Dog Days of Summer [SEP]
2nd Weekend in September, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Festival Website;
Annual festival since 2006 featuring canine contest and carnival designed to give you and your pet quality exercise, socialization and bonding time. Entertainment for dogs and people who love them.

Recreational areas include Glen Park, with tennis and basketball courts, a children's play area and picnic tables. Cardiff Sports Park has multiple baseball and soccer fields. One surf hotspot is Cardiff Reef, located alongside Historic Highway 101 at the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon. Surf at the reef consistently breaks both right and left attracting professional and amateur surfers from all over Southern California and beyond year round.

San Dieguito River Park
Future parkland property rich in habitat, cultural recreational and scenic values as well as a future route for a Coast-to-Crest Trail.

Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
18 championship holes in a unique setting carved from a magnificent sweep of bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Public course with five sets of tees.

San Dieguito County Park - Solana Beach CA
The four reservable picnic areas at this park are set among towering eucalyptus groves that characterize this part of the county. Only minutes from the ocean, this park is cooled by the sea breezes during warm summer months. A ball field, basketball court, play areas, and hiking trails are nearby for picnickers to enjoy.

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
located along the coast of San Diego's North County, joined the Scripps system in 1978. The hospital has 140 acute-care licensed beds and more than 700 employees. Scripps Encinitas offers a full range of clinical and surgical services including 24-hour emergency services, intensive care, cancer/oncology, nuclear medicine, radiology, orthopedics, neurology, urology, ophthalmology and an ambulatory surgery center. Specialty services and programs based on the campus include the Scripps Rehabilitation Center, Spine Program, Leichtag Family Birth Pavilion, cancer services, outpatient imaging center and kidney dialysis.

Mira Costa College
Founded in 1934 as Oceanside-Carlsbad Junior College, the second community college in San Diego County. Today this facility provides advanced educational opportunities to 14000 students in North San Diego County with campuses in South Oceanside and San Elijo.