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Encinitas
Microbusses meet Mercedes in this eclectic community with a beach for all reasons.
The coolest thing about Encinitas isn't the beach itself, but the pervasive beach culture. A child of the '60s that grew up to become a real estate gold mine, Encinitas offers the best of both worlds: the refined tastes and civic responsibility that come with prosperity and the energy and vitality that come from free-spirited ideals and attitudes. The historic La Paloma Theatre and adjacent Martini Ranch often host surf movies and live surf bands, respectively. Whether you're interested in yoga, acupuncture or stronger potions like coffee, you'll find plenty of choices in town. There are three primary beach zones in Encinitas, each with its own unique character and appeal.
Moonlight State Beach at the end of Encinitas Boulevard, where the shore drops down nearer to sea level, is the easiest of Encinitas' beaches to find and use. Moonlight offers a large dedicated parking area, lifeguard service, restrooms and an on-site snack bar. It's a welcome relief from the rocky shores and cliffs that dominate the coast for so many miles to the north and south.
D Street is the access point to the mile-long beach also known as
Boneyards that runs below the bluffs from Moonlight Beach south to Swami's point. Like its neighbors -
Leucadia to the north and
Cardiff to the south - D Street is a rocky cobblestone-encumbered spot better suited to surfing than sunbathing, although some of those dedicated enough to make the pilgrimage are also devoted enough to bare it all. (Not that anyone's paying attention, but the Encinitas sun-worshippers seem more 'blessed' than their counterparts at
Blacks Beach in La Jolla.)
Swami's is the name ascribed to the popular surf break at the southernmost end of Encinitas below the golden-spired Self-Realization Center - an ashram where scores of North County devotees have studied Eastern philosophy, and an enduring symbol of Encinitas' positive and spiritual vibe. Too bad it all stops at the waterline. Swami's is a damn good wave, but when 50 guys are all vying for a three-wave set conflict is inevitable. As a beach, Swami's leaves much to be desired. For those who worship neither surf nor sun, Sea Cliff - the small park adjacent to the Swami's parking lot - offers an idyllic setting of shade trees, picnic tables, barbecues and clean bathrooms. Divers occasionally visit the reef here, but far better sites are to be found in La Jolla and Point Loma.
Directions
Exit Encinitas Boulevard from INTERSTATE 5 and head west. Encinitas Boulevard becomes B Street as soon as you cross Pacific Coast Highway, and B Street leads directly to the parking lot at Moonlight Beach. Simply head south two blocks to find D Street, or continue south on Coast Highway to Swami's (look for the sign just south of the golden towers).
Offerings
Good facilities at Moonlight and Swami's, and a town full of surf shops, record stores, exotic restaurants and all kinds of interesting services and souvenirs. Lifeguards supervise Moonlight and D Street, and patrol the other areas by car. For more information call 760-633-2880.
Considerations
If your mission is surf, and you think you can hold your own in a crowd, Swami's is your go. If not, stick with Moonlight or consider another beach like
Del Mar or
Carlsbad. Trust us: no one at Swami's will miss your company, and you'll probably have a better session elsewhere. The usual common sense parking dynamics and tactics apply throughout Encinitas.
Rating: 
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San Diego Beach Guide - San Diego's Best Beaches
