Encinitas encompasses a broad and diverse community from the coastal towns of Leucadia and Cardiff by the Sea to rural feeling Olienhain, where horses and pastures abound. With no less than 11 beaches, each having its own unique appeal, there is truly a beach place for everyone. Some are city beaches while others are state beaches where camping is allowed and tide pools are found. Whether it is surfing, scuba diving, sunning, hiking or just basking in the serenity of a secluded beach, it is all here.

For the surfer there is Swami's Beach, which was forever immortalized in the Beach Boys Surfin USA. This beach is a surfer's heaven! Great scuba diving is just offshore from Swami's at the Encinitas Marine Life Refuge, North County's only underwater park. Moonlight Beach could be labeled the beach with everything because it has all the typical amenities including lifeguard towers, play areas, restrooms, telephones and snack bar.

For the fitness enthusiast who thrives on challenge, try Stonesteps Beach. The killer stairs leading down from the bluffs are sure to surpass your expectations. The beach disappears at high tide, so beware; check the tide charts before exploring this uncrowded beach.

The historic shopping district features La Paloma Theatre, which was built in 1928 as one of the first theatres to show "Talkies".  It is a big part of Encinitas and hosts many community and city functions as well as music concerts, theater performances and movies. The downtown also boasts antique shops, art galleries and boutiques for the diva to the surfer. Great restaurants will tempt you at each block, whether its a cup of "Joe", a light lunch, or a divine dinner...your appetite will be satisfied with the diverse restaurants.

Quail Botanical Gardens is dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered plants from across the globe. "Quail Gardens" is the only botanical garden in San Diego County. Tours, nature walks, lectures, landscape advice and instructional programs are offered to advance public awareness of plant diversity. Scenic trails take visitors through unique gardens, a tropical rain forest and North America's largest display of bamboo.

Walk through the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County and a haven for more than 295 species of birds and over 300 species of plants. The reserve encompasses approximately 900 acres of diverse habitat with six plant communities: coastal strand, salt marsh, freshwater marsh, riparian scrub, coastal sage scrub and mixed chaparral. There are over 5 miles of hiking trails in the reserve open to the public.

As diverse as the points of interest are, so are the types of homes available in this fabulous community. From quaint beach cottages, to condos on the bluff, to sprawling estates with ocean views or pastoral scenes complete with equestrian life...it all can be found in Encinitas.