Encinitas is one of the best beach towns in San Diego County, and there’s more to do here than most visitors realize. A lot of my travel advisory clients end up spending time here, whether they planned to or not. The surf culture is real, the dining scene keeps getting better, and the pace is slower than La Jolla or Downtown without feeling sleepy. These are the best things to do in Encinitas, covering the city proper plus the communities that are technically part of it: Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Leucadia, and Olivenhain.
I’ve been visiting Encinitas for years with my family, and I work closely with North County hotel concierge teams who send guests here regularly. These are the things actually worth your time. For more on the area, see our guides to Encinitas beaches and where to stay in Encinitas.
A heads-up: Hours, prices, and availability for the places on this list change. I keep this guide updated, but always confirm details on the official websites before you visit, especially for the Botanic Garden, ICA, and seasonal businesses.
1. Spend the Day at Moonlight Beach
Location: 400 B St, Encinitas, CA 92024
If you only do one thing in Encinitas, start here. Moonlight State Beach is the best beach in Encinitas for a full day out. Volleyball courts, a playground, fire rings, year-round lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and a seasonal snack bar called Beach Wolf (my husband worked at the original concession stand here as a teenager). You can rent surfboards, bodyboards, and beach gear right on the sand.
Moonlight is one of the few San Diego beaches with fire pits. Get there early on summer weekends if you want one. Beach Wolf sells firewood and grill packages in season. For more detail, see our full Moonlight Beach guide.
Nearby: Dave’s Rock Garden is at 200 B Street, a two-minute walk from Moonlight Beach on the same street. It’s a quirky community art garden with over 7,000 hand-painted rocks from more than 115 countries. Free, open 24 hours, and very Encinitas.
2. Explore the San Diego Botanic Garden
Location: 230 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024
The San Diego Botanic Garden covers 37 acres with 29 themed gardens and 4 miles of trails. The bamboo grove, undersea succulent garden, and native plant trail are standouts. It’s also home to the largest children’s garden on the West Coast, making it one of the best things to do in San Diego with kids.
Many local homeowners visit specifically for landscaping inspiration, as many of the displays showcase water-wise, fire-safe plantings that work in San Diego yards. Open daily except Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults. See our full Botanic Garden guide for details.
3. Surf and Tide Pool at Swami’s Beach
Location: 1298 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Swami’s is Encinitas’s most famous surf break, name-dropped in the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA” (“At Haggerties and Swami’s”). The point break draws experienced surfers from around the world, and watching from the blufftop park is genuinely entertaining even if you never touch a board.
From November through March, the rocky areas north of the beach expose some of the best tide pools in San Diego during extreme low tides. Sea anemones, crabs, sea hares, and the occasional octopus. The beach sits below the Self-Realization Fellowship (see #9), and the large sedimentary rocks along the shore contain fossils dating back millions of years. Nearby: J Street Viewpoint, a small blufftop park one block north of Swami’s at the end of J Street and 3rd Street, is one of the best sunset spots in Encinitas. Picnic tables, flowers, ocean views, and on a clear evening, a chance to spot the green flash, a brief flash of green light on the horizon as the sun disappears. It’s a local favorite that’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
4. Go Surfing at Beacon’s Beach
Location: 948 Neptune Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024
Beacon’s is a local favorite for surfing and sunset walks. The switchbacking trail down the bluff was improved in 2025 with sturdy steps at the bottom. From sunrise, you’ll see regulars working the waves. If you don’t have your own gear, head to Progression Surf on Highway 101 to rent a board and wetsuit.
5. Shop and Eat on Highway 101
Location: Along Highway 101, downtown Encinitas
The downtown stretch of Highway 101 is the heart of Encinitas. Mostly locally owned shops, restaurants, and surf culture. You can spend a couple of hours browsing beach-inspired home decor, antique shops, and boutiques.
For food: Fish Shop is great for casual seafood, Herb and Sea is a more polished sit-down option, and Pipes Cafe is a local breakfast favorite.
Tip: For more boutique shopping, head a few minutes south to the Cedros Design District in Solana Beach.
6. See the Encinitas Boathouses
Location: 726-32 3rd St, Encinitas, CA 92024
Two blocks from the beach on a quiet residential street, the SS Moonlight and SS Encinitas are a pair of boat-shaped buildings that have been part of the Encinitas landscape since the early 1920s. They were originally built as a hotel and bathhouse and have never actually been on the water.
The boathouses are on the National Register of Historic Places and are owned by the Encinitas Preservation Association, which hopes to eventually open them as a museum. Both buildings are vacant and dealing with structural issues, so you can’t go inside, but they’re worth a quick drive-by or walk-by for the novelty.
7. Take a Photo With the Cardiff Kook
Location: Chesterfield Dr. and S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92007
Officially called “Magic Carpet Ride,” this bronze sculpture by Matthew Antichevich was installed in 2007 and was meant to depict a surfer mid-floater. The budget didn’t cover the wave component, leaving the surfer standing on a board on a rock, which locals immediately dubbed the “Kook.”
What started as a point of controversy has become one of Encinitas’s most beloved landmarks. Locals regularly dress the Kook in costumes, from holiday outfits to pop culture references. It’s a quick photo stop on Highway 101 in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
8. Walk the San Elijo Lagoon
Location: 2710 Manchester Ave, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007
The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is one of the most scenic walks in Encinitas. The trails wind through salt marshes and coastal sage scrub, and the birding is excellent. You might spot quails, brown pelicans, great egrets, desert cottontails, and side-blotched lizards. Start at the Nature Center to get oriented.
9. Visit the Self-Realization Fellowship
Location: 939 2nd St, Encinitas, CA 92024
The golden-domed Encinitas Temple sits on the bluffs above Swami’s Beach and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in town. The meditation gardens are open to visitors and offer stunning ocean views in a genuinely peaceful setting. You don’t need to participate in any programming to visit. The gardens alone are worth the stop, and they’re free.
10. Watch the Action at the Encinitas Skate Plaza
Location: 425 Santa Fe Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024
The 34,000-square-foot Encinitas Skate Plaza, also known as Poods Park (named after local skater Ian “Poods” Barry), is one of the best skateparks in San Diego County. It features a large street plaza with rails, stairs, and banks, plus a bowl. Bring your own board or just watch from the spectator seating. It’s a great stop if you’re traveling with teenagers in San Diego.
11. Go Camping at San Elijo State Beach
Location: 2050 S Coast Hwy 101, Cardiff, CA 92007
San Elijo State Beach has one of the most popular campgrounds on the San Diego coast, with sites right on the bluffs above the water. The beach below is great for swimming and surfing. Day visitors can park in the day-use lot and access restrooms, showers, and picnic tables. Lifeguard towers are staffed seasonally.
The campground books up months in advance for summer. Cardiff’s shops and restaurants are right across the street if you need supplies.
12. Browse the Leucadia Farmers’ Market
Location: 185 Union St, Encinitas, CA 92024
Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (year-round, except Easter), the Leucadia Farmers’ Market sets up at Paul Ecke Central School. Over 90 booths with local organic produce, fresh fish, baked goods, wildflower honey, live plants, and prepared food. There’s also a playground, live music, and face painting for kids. If you’re visiting Encinitas with kids, a Sunday morning here is a great way to start the day.
13. Tour ICA North (Institute of Contemporary Art)
Location: 1550 S El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
Formerly the Lux Art Institute, ICA North merged with the San Diego Art Institute in 2021 and sits on 6 acres of coastal land. They host rotating exhibitions with traveling artists working across a variety of mediums. Walk the plant-lined outdoor path to see additional works.
Admission is always free. Open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Check their site for current exhibitions, art classes, and kids’ programming.
14. Take a Surf Lesson
Location: 400 B St, Encinitas, CA 92024 (Moonlight Beach)
Encinitas is a world-class surf town, and taking a lesson here is one of the quintessential things to do in San Diego. Leucadia Surf School at Moonlight Beach, founded by local Gerry Kantor, keeps things true to “soul surfing,” non-competitive surfing for the joy of it. They offer group and private lessons, and wetsuit rental is available. Great for beginners, couples, and teens.
15. Sip Local Wine at Solterra Winery
Location: 934 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Solterra Winery and Kitchen is an urban winery on Highway 101 in Leucadia that has expanded into a real destination. The tasting room serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu alongside their locally produced wines.
Out back, there’s a bocce court, and the front patio has a fire pit for cooler evenings. The big open windows in the main dining room are great for people-watching. Good happy hour.
16. Play a Round at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
Location: 1275 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024
Encinitas Ranch is an 18-hole public course perched on bluffs with ocean views from most holes. It’s one of the more beginner-friendly courses in the area, with wide fairways and minimal water hazards. There’s a driving range, a full bar, and a cafe. It’s solid option if you want to play a round without the price tag of the resort courses.
17. Step Back in Time at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum
Location: 450 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024
The San Dieguito Heritage Museum preserves the history of the Encinitas area through restored buildings and rotating exhibits. It’s small and charming, run by locals who care about the region’s past. Open Friday and Saturday only, noon to 4 p.m. It’s right next to the Botanic Garden, so you can pair the two.
18. Catch a Show at La Paloma Theatre
Location: 471 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
La Paloma Theatre opened in 1928 and is San Diego’s oldest operating movie theater. Built in Spanish Colonial Revival style, it still shows films and hosts live music. Artists like Eddie Vedder and Nickel Creek have played here. Check their schedule for showtimes and events. Note: the box office is cash only.
19. Walk the Batiquitos Lagoon
Location: 7380 Gabbiano Lane, Carlsbad, CA 92011 (Nature Center and trailhead)
At the northern edge of Encinitas, the Batiquitos Lagoon is a tidal wetland with a flat, easy trail along the north shore. It’s about 3 miles out and back and is excellent for birdwatching, with over 185 species spotted here throughout the year. The Nature Center has a viewing deck and restrooms. Dogs are allowed on leash. It’s quieter and less trafficked than San Elijo Lagoon, and a good option if you want a mellow walk without much elevation.
20. Have Coffee at Pannikin in a Victorian Train Depot
Location: 510 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Pannikin Coffee and Tea operates out of the original 1887 Santa Fe Railroad depot in Leucadia. The building was moved to its current location on Highway 101 in the early 1970s and restored as a coffee shop in 1980. The Victorian redwood architecture, yellow facade, and shaded patio make it one of the most distinctive coffee stops in North County. The coffee is good, but the building is the real draw.
Whether you’re here for a day trip or basing a whole San Diego vacation in Encinitas, the town suits people who like to slow down and explore. Most of these activities are within a few minutes of each other along Highway 101, so you can combine several in a day without a packed schedule. Thanks to a growing number of Encinitas boutique hotels, more visitors are basing their San Diego trips here rather than in past years. For reference, the town is about 25 miles north of San Diego and under 30 minutes from the airport.
Katie Dillon
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