Saturday, February 23, 2013

Encinitas Has The Best Beaches in California

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By Terry Hunefeld


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 this little town, here are seven things you must do while visiting.

1. 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

Famous Kahuna Bobs Surfing School has been training SoCal surfers for nearly 23 years. He taught me to surf in 1999. His entertaining and totally unique teaching methods put you right at ease when you are learning " and its a load of fun. The Kahuna is so good that the City awarded him the only surf-lesson license at the best beginner surfing beach in all of Encinitas (Beacons Beach) where waves almost always break perfectly for beginners and experts alike.

3. Become A Beach Boy (or 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. Watch A Movie In An Authentic Movie House

If you wax nostalgic for a real old-time movie theater, take in a film at La Paloma Theatre, where they feature first-run hits, art movies and surf/skate/snowboard/music film premieres. Its THE place to see Rocky Horror Picture Show. La Paloma Theatre was built in 1928, and was one of the first theatres to show "Talkies" in 1927 with the Warner Brothers film "The Jazz Singer" starring Al Jolson.

5. Meditate At A Temple

Indias Swami Yogananda first visited here 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

The most popular beach in all of North County San Diego is Moonlight Beach, just two blocks from downtown - its a wonderful spot to soak up sun, enjoy a picnic, play volleyball, surf, boogie-board, body surf, read a book, watch other people people-watch or simply take it easy. Its a state park complete with plenty of parking, fine life guard stations, beach-gear rentals, showers, playground, snack and lunch shop and even fire-rings on the beach where you and your friends can enjoy bonfires late into the night.

7. Top It All Off By In A Private Hot Tub Overlooking The Ocean

The Inn at Moonlight Beach is a romantic Bed and Breakfast Inn overlooking the Pacific Ocean. No other B&B Inn is so close to the beach. The lovely rooms and suites remind you of a French-European Seaside Inn. The Penthouse Suite has a private balcony over-looking the Pacific Ocean with its own very private hot tub making for spectacular romantic sunsets.




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