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North Coastal San Diego County Communities
The neighborhoods in North Coastal San Diego County include:
Camp Pendleton
During World War II, it was announced that the land north of San Diego County was about to be transformed into the largest United States Marine Corps base in the country. The based was named for Major General Joseph H. Pendleton, who had long advocated the establishment of a West Coast training center. After five months of hectic building, the 9th Marine Regiment marched from Camp Elliot in San Diego to Camp Pendleton in August 1942 to be the first troops to occupy the new base. The following month, President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived for the official dedication. Camp Pendleton is proud of its color heritage and has been careful to preserve the past, as reflected in the home of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force’s commanding general which is now a national historic site.
Cardiff-By-The-Sea
Cardiff-By-The-Sea, with its 2.6 miles of Pacific coastline and a world-class surf, draws professional and amateur surfers from all over Southern California and beyond. Known for its quaint village atmosphere and wonderful restaurants, with some resting right next to the beach, Cardiff has warm, sunny days and cool evenings that prevail throughout the years. Part of the City of Encinitas, Cardiff is located north of Solana Beach and south of downtown Encinitas.
Carlsbad
The City of Carlsbad, located 35 miles north of Downtown San Diego and 90 miles south of Los Angeles, benefits from its proximity to both metropolitan areas. With more than seven miles of coastline, Carlsbad enjoys an excellent year-round climate that makes it a destination spot for visitors. The city is named after Karlsbad, Germany, a spa town, after a pioneering speculator dug a well and found mineral waters that were believed to be restorative. It’s one of the biggest suburban areas in the county, almost eight percent of the size of San Francisco. Situated north of Encinitas and south of Oceanside, Carlsbad, with more than 88,000 residents, is the home of the La Costa Resort & Spa as well as the Four Seasons Resort at Aviara. In addition, Carlsbad offers such attractions as Legoland and a charming old downtown area with a magnificent boardwalk, boutiques, and antique shops. The Carlsbad Factory Stores is a popular destination and it’s located next to Car Country Carlsbad, one of the most complete car shopping centers in the county. Overlooking both are the famed Flower Fields will are filled with color in the spring. Carlsbad also home to a number of the major golf club manufacturers, including Titleist, Cobra, Callaway and Taylor Made. The city also is the site of Palomar Airport which offers commuter flights to Los Angeles and Phoenix, and is home to a number of private airplanes. Ranging from the beautiful beaches to foothills, the city encompasses many lovely neighborhoods with homes ranging from starter condos to luxurious estates.
Carmel Valley
The name Carmel Valley comes from the community’s location—in a wide valley just to the north of Carmel Mountain, which is a minor feature at the intersection of Interstate 5 and SR-56. Originally occupying only a small area, this City of San Diego neighborhood is one of the most rapidly growing, vibrant area of the county. With the development of Torrey Hills and other adjacent areas, Carmel Valley now fills the entire 92130 zip code.
Much of the housing is built over gentle slopes and hills. There’s a mix of single family detached homes, condominiums and apartments. In these relatively new master-planned communities, parks, schools and amenities are built as the developments come on line. Residents here have a relatively good commute because of the accessible highways and its location adjacent to Sorrento Valley, one of the major job centers in the county. In addition, some firms have moved to Carmel Valley, such as Cisco, JNI, and Stellcom. New office complexes are attracting lawyers and other professionals. Carmel Valley also offers good schools and is near good shopping and restaurants.
Del Mar
This exclusive, upscale community of some 5,000 is separated from La Jolla to the north by the Torrey Pines State Reserve. The City of Del Mar is two square miles of coastal land that boasts the highest percentage of college graduates in the county, if not the nation, as well as excellent public schools. With its beautiful beaches and picturesque town center, Del Mar is noted for its boutiques, antique shops, and fine restaurants as well as its equestrian centers. Home of the Del Mar Racetrack, which offers thoroughbred racing during the summer, it’s also the site of the annual San Diego County Fair. In addition, Del Mar is the site of the state Del Mar Horse Park, which hosts national equestrian events. “Where the turf meets the surf” is the way Bing Crosby, one of the racetrack’s founders, used to croon about the city. And that’s become the town’s unofficial motto.
Encinitas
Located 25 miles north of San Diego between Solana Beach and Carlsbad, the City of Encinitas covers miles of beaches stretching from the neighborhoods of Cardiff-by-the-Sea in the south to Leucadia in the north. This city of some 60,000 is popular with surfers and the beachfront neighborhoods as well as the business district in Encinitas along Pacific Highway 101 feature surf shops, fine restaurants, and fun boutique shopping. Some of the best beaches include Moonlight and Beacon’s. Further inland one finds newer commercial development and large shopping malls along El Camino Real. Olivenhain, the easternmost neighborhood, offers a rural environment with estates linked by miles of walking and riding trails.
Leucadia
Follow Neptune Avenue to Leucadia State Beach, also known as Beacon’s. At the foot of Leucadia Boulevard one can access the beach via an improved trail. This small, rocky beach is the local gathering spot for swimming, surfing, fishing and picnicking. Leucadia is the Encinitas neighborhood just north of the Downtown area and south of Carlsbad.
Oceanside
With more than 168,000 residents, Oceanside is the county’s most northern and third largest city. Just south of Camp Pendleton and north of Carlsbad, Oceanside is a beach community as well as a trade center for a rich farm area. It’s also an area with developing industrial parks and planned communities in the east. Some 2,000 acres have been zoned for light industry and Biogen-Idec Pharmeceuticals is building a large complex on a 60-acre site in the Ocean Ranch Corporate Centre. Oceanside also is home to many of Camp Pendleton’s 33,000 U. S. Marine Corps and 3,000 U. S. Navy members and their families. With four miles of beaches and the Oceanside Harbor, the city is a lively beach community with swimming, surfing, fishing and boating activities. In addition, Oceanside is home to the California Surf Museum. Buena Vista Lagoon serves as a wetlands preserve with hiking trails and a Nature Interpretive Center. The Mission San Luis Rey is located in the northeastern part of the city. Founded in 1798 by Father Junipero Serra, it was called “The King of Missions” because it was the largest and most prosperous of the state’s missions. Oceanside also boasts extensive shopping areas along Route 78 as well as Tri-City Hospital.
Solana Beach
Solana Beach is a of some 13,000 residents tucked between Encinitas and Del Mar. This upscale community just west of Rancho Santa Fe enjoys the perfect climate and one of the finest schools systems in the county. The quaint downtown centers around Cedros Avenue, which has become the design center for much of north county. The northernmost part of town is occupied by the San Elijo Lagoon County Park & Ecological Reserve. This lagoon, like others on the coast, is in the Pacific Flyway and serves as the nesting grounds for herons and egrets.
Torrey Pines
This wide, sandy beach runs almost five miles from Del Mar past Los Penasquitos Lagoon to the base of sandstone cliffs at Torrey Pines Mesa. Swimming, surfing and fishing are popular here. A picnic area and parking lot are near the entrance on North Torrey Pines Road. The beach also can be reached by trail from the Torrey Pines State Reserve. The reserve is a wilderness island in an urban sea. This fragile area is home to the Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana), the country’s rarest pine tree which only grows here and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast near Santa Barbara. The park preserves the trees as well as some of the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California. Hikers can follow trails through stands of wind-sculpted pines.
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But these facts are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many amenities and events that make San Diego County such a wonderful place to call home for newcomers and lifelong residents alike. But, when it comes to something as important as choosing the home that's right for you and your family, you need to have all the facts.
As a real estate professional — and relocation specialist — Joanne enjoys introducing people to Rancho Santa Fe and all of San Diego County and helping them make the most of living here. She also knows that finding your new home is just one of the tasks that face you when you are relocating. Her goal is to coordinate everything as smoothly and efficiently as possible here, while you are wrapping up the final details of moving out of your present home, wherever that may be.
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Many are attracted to the miles of sandy beaches, jagged rock and cliff formations, and great surf. |
