Five Things You Must Do When Visiting Cardiff-By-The-Sea California

By Terry Hunefeld


What is it about Cardiff By The Sea that makes it so different from the other beach communities lining the Pacific Ocean north of San Diego? Well, there's the ocean, an ecological reserve, a lagoon, fantastic beaches, restaurant row, surf breaks, Cardiff-By-The-Sea bed and breakfasts and never-ending sea breezes. To help you capture the flavor of Cardiff, here are Eight Things You Must Do when visiting Cardiff By The Sea.

1. Go For A Magic Carpet Ride

At the corner of Chesterfield and Highway 101 (across from the Cardiff Lodge) is a bronze sculpture of a surfer that has been the topic of much conversation and ridicule ever since it was installed. The one-of-a-kind sculpture depicts a young surfer boy and is entitled "Magic Carpet Ride." Ever since it was unveiled in the summer of 2008, surfers and locals have been griping that the look of the "surfer" it too feminine and does not capture the essence of true surfing. Called dorky by some, "gay" by others, pranksters have delighted in adorning the statue with pink skirts, braids, bikini tops, biking shorts, high heels, flowers, lingerie and teddy bears. Take a walk by. what do you think?

2. Watch The Surfers At Cardiff Reef

Cardiff State Beach stretches from our bronze surfer sculpture all the way south to Solana Beach with some of the most beautiful coast line in California. The beach is popular with surfers because of the soft sandy bottom and mushy "perfect" waves for long boards. Visitors, photographers and spectators love the views of the surfers from any where along the beach. The nearby bed and breakfasts in Cardiff lodge many visitors who enjoy having lunch at the seaside restaurants while watching the surfers.

3. Take A Hike in an Ecological Reserve

San Elijo Lagoon is San Diego County's largest coastal wetland with a brand new visitor's center that's open 7-days-a-week. The visitor's center is an excellent base from which you can explore the Ecological Reserve and its more than seven miles of hiking and jogging trails. Extensive habitat supports hundreds of species of plants, dozens of species of fish, reptiles, amphibians and mammals and more than 300 species of birds.

4. Work On Your Tan

Cardiff's beaches are wonderful places to work on your tan, read a good mystery novel, have a picnic with your sweetie, enjoy the antics of the surfers, body surf or go boogie-boarding. The beaches are sandy, gently sloping, and the water is some of the warmest in San Diego county.

5. Soak In A Hot Tub At Sunset

Just 2 miles up Historic Highway 101 from Cardiff-By-The-Sea is a romantic inn located on a hillside above Moonlight Beach in the beach town of Encinitas: The Inn at Moonlight Beach. The Inn has four lovely guest suites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Penthouse Suite is a favorite for honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversaries because it has its own private balcony and hot tub with phenomenal view of the Pacific Ocean sunsets.




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