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San Diego's North Coastal Communities

Enjoy Life-By-The-Sea in

Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Del Mar,
Solana Beach, Carmel Valley, University City

Carlsbad
Encinitas
Cardiff
Del Mar
Solana Beach
Carmel Valley
University City

Encinitas and Cardiff
Located along six miles of Pacific coastline in northern San Diego County, Encinitas is characterized by coastal beaches, cliffs, flat-topped coastal areas, steep mesa bluffs and rolling hills. The city was incorporated in 1986, drawing together the communities of New Encinitas, Old Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Olivenhain and Leucadia.

There is a significant flower growing industry in the city and many people claim that Encinitas is the Flower Growing Capital. As the City has developed, it has grown up around the pre-existing flower growers. Quail Botanical Gardens is a beautiful oasis to visit with an Amazon Rainforest and the largest display of bamboo in the world. The gardens of the Self Realization Center are beautiful and sit overlooking the ocean in a serene garden-like setting.

Downtown 101 is a coastal shopping district over 100 years old featuring historic architecture, quaint shops, sidewalk cafes, and restaurants framed by beautiful flower baskets.

The beaches in Encinitas are outstanding. There are many stretches of beach that lie between Cardiff-by-the-Sea and La Costa. The surfing is unbeatable and many surf contests are held throughout the year in Encinitas. One surf hotspot is Cardiff Reef, located alongside Historic Highway 101 at the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon. Surf at the reef consistently breaks both right and left attracting professional and amateur surfers from all over Southern California and beyond year round.

For Encinitas real estate, click here.

Carlsbad
Carlsbad is a great place to live, with many miles of beautiful beaches, quaint village shopping and restaurants, great schools, a commuter train and terrific housing options. The Carlsbad Seawall runs from Tamarack Surf Beach to Pine Avenue and boasts spectacular sunsets all year. Carlsbad is also known as one of the top golfing cities in the world. The City is the home of two world class golf resorts and more than 30 golf industry businesses. Carlsbad has a thriving local economy with many high-tech, multi-media, health care and biotechnology businesses. The City of Carlsbad houses large corporations such as Jazzercise, Immune Response, Gemological Institute of America, and Isis Pharmaceuticals headquarters.

Carlsbad's Downtown Village provides lots of unique shopping, quaint restaurants and professional services. The Carlsbad Village Street Faires, held the first Sundays in May and November, are the largest single day street fairs in California. Over 850 arts and crafts booths line Village streets and are filled with unique gift items on display for the 80,000 people attending each Faire. One weekend in July, Tamarack Surf Beach is transformed into a Seaside Celebration with the colors and competition of a beach festival. Come join over 10,000 people to celebrate the magic.

For Carlsbad real estate, click here.

Del Mar and Solana Beach
Del Mar, where the "surf meets the turf", is one of the most beautiful destinations along the Western Coastline. Del Mar offers a beautiful 2.5 mile stretch of Sandy Beach. Excellent conditions for surfing, boogie boarding, swimming and just lounging in the sun. Dog lovers will enjoy bringing their dogs to the beach to run free (limited time of year). Visitor's can enjoy a leisurely picnic at one of the two parks adjacent to the ocean. The City has a population around 4,500. For more information about Del Mar visit the Del Mar City website at http://www.delmar.ca.us.

Solana Beach is located between Del Mar and Encinitas. You have the Pacific Coast to the west, country club golf course on the east and Del Mar Racetrack to the south. Over 6,300 homes grace the slopes of Solana Beach with most having beautiful ocean, mountain, or greenbelt views. The majority of residents of Solana Beach live in detached single family homes. Most of the homes to the west of Interstate 5, were built in the 1960's and 1970's. In recent years, many of those homes have been remodeled to take advantage of the larger than normal lots in this beautiful coastal location.

For Del Mar and Solana Beach real estate,click here.

Carmel Valley
Located east of Del Mar and I-5, Carmel Valley straddles both sides of Del Mar Heights Road. It is one of the most vibrant and booming real estate markets in San Diego county. Most of the condominium projects in this area were built in the 1980's and 1990's. They are clean, attractive and well maintained.

Carmel Valley is just north of Sorrento Valley and UCSD and is an easy commute for many people. Just a few miles west of Carmel Valley lies the Pacific Ocean, Del Mar racetrack and lots of first-class shopping and restaurants.

Carmel Valley is home to many upper class homes as well as affordable condominiums. House prices, as of late fall 2010, range from the mid $600,000's to over $2,000,000. Condominium prices range from the lower $200,000's to lower $600,000's. There are many detached condos that have the feeling of private homes. There are also attached twin homes for those who prefer something midway between a single family and condominium.

For Carmel Valley condo real estate, click here.

University City
University City is often called the "Golden Triangle" because it sits between three major freeways: Route 52, I-5 and the I-805. This community is located just minutes from the beautiful beaches of La Jolla and from the hi-tech business complexes in Sorrento Valley and UTC.

Running through University City is a beautiful wide-open escape from nature, Rose Canyon . This canyon was named after Louis Rose who came to San Diego in 1850 and owned a 1900 acre ranch there. His ranch included a vineyard, tobacco and a pasture full of cattle, horses and mules. Rose Canyon is now a place where bikers and joggers share the land with wild rabbits, squirrels, coyotes and rattlesnakes. The Santa Fe Railroad put down a path of steel tracks right through the center of the canyon and now the trains travel here in harmony with the people and the animals.

The south end of University City is a neighborhood of families that are devoted to the schools and local organizations. This part of University City encompasses mostly single family houses. The areas to the north were developed as a result of the building of University Towne Center in 1977, beginning a wave of condominium projects mixed with retail offices and stores.

For UTC condo real estate, click here.