Local San Diego III: A Sunday out in Encinitas

Nothing better on a sunny Sunday than to escape San Diego's urban area and head 20 miles on I-5 in the direction of Los Angeles to the charming communities of San Diego's North County. Once past the Mormon Temple near La Jolla and the exclusive community of Del Mar, we reach SOLANA BEACH and Encinitas - perfect getaways for a day trip away from the city. Both boast gorgeous coastline and pristine beach areas, but it is the alternative charm of Encinitas that makes it stand out in Greater San Diego, and no better time to witness this than on a Sunday, when the seaside resort's FARMERS' MARKET is in full swing.

Our first stop in Encinitas, however, is the San Diego Botanic Garden, formerly known as "QUAIL BOTANICAL GARDENS", a green sanctuary of over four miles of park and trails featuring more than 3300 varieties of plants including the nation's largest Bamboo collection. Admission is not cheap but helps to ensure survival of the park, nowaday's a non-profit charitable organization (see www.SDBGarden.org for details). The area is divided into various themes, many according to geographical area, among them a rainforest, several desert gardens as well as Australian, Canary Islands, South African and Mediterranean flora.

In tune with the organization's mission to "inspire people of all ages to connect with plants and nature", the Park also includes several sections exclusively dedicated to children, such as the Hamilton and the Seeds of Wonder Children's Gardens. A stroll through San Diego Botanic Garden is a welcome break from the urban routine and an exciting introduction to diverse flora from all around the world. It is also a laudable example of water conservation and recycling, as the organization is acutely aware of Southern California's severe water shortage and as such has implemented various means to conserve water on their premises. Lastly, SD Botanic Garden is currently also a great venue to experience contemporary local art, as 24 sculptures from over 16 artists are featured throughout its territory as part of the organization's "SCUPLTURE IN THE GARDEN" campaign.

Upon completion of our visit to the Botanical Garden, we stop briefly at the visitor center and plant shop, before heading for coffee & food at our favorite cafe in Encinitas: PANNIKIN coffee & tea, which is located inside a former train station and has since been carefully restored and remodeled to feature 2 levels of indoor cafe area along with an inviting outside patio. The food is fresh and locally made, and Pannikin remains a local favorite in Encinitas with locals and visitors alike and as such defying the franchising trend experienced elsewhere in the US.

From Pannikin we then head into central Encinitas to witness the true alternative nature of this seaside community. No better day than Sunday, when Encinitas holds its popular Farmers' Market. The entire main street is blocked for traffic over a stretch of 15 blocks or almost 2 miles. It is advisable to come early, as parking nearby is hard to find otherwise. Far from just a fruit and vegetable market, this special Sunday event sees many local artists and alternative vendors set up base to promote and sell their products and services. It is a perfect opportunity to buy hand-made jewelry or admire hand-crafted art work and locally manufactured clothes.

Our Sunday outing would not be complete without witnessing the area's spectacular coastline and beaches. For that reason, we head back South towards central San Diego using the coastal highway - passing Encinitas' beach along with coastal areas of Solana Beach and Del Mar. Downtown Del Mar in particular invites us for another stop-over for food or drinks in a somewhat more exlusive coastal resort environment. The beaches in the area also invite for a visit and are generally far less crowded than further south in San Diego's urban coastal areas around Ocean Beach or Pacific Beach. Returning from our Sunday escapade to central San Diego, we bask in the assurance that an excursion to the North County continues to be a welcome treasure off the beaten track for both locals and visitors to Southern California.

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