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Cardiff by the Sea is a scenic California beach neighborhood in Encinitas, CA. With alluring beaches, plenty of small-town charm, and lots of amenities, Cardiff by the Sea to San Diego is 25 miles away. Cardiff by the Sea is a tranquil, laid-back oasis along the Pacific Coast Highway with easy access to big city attractions. Cardiff by the Sea is known for its breathtakingly beautiful beaches, picturesque coastal views, sunshine year-round, and world-class surfing.
The Cardiff by the Sea beach community is strong. This vibrant neighborhood offers a variety of local shops, restaurants, and businesses. In Downtown Cardiff, you’ll find an eclectic collection of boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, giving Cardiff by the Sea its unique flair. The community is also home to some of the best schools in the country, which is why many families live there.
Is Cardiff by the Sea a good fit for you? Check out this guide, where we’ll explore the neighborhood and find out!
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Where is Cardiff by the Sea California?
Cardiff is in the incorporated city of Encinitas, CA. Located in the south end of Encinitas, it has Cardiff State Beach in its neighborhood. I-5 runs directly through the middle of Cardiff, and South Coast Highway 101 borders the west end of the neighborhood. Total area of Cardiff is 1.9 miles, and Cardiff by the Sea’s zip code is 92007. Though the North Country Transit trains and buses pass through Cardiff by the Sea, there is no public transportation that stops in the neighborhood.
History of Cardiff by the Sea California
The Spanish began building Spanish Missions and colonizing the area around Cardiff by the Sea in 1769. Before then, it was inhabited by the Native Kumeyaay Indians. The first settlers arrived in 1875. Boston developer J. Frank Cullen established a farming community there in 1909. His wife was from Cardiff, Wales, so he named the community Cardiff-by-the Sea. Many of the streets were given names of other cities in Britain, including Birmingham, Oxford, Liverpool, and Manchester. In 1986, Cardiff and other adjacent communities formed the city of Encinitas. Cardiff drew many new residents between the 1920s and 1950s, becoming a tight-knit community of people desiring to live and work close to the ocean. Today, the neighborhood is vibrant and growing, yet it continues to retain its coastal charm and natural surroundings.
Location & Transportation in Cardiff by the Sea, CA
Cardiff-by-the-Sea California, locally referred to as Cardiff, is a beach neighborhood in Encinitas, CA. The community is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, the rest of Encinitas on the east and north, and by Cardiff by the Sea State Beach and San Elijo Lagoon to the south. The Cardiff by the Sea zip code in Cardiff is 92007.
Residents of Cardiff by the Sea have several good options when it comes to transportation. Interstate 5 provides easy access to San Diego and other neighboring cities, making the commute to downtown San Diego a relatively short drive. Public transportation options are provided by the North County Transit District (NCTD), transporting over 10 million passengers across North San Diego County every year.
Services include a commuter train to San Diego, a hybrid rail system serving 15 stations along the Highway 78 corridor, a fleet of buses running 30 different routes to almost anywhere in North San Diego County, an on-demand service, and a service for travelers with disabilities.
Cardiff by the Sea is a bike-friendly community. Dedicated bike lanes and paths make biking an easy and safe option as well as providing paths for scenic rides along the coastline and San Elijo Lagoon.
Cardiff by the Sea is home to about 15,840 residents. The median age in the neighborhood is 40.7. The demographic breakdown of Cardiff by the Sea is 77.8% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 16.7% Two or more races, 2.9% Asian, 2.5%, and 2.1% other races. Hispanics make up 22.3% of the population.
The residents of Cardiff by the Sea have a median household income of $124,219 compared to $132,276 in all of Encinitas. The top industries are professional, scientific, & technical services, health care & social assistance, and Manufacturing. The population is made up of about 54.3% males and 45.7% females. The median age is 41 years. About 85.4% of the population are high school graduates, and 31.3% have bachelor’s degrees or higher. Cardiff by the Sea is a safe place to live with a crime rate 26% lower than the average US city.
With great beaches, excellent surfing opportunities, a vibrant downtown, and plenty of sunshine, it’s no wonder that residents of Cardiff by the Sea love living there.
Things to Do in Cardiff by the Sea Restaurants and Where to Shop
The Cardiff by the Sea neighborhood features unique shops, stunning beaches, great local restaurants, and entertainment for kids, adults, singles, and families. You won’t get bored in Cardiff by the Sea!
The Sea + Wander, an upscale women’s boutique, features luxury brand clothing and products from all over the world. They offer a high-end experience you’ll be hard to find elsewhere. The Cardiff Seaside Market is a local favorite for good reason. This family-owned gourmet grocery store includes a butcher shop and a bakery, where they bake tempting specialty desserts and pastries such as cakes, pies, cookies, tarts, and more every day. They also sell flowers, gifts, beer, wine, and other beverages.
Cardiff has many surf shops, and Cardiff Surf Co. is one of the best. A family business, they specialize in custom boards, or you can just buy one off the rack. Patagonia is a surf-oriented clothing store where you can also get gear, outdoor sports clothing, wetsuits, surfboards, paddleboards, and more. Fowler’s Boutique features men’s and women’s apparel and accessories.
When you’re ready for something to eat at one of the many restaurants in Cardiff by the Sea, Pacific Coast Grill is a great place to go. Sitting right on the beach, with spectacular ocean views and amazing food, this award-winning restaurant features two levels of bars, decks, and patios. Every seat offers a stunning ocean view!
Cardiff locals love Pipes Café and their delicious breakfasts and lunches. Come ready to eat because the portions are large! They only use quality ingredients and take good care of you with excellent service. For the best authentic Italian cuisine, pizza, and seafood, head to Cicciotti's Trattoria Italiana & Seafood. You’ll find all the classic Italian dishes there, perfectly prepared, using only the freshest of ingredients. The pizza is cooked in a pure wood-fired brick oven.
If you have a taste for Mexican cuisine, try Las Olas Cardiff by the Sea. The restaurant is right on the sandy shore of the Cardiff by the Sea estuary, where you can enjoy classic Mexican fare while viewing the magnificent Pacific Ocean. You might even see dolphins playing in the waves or whales migrating along the coastline. If you’re looking for the best restaurants Cardiff by the Sea has to offer, you’re in luck with these choices!
Wondering what to do in Cardiff? The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is a 979-acre reserve and one of the largest wetlands in the San Diego area. Explore 7 miles of trails through wetland habitats, marshes, and coastal sage scrub, or visit the nature center to learn all about the reserve.
Cardiff State Beach, San Elijo, is just one of the stunning beaches in Cardiff that offers plenty of sand and surf, as well as camping, swimming, surfing, showers, and picnic areas. A nearby reef is popular with snorkelers and divers. The best place for surfing is Cardiff Reef.Pipes Beach is another great option.
For families with kids, Legoland California is just 11 miles up scenic Highway 101 in Carlsbad. With a theme park that includes over 60 rides, shows, and attractions, a water park, and an aquarium, you’ll never run out of fun things to see and do.
Learn to surf from seasoned professionals at Eli Howard Surf School. Their surfing lessons and camps provide hands-on instruction for beginners to advanced surfers looking to hone their skills.
The San Diego Botanic Garden is 37 acres devoted to 5,300 plant species and varieties in 29 uniquely themed gardens, representing 15 different habitats of the world. The 4 miles of trails also offer beautiful ocean views.
Cardiff by the Sea real estate market offers a variety of housing options, from quaint beach cottages to spacious coastal estates. Cardiff by the Sea apartments are popular and go quickly. The most popular complex is Elan Cardiff by the Sea.
The housing market is somewhat competitive, and housing is very expensive in the neighborhood. The median sale price of a home in Cardiff is $2,217,500, up 30.4% since last year. If you’re looking for Cardiff by the Sea homes for sale, the median sale price per square foot is $1.06K, which is down 8.8% from last year. The homes for sale Cardiff by the Sea has to offer sell in about 42 days compared to 43 days last year. The average rent in Cardiff by the Sea is $3,284 a month compared to $2,867 in all of Encinitas.
Schools in Cardiff by the Sea CA
The excellent, award-winning Cardiff School District consists of two schools: Cardiff (K-2) and Ada Harris (3-6). Ada Harris Elementary offers a Spanish Immersion Program for students interested in bilingual education. Middle and High school students in Cardiff are served by the San Dieguito Union High School District, an award-winning school district and one of the best in the country. Students attend either Diegueno or Oak Crest Middle, and La Costa Canyon High. Cardiff by the Sea also has a number of top-notch private schools, including The Grauer School, a college preparatory institution, and Pacific Academy, offering a comprehensive K-12 education.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea is close to several very good colleges and universities. San Diego State University, the University of California San Diego, MiraCosta College - San Elijo Campus, and California State University San Marcos are all only short drives away.
Are you moving to Encinitas Cardiff by the Sea? Contact the best Cardiff by the Sea movers at Republic Moving to help you get there! Give us a call at 619-591-0079 for a free quote today. We can’t wait to help.
Bill Lovejoy
Bill Lovejoy is the president of Republic Moving and Storage. Purchasing the assets of Republic Relocations in May 2008. In 2008, Republic did $700K of business and today is over $15 Million. Republic was named AMSA’s 2010 Agent of the Year for Service Excellence after only two years in business.
Bill is proud that he grew up doing every facet of the business from a local mover, over the road driver, salesperson, operations manager, and general manager. (and just about everything else in between) Before purchasing Republic, Bill was with Bekins Moving and Storage where he served as a Senior Vice President and was a partner. He was responsible for three HHG companies as well as two logistics companies.
A proud Father of six children, and a lovely wife, Carol, Bill constantly works to keep a balance between work and family Life. Bills “stress relieving” hobbies include racket ball, basketball, tennis, and golf.
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