Monday, June 15, 2009

Solana Beach: Sunny, Friendly and Fun

By Heather Hunnefeld

The little beach-town of Solana Beach is nestled along the Pacific Ocean's sandy coast approximately 22 miles north of the San Diego airport. It's bordered by the protected San Elijo Lagoon (great hiking and jogging trails!) on the north, the chic town of Del Mar (and it's horse race track) on the south, the popular Lomas Santa Fe Country Club on the east and, of course, the sparkling Pacific Ocean on the west.

The climate is near perfect with winter high temperatures ranging from 59 - 63 with abundant sunshine. Summer high temperatures average 74 - 79 pleasant degrees thanks to the refreshing breezes off the ocean. This ideal weather and two miles of gorgeous coastline result in a tropical paradise - as a result, home prices average from one to two million dollars.

There is more to Solana Beach than just near-perfect weather - there is something for everyone: great dining, diverse shops, surfing, an active nightlife scene, bicycling along the ocean, hiking and nature walks along the lagoons, and, of course, beautiful beaches - where every evening residents and visitors alike gather to enjoy world-class sunsets.

The popular Cedros District has the quaintness and mystery of an old European side-street featuring more than eighty shops from trendy to antique, chic to bohemian. A litte exploring will find authentic furniture from the far east, antiques from Africa, hand-woven tapestries from South America, tony spas, adventure and travel gear, custom hand-made jewelry, health-food restaurants, design studios and one-of-a-kind salons. all combining to make Cedros one of San Diego's most interesting shopping and business areas.

Famous in San Diego and throughout Southern California, the Belly Up Tavern in Cedros has a long history of bringing diverse musical acts on an almost nightly basis. It's been voted the best live music establishment in San Diego almost annually by the media and has even been called "one of the hippest and hottest music scenes anywhere on the California coast" by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Coastal Southern California has an excellent rail transit system. Both the Amtrak and the local commuter train, the Coaster, stop at the Solana Beach station at 105 N. Cedros Ave., providing easy access to San Diego and Los Angeles.

The Solana Beach Triathlon Club hosts an annual "beach party triathlon" each July. Thousands of participants and spectators participate and have fun with family and friends in the sun, surf and sand. The Triathlon features a 1/4 Mile Ocean Swim, 9 Mile Bike and 3 Mile Run.

Solana Beach was featured on all the cable news networks a few years ago when it became the first U.S. city to ban smoking on public beaches. Since that controversial decision, often led by high-schools clean-ups and rallies, dozens of other California communities have followed in prohibiting smoking on their beaches.

Like many San Diego coastal beach towns, Solana Beach is a mix of the old and the new. The coastal area is older, built in the 50s and 60s. This main part of town along historic Highway U.S. 101 is a mix of antique shops, older and remodeled homes, galleries, restaurants, hotels, resorts and apartments.

The inland portion of Solana Beach was developed over the past 25 years and boasts a large country club surrounded by exclusive homes. The headquarters of the Jenny Craig Corporation is located in Solana Beach with more than 190 employees.

Beach town lodging options in the Solana Beach and Cardiff By The Sea area include Cardiff By The Sea Inn and Solana Beach Bed and Breakfasts.

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1 comment:

Alicia M said...

Solana Beach is a beautiful area, all of the northern coastal cities in the San Diego are! I have never been to the Cedros District, it sounds very quaint!

Alex
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