Solana Beach

Just north of Del Mar along the San Diego Coast, and southwest of Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach (Solana is Spanish for “warm wind”) is another of San Diego’s coastal communities. The community has around 12,900 residents and was once voted the friendliest beach town in California. It is consistently ranked the number one best suburb to live in the San Diego area by Niche. Downtown San Diego is about 30 minutes away, but Solana Beach has a small town feel that stands on its own. 

 

 

Life in Solana Beach is casual and community oriented. It’s consistently ranked highly as the #1 Best Suburb to Live in the San Diego Area by Niche. The Belly Up Tavern is one of the most awarded live music venues in the area, bringing musicians from around the world on a weekly basis. Carruth Cellars Urban Winery, Saddle Bar, craft coffee shops, organic cafes, and microbreweries round out a social scene that has something going on most nights of the week.

 

Solana Beach has 1.7 miles of beachfront across 4 main beach areas. Tide Beach Park at the north end of town is known for its large reef called Table Tops and the tide pools along its northern edge, making it popular for surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and body boarding. Fletcher Cove is one of the most accessible and family friendly entry points, with public restrooms, showers, picnic tables, a basketball court, and year round lifeguard service. Seascape Surf has a wide sandy beach popular for walking, jogging, surfing, and swimming. Del Mar Shores is a quieter stretch for walking, picnicking, and surfing.

If you want to go beyond the sand, Annie's Canyon Trail in nearby San Elijo Lagoon is great for hiking. It is a well known local hike featuring slot canyons with wave-like rock formations worn out over millions of years when the area was underwater. This trail also features the famed “Mushroom Caves.”

 

Local restaurants worth knowing include Rare Society (my personal favorite), Crust Solana Beach known for its Italian cuisine, Solana Beach Fish House, and Claire's in Cedros, known across the country for its brunch and classic California dishes.

The Cedros Design District on Cedros Avenue has over 85 boutiques, cafes, art galleries, and small shops. Aaron Chang's gallery and Gallery Bonuccelli are both there for photography and nature art. The North Coast Repertory Theatre hosts performances for all ages, and the Solana Beach Heritage Museum, housed in the first home ever built in Solana Beach, offers a look at the town's history. The Solana Beach Certified Farmers Market runs every Sunday.

 

The Solana Beach School District serves elementary education with 7 schools, and the San Dieguito Union High School District covers middle and high school. Public schools include Earl Warren Middle School and Torrey Pines High School as part of the standard attendance pathway, with Canyon Crest Academy, San Dieguito High School Academy, and La Costa Canyon High School also available within the district. Private school options nearby include Santa Fe Christian, Cathedral Catholic High School, Horizon Prep, Diegueno Country School, Cal Coast Academy, and San Diego Jewish Academy.