Five Things You Must Do When Visiting Cardiff-By-The-Sea California
The San Diego beach town of Cardiff-By-The-Sea is different from other Southern California beach communities. How so? Well, there's our "Magic Carpet Ride" sculpture, a vast ecological reserve with hundreds of species of birds, the vast Pacific Ocean, incredible warm and sunny sandy beaches, a "restaurant row" with some of the best food in San Diego, hotels in Cardiff lodge bed and breakfasts and great surf breaks.
1. Take A Good Close Look At Our "Magic Carpet Ride"
Surfing is the essence of Cardiff By The Sea. You'll undoubtedly see our $120,000 surfing statue across Highway 101 from the Cardiff Lodge overlooking Cardiff Reef Surfing Beach - a young surfer boy with his arms stretched out, ostensibly riding a wave, entitled "Magic Carpet Ride." Surfers have been critical of the statue since it was unveiled in July, 2008 complaining that the pose of the bronze figure does not capture the essence of a true surfing move. Called dorky by some, too feminine by others, pranksters have since been dressing the statue in pink skirts, chains, bikini tops, biking bottoms, flowers, lingerie and fairy wands. What do you think?
2. Watch The Surfers At Cardiff Reef
Cardiff State Beach stretches from our bronze surfer sculpture all the way south to Solana Beach with some of the most beautiful coast line in California. The beach is popular with surfers because of the soft sandy bottom and mushy "perfect" waves for long boards. Visitors, photographers and spectators love the views of the surfers from any where along the beach. The nearby bed and breakfasts in Cardiff lodge many visitors who enjoy having lunch at the seaside restaurants while watching the surfers.
3. Take A Hike in an Ecological Reserve
San Diego County's largest coastal wetland is San Elijo Lagoon, situated along the ocean between Cardiff and Solana Beach. This lush habitat supports 305 plus species of plants, 22 species of fish, 23 species of reptiles and amphibians, more than 20 species of mammals and upwards of 300 species of birds. The new San Elijo Lagoon visitor's center on Manchester Avenue is open daily to the public free of charge. More than seven miles of hiking and jogging trails branch out from the visitor's center, so bring your walking/jogging shoes.
4. Go Boogie-Boarding Or Body-Surfing
Cardiff State Beach is a great beach to have fun. You can watch surfers, work on your tan, read a book, have a picnic, or try your hand at surfing, boogie-boarding or body surfing. Cardiff Beach has been called the Riviera of the West because it has warm water and a sandy beach. You will see people swimming, surfing, bicycling, walking and jogging. These beaches area a great place to stretch and watch sunrise after a night at a Cardiff lodge or bed and breakfast in Cardiff-By-The-Sea.
5. Enjoy The Sunset From Your Private Hot Tub
Just 2 miles up Historic Highway 101 from Cardiff-By-The-Sea is a romantic inn located on a hillside above Moonlight Beach in the beach town of Encinitas: The Inn at Moonlight Beach. The Inn has four lovely guest suites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Penthouse Suite is a favorite for honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversaries because it has its own private balcony and hot tub with phenomenal view of the Pacific Ocean sunsets.
1. Take A Good Close Look At Our "Magic Carpet Ride"
Surfing is the essence of Cardiff By The Sea. You'll undoubtedly see our $120,000 surfing statue across Highway 101 from the Cardiff Lodge overlooking Cardiff Reef Surfing Beach - a young surfer boy with his arms stretched out, ostensibly riding a wave, entitled "Magic Carpet Ride." Surfers have been critical of the statue since it was unveiled in July, 2008 complaining that the pose of the bronze figure does not capture the essence of a true surfing move. Called dorky by some, too feminine by others, pranksters have since been dressing the statue in pink skirts, chains, bikini tops, biking bottoms, flowers, lingerie and fairy wands. What do you think?
2. Watch The Surfers At Cardiff Reef
Cardiff State Beach stretches from our bronze surfer sculpture all the way south to Solana Beach with some of the most beautiful coast line in California. The beach is popular with surfers because of the soft sandy bottom and mushy "perfect" waves for long boards. Visitors, photographers and spectators love the views of the surfers from any where along the beach. The nearby bed and breakfasts in Cardiff lodge many visitors who enjoy having lunch at the seaside restaurants while watching the surfers.
3. Take A Hike in an Ecological Reserve
San Diego County's largest coastal wetland is San Elijo Lagoon, situated along the ocean between Cardiff and Solana Beach. This lush habitat supports 305 plus species of plants, 22 species of fish, 23 species of reptiles and amphibians, more than 20 species of mammals and upwards of 300 species of birds. The new San Elijo Lagoon visitor's center on Manchester Avenue is open daily to the public free of charge. More than seven miles of hiking and jogging trails branch out from the visitor's center, so bring your walking/jogging shoes.
4. Go Boogie-Boarding Or Body-Surfing
Cardiff State Beach is a great beach to have fun. You can watch surfers, work on your tan, read a book, have a picnic, or try your hand at surfing, boogie-boarding or body surfing. Cardiff Beach has been called the Riviera of the West because it has warm water and a sandy beach. You will see people swimming, surfing, bicycling, walking and jogging. These beaches area a great place to stretch and watch sunrise after a night at a Cardiff lodge or bed and breakfast in Cardiff-By-The-Sea.
5. Enjoy The Sunset From Your Private Hot Tub
Just 2 miles up Historic Highway 101 from Cardiff-By-The-Sea is a romantic inn located on a hillside above Moonlight Beach in the beach town of Encinitas: The Inn at Moonlight Beach. The Inn has four lovely guest suites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Penthouse Suite is a favorite for honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversaries because it has its own private balcony and hot tub with phenomenal view of the Pacific Ocean sunsets.
About the Author:
Terry Hunefeld retired as a CEO several years ago to follow his bliss of sailing the ocean to observe seabirds and mammals. He and his wife Ann Dunham own and operate the lovely Inn at Moonlight Beach. Visit Bed Breakfast Cardiff-By-The-Sea California or Cardiff Ca Bed and Breakfast for more info.