Leucadia is a funky beachside community within the little South California beach town of Encinitas. Once a hippie heaven, remnants of the 1960's are still in evidence throughout this north San Diego community. Here you will find wooden cigar store Indians, tie-dye T-shirts, weird lawn art, cool love beads and surfboard mailboxes.
Settled by English spiritualists in 1870, Leucadia was named after some Greek islands and its streets were named for mythological figures. You won't find a Home Depot, McDonald's or shopping mall in Leucadia, but you will still find some of the flower farms that made it the Poinsettia capitol of the world.
Leucadia is home to Italian restaurants, funky shops, yoga studios, palm readers and cool art galleries. Local hangouts include Pannikin Coffee & Tea, a former 1880s train station much favored by the arts crowd; world-famous Lou's Records housing an enormous collection of new and used CDs and records; and Karina's Taco Shop, home of the best Shrimp Burritos on earth.
Leucadia's residents say that the best thing that ever happened to Leucadia was that nothing ever happened to it. Leucadia's beaches are lost in the 1960s and are old neighborhood surf breaks where hundreds of Leucadian's have been surfing for thirty or more years. There are four especially popular surf beaches - Moonlight, Grandview, Beacon's and Stone Steps - all are hidden treasures.
Fitness enthusiasts will get a great workout at Stone Steps Beach. These killer stairs lead down from the bluffs to the ocean offer incredible views while you huff and puff. At high tide the ocean beats at the bottom of the stairs, at low tide, the beach is wide and sandy.
Surf lessons are given year around at Beacon's Beach from the world-famous Kahuna Bob - a champion surfer and highly popular celebrity in Leucadia. You can see Bottlenose Dolphins and Gray Whales from the high-bluff beach entrances at Stone Steps, Grandview and Beacon's Beaches. Look carefully to see the "green flash" (something most people have NEVER seen) as the sun dips behind the vast Pacific Ocean.
Moonlight Beach is often called "the beach with everything" because it has lifeguard towers, a children's playground, big parking lots, play areas, fire-rings, showers, restrooms, beach rentals and a snack bar... and, of course... a wide sandy beach!
Settled by English spiritualists in 1870, Leucadia was named after some Greek islands and its streets were named for mythological figures. You won't find a Home Depot, McDonald's or shopping mall in Leucadia, but you will still find some of the flower farms that made it the Poinsettia capitol of the world.
Leucadia is home to Italian restaurants, funky shops, yoga studios, palm readers and cool art galleries. Local hangouts include Pannikin Coffee & Tea, a former 1880s train station much favored by the arts crowd; world-famous Lou's Records housing an enormous collection of new and used CDs and records; and Karina's Taco Shop, home of the best Shrimp Burritos on earth.
Leucadia's residents say that the best thing that ever happened to Leucadia was that nothing ever happened to it. Leucadia's beaches are lost in the 1960s and are old neighborhood surf breaks where hundreds of Leucadian's have been surfing for thirty or more years. There are four especially popular surf beaches - Moonlight, Grandview, Beacon's and Stone Steps - all are hidden treasures.
Fitness enthusiasts will get a great workout at Stone Steps Beach. These killer stairs lead down from the bluffs to the ocean offer incredible views while you huff and puff. At high tide the ocean beats at the bottom of the stairs, at low tide, the beach is wide and sandy.
Surf lessons are given year around at Beacon's Beach from the world-famous Kahuna Bob - a champion surfer and highly popular celebrity in Leucadia. You can see Bottlenose Dolphins and Gray Whales from the high-bluff beach entrances at Stone Steps, Grandview and Beacon's Beaches. Look carefully to see the "green flash" (something most people have NEVER seen) as the sun dips behind the vast Pacific Ocean.
Moonlight Beach is often called "the beach with everything" because it has lifeguard towers, a children's playground, big parking lots, play areas, fire-rings, showers, restrooms, beach rentals and a snack bar... and, of course... a wide sandy beach!
About the Author:
The author retired in 2008. He loves the ocean. His passion is photographing seabirds. He operates a small inn in Encinitas. Visit: Encinitas Hotels or Encinitas B&B.
