Leucadia is an eclectic little community on the Pacific Ocean. It once was a mecca for hippies and surfers - remnants of those 1960s days can be seen throughout this north San Diego community. Here you will find palm trees, wooden cigar store Indians, tie-dyed T-shirts and blue jeans, barefoot kids playing in the streets, funky lawn art and glowing beads.
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 phenomenal restaurants, goofy shops, palm readers, coffee shops and hip galleries. Popular hangouts include Pannikin Coffee, housed in a former train station (very artsy); the iconic Lou's Records (national recording artists have played in Lou's parking lot) with an enormous collection of CDs and records; and Juanita's Taco Shop, home of the best Breakfast Burritos on earth.
Talk to any Leucadian and he will tell you that the best thing that ever happened to Leucadia is that nothing ever happened to it. Leucadia's beaches are seemingly forever locked in time in the 1960s - they're neighborhood surf breaks that have been surfed for more than 50 years. Four very popular surf spots are Moonlight, Grandview, Beacon's and Stone Steps; all are hidden diamonds, tucked away at the bottom of steep staircases.
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.
If you want to learn to surf, you can take a lesson or two from the one and only Kahuna Bob, an icon in Leucadia - just Google Kahuna Bob. Dolphins and whales are regularly seen. And it you look closely on a clear sunset, you will see the "green flash" as the sun sets behind the 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! - 31515
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 phenomenal restaurants, goofy shops, palm readers, coffee shops and hip galleries. Popular hangouts include Pannikin Coffee, housed in a former train station (very artsy); the iconic Lou's Records (national recording artists have played in Lou's parking lot) with an enormous collection of CDs and records; and Juanita's Taco Shop, home of the best Breakfast Burritos on earth.
Talk to any Leucadian and he will tell you that the best thing that ever happened to Leucadia is that nothing ever happened to it. Leucadia's beaches are seemingly forever locked in time in the 1960s - they're neighborhood surf breaks that have been surfed for more than 50 years. Four very popular surf spots are Moonlight, Grandview, Beacon's and Stone Steps; all are hidden diamonds, tucked away at the bottom of steep staircases.
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.
If you want to learn to surf, you can take a lesson or two from the one and only Kahuna Bob, an icon in Leucadia - just Google Kahuna Bob. Dolphins and whales are regularly seen. And it you look closely on a clear sunset, you will see the "green flash" as the sun sets behind the 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! - 31515
About the Author:
Carlos Hunefeld has traveled throughout California for business and pleasure and has discovered the best Bed and Breakfast in Encinitas, the Inn at Moonlight Beach, a small, 4-room boutique Inn just across the street from Moonlight Beach. Carlos prefers the inn over Encinitas hotels because it is more intimate and comfortable.
