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Solana Beach
The charming, seaside community of Solana Beach home to 50+ local restaurants, nightclubs and cocktail lounges is nestled along the northern coast of San Diego County, and is approximately 20 miles from downtown San Diego. Its main access routes include Interstate 5, Highway 101, Lomas Santa Fe Drive, and Via de la Valle. The City is home to a vibrant train station that serves both Amtrak and the Coaster, one of only three in San Diego County. The City lives up to its name with temperatures that average 62 degrees in the wintertime and 77 degrees in the summertime. It offers 1.7 miles of coastline for swimming and surfing. Most days you will see locals drop by to watch the sunset at the award winning Fletcher Cove Park. The City is a favorite destination for those looking to enjoy the beach, eclectic shops, great dining, golfing, nightlife, and nearby hiking. Solana Beach is located along the northern coast of San Diego County. It is known for its shopping, with a mix of interesting art galleries and boutiques, furniture shops, surfing outfitters, and other unique stores. There is sunshine almost every day and winters are just a few degrees cooler than summers. Fog and low clouds usually hug the coastline in the summertime in the late evening and the wee hours of the morning, but burns off by midday. Solana Beach started as a farming community with gorgeous bluffs overlooking the ocean, but with no beach access. Later on, a gap was cut out in the bluffs, providing access to the ocean. Three small beaches are now located in Solana Beach, giving visitors a great opportunity to enjoy solitude on the beach all year round. With only 12,000 residents, the area was first settled by the San Dieguitos, early Holocene inhabitants of the area. During the Spanish colonial era, trails heading north near Solana Beach crossed inland to avoid the marshes and inlets of the area. The George H. Jones family were the first settlers in the area now known as Solana Beach, arriving in 1886. Until 1923, the main area known as Solana Beach had been called Lockwood Mesa. When Lake Hodges Dam was built in 1917-18, the area encompassing Solana Beach began to develop rapidly. Since Solana Beach had no accessible beaches, to provide access to the beach for the development, hydraulic water pressure was used to erode away tons of earth and create the Fletcher Cove entry and beach. This took one man three months with a fire hose, using water that was coming over the spillway at Lake Hodges Dam. The beach was opened with great fanfare including horse races on the beach on July 4, 1925. Attached is a photo of Fletcher Cove. Too funny to think that this beautiful beach was created with just a fire hose!
The community grew slowly, but steadily throughout the rest of the century, with particular booms occurring in the decade after World War II and a real estate boom in the last quarter of the 20th century. In 1986 the community officially incorporated as the city of Solana Beach. While still a relatively tranquil coastal town, the city received national news in 2003 upon becoming the first city in the Continental United States to enact a smoking on its public beaches, a trend which has continued as many other coastal Californian towns have followed suit in banning smoking on their beaches. Solana Beach was the last coastal community in North San Diego County to ban alcohol on the beach, doing so for at least a year in an action unanimously approved by the City Council.
Cedros Design District (Across from the train station)
A WONDERFUL SHOPPING ADVENTURE
With over 120 shops, businesses and restaurants, discover original Fashions, Furniture, Home Décor, Collectibles and Art. Happen across that perfect gift from around the globe, treasured antiques, hand woven tapestry or exquisite handmade jewelry.
Take your time, explore the enchanting 2 ½ blocks of Cedros Avenue with more than 120 one of a kind shops, boutiques and galleries, plus, unique Home and Garden stores, that have made Cedros “the Avenue with Everything”. Finding inspiration in its eclectic and artistic ambience, the Cedros Avenue Design District in North County is also home to many renowned architects, builders, designers and interior decorators. Enjoy one of the Avenue’s many day spas, salons, yoga or pilates studios. Then settle in for a glass of wine and people watching. Return for an evening and dining, then live music at the world famous Belly Up Tavern.
Farmer’s Market: Enjoy the fabulous Solana Beach Farmers Market every Sunday from 1 :00 to 5:00 pm.
Eden Gardens
The neighborhood of Eden Gardens (also known as La Colonia), one of the oldest residential areas of Solana Beach, was a community formed in the 1920s by Mexican farmers who were hired by the owners of large ranches in Rancho Santa Fe. These farmers wanted their families nearby, hence the formation of La Colonia (the colony). The name Eden Gardens came later from a land developer who thought it would be a good marketing tool. Many residents still refer to the area as La Colonia. Famous residents include Chicano rapper Lil Rob and comedian Rene Sandoval who were born and raised in the community. Eden Gardens has the BEST Mexican food in Southern California.
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