Located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Solana Beach is the quintessential SoCal beach town. About 20 miles north of downtown San Diego, Solana Beach is bordered by a large country club on the east, the ocean on the west, an ecological reserve on the north and the fashionable community of Del Mar (with famous horse track) on the south.

Temperatures average from 60 - 64 sunny degrees in the winter and 76 - 78 balmy but refreshing degrees in the summer. The near perfect weather and 2 miles of coastline result in a kind of paradise - as a result, home prices in Solana Beach average more than $1.5 million.

This quintessential beach town is a popular for its diversity; here you will find eclectic shops, world-class restaurants, active nightlife, beach sports, nature walks and hiking. An evening tradition shared by locals and visitors is gathering at Fletcher Cove Beach to enjoy the incredible sunsets.

The Cedros shopping district is unlike any other area of San Diego, an “artsy” community of chic and cool, hip and eclectic, touched with a flavor of a European side-street. Visitors to Credos will find a quarter mile of more than 75 distinctive businesses featuring mysterious antique shops, fascinating far-eastern furniture stores, hand-woven tapestries, hand-made custom jewelry, natural restaurants, health spas, design studios and one-of-a-kind salons.

Famous in San Diego and throughout Southern California, the Belly Up Tavern in Cedros has a long history of bringing diverse musical acts on an almost nightly basis. It’s been voted the best live music establishment in San Diego almost annually by the media and has even been called “one of the hippest and hottest music scenes anywhere on the California coast” by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Coastal Southern California has an excellent rail transit system. Both the Amtrak and the local commuter train, the Coaster, stop at the Solana Beach station at 105 N. Cedros Ave., providing easy access to San Diego and Los Angeles.

The Solana Beach Triathlon Club hosts an annual “beach party triathlon” each July. Thousands of participants and spectators participate and have fun with family and friends in the sun, surf and sand. The Triathlon features a 1/4 Mile Ocean Swim, 9 Mile Bike and 3 Mile Run.

Solana Beach made national news in 2003 when it became the first city in the Continental United States to enact a smoking ban on public beaches. Since then, many other coastal California communities have followed in banning smoking on their beaches.

The coastal area of Solana Beach along historic Highway U.S. 101 was mostly developed in the 1950s and 1960s, consisting of a diverse mix of offices, businesses, shops, restaurants, hotels, motels, resorts and apartments.

The nationally known Jenny Craig weight loss company has it headquarters in Solana Beach and employs more than 180 people. East of the freeway, Interstate 5, is the newer section of Solana Beach: a country club surrounded by luxurious executive homes.

Beach town lodging options in the Solana Beach and Cardiff By The Sea area include Cardiff By The Sea Inn and Solana Beach Bed and Breakfasts.