Once named among the 20 best surf towns in the world by National Geographic, Encinitas wears its surf history proudly. Located along six miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, Encinitas is a reminder of the historic Highway 101 beach culture that thrived in the mid-1900s. While the city's eclectic downtown has long drawn surfers and hippies with its unique and dynamic blend of San Diego's top surf shops, coffee houses, and record stores, with new restaurants, eclectic shops, and the Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas popping up, the town has solidified itself as a national sought-after destination in Southern California.