Five Fun Activities All Visitors Should Do While In Cardiff-By-The-Sea California

By Terry Hunefeld

The San Diego beach town of Cardiff-By-The-Sea is different from other Southern California beach communities. How so? Well, there's our "Magic Carpet Ride" sculpture, a vast ecological reserve with hundreds of species of birds, the vast Pacific Ocean, incredible warm and sunny sandy beaches, a "restaurant row" with some of the best food in San Diego, hotels in Cardiff lodge bed and breakfasts and great surf breaks.

1. Go For A Magic Carpet Ride

Look for our $120,000 surfing statue right across Old Historic Highway 101 from the Cardiff Lodge, on the bluffs above Cardiff State Beach. You're looking for a bronze sculpture of a young surfer dude with his arms stretched out, supposedly riding a wave. The bronze is entitled "Magic Carpet Ride" and the locals have been highly steamed about the statue ever since it was unveiled July, 2008. Local surfers complain that the surfer's pose does not capture the essence of surfing. Called sissy by some and just too dog-gone feminine by others, surfers have had a field day dressing the statue in pink skirts, stuffed animals, bikini tops, bikini bottoms, lingerie, Fruit-Of-The-Looms and glittering wands. It is one of a kind.

2. Watch The Surfers At Cardiff Reef

Cardiff Reef is a highly popular stretch of sandy beach for walking, sunning and surfing. It's located at the channel mouth of San Elijo Lagoon. Long-board surfers like it because it there is an extensive soft sandy bottom along with slow, easy waves. People enjoy great views of rookies and experts alike from the State Beach benches and picnic tables. Cardiff has a big selection of surfer talent - from rookie beginners all the way to seasoned pros. If you stay at one of the bed and breakfasts in Cardiff, be sure to reserve a table for lunch on the outdoor patios of one of the restaurants and you will have the best surfer-views in the house.

3. Take A Hike On The Wild Side

San Diego County's largest coastal wetland is San Elijo Lagoon, situated along the ocean between Cardiff and Solana Beach. This lush habitat supports 305 plus species of plants, 22 species of fish, 23 species of reptiles and amphibians, more than 20 species of mammals and upwards of 300 species of birds. The new San Elijo Lagoon visitor's center on Manchester Avenue is open daily to the public free of charge. More than seven miles of hiking and jogging trails branch out from the visitor's center, so bring your walking/jogging shoes.

4. Work On Your Tan

Cardiff State Beach is a wonderful place to work on that tan, enjoy a picnic, watch surfers, or try your hand at surfing, boogie-boarding or body surfing. It has been called the Riviera of the West because it has a gently sloping sandy beach with warm water. The site offers swimming, surfing and beachcombing, people-watching and relaxing after a night at a Cardiff lodge bed and breakfast.

5. Enjoy The Sunset From Your Private Hot Tub

Just 2 miles up Historic Highway 101 from Cardiff-By-The-Sea is a romantic inn located on a hillside above Moonlight Beach in the beach town of Encinitas: The Inn at Moonlight Beach. The Inn has four lovely guest suites overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Penthouse Suite is a favorite for honeymooners and those celebrating their anniversaries because it has its own private balcony and hot tub with phenomenal view of the Pacific Ocean sunsets.

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