Solana Beach is a coastal community about 17 miles north of San Diego. It’s located just south of Cardiff-by-the-Sea and bordered by Del Mar (south) and Rancho Santa Fe (east).
Solana Beach covers an area of about 3.5 square miles, with a population of 13, 356 (per the 2019 census).
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A claim to fame, depending on your perspective, is the 2003 enactment of a smoking ban on its beaches. This trend that has been followed by many other California beach towns since. Solana Beach is known as a desirable residential and business center (plenty of small businesses and high-tech companies here), with beautiful beaches, a health economy, and pricey housing. There is easy access to LA and San Diego via the freeway, the Coaster, and an Amtrak train (both stop in town).
Much of Solana Beach is centered along the historic Route 101 Coast Highway. The popular and well-known design area known as the Cedros Design District one block to the east. The Cedros Design District is a shopping mecca. It’s terrific for people who are remodeling or building a home. Need assistance with interior and exterior design, furniture, gardening and landscaping? You’ll find it. But there’s more.
Why not enjoy one of the several restaurants, or prowl through clothing shops,. Or attend a live music concert at the popular Belly Up Tavern. Or poke through numerous art galleries on the weekend or during one of their evening Art Walks. There’s also a terrific weekly farmers market at the south end of the district on Sundays.
Besides being a main commuting route through Solana Beach, the main street offers a broad range of shopping and services. You will find the typical shops and services catering to a beach crowd (and vacationers). There are upscale clothing boutiques, home furnishings stores, eateries, small businesses and the Fit Athletic Club.
If you need a hotel, you’ll find several (e.g., the Holiday Inn Express and Courtyard by Marriott on the Coast Road). And there are condos and homes to rent for vacation stays on or near the beaches. You definitely can expect some crowds and traffic during the summer. The San Diego County Fair and thoroughbred racing season at the Del Mar Race Track just south of town are very popular. Racing is mid July and running through Labor Day, and mid-November to early December.
Dining in the area can be quite good, and eclectic, ranging from fast food to fine dining. A few examples: Parioli Italian Bistro on the 101 has a good reputation. Pamplemousse Grille is probably the most upscale and pricey. Or dine at the cafe at the Belly Up Tavern in the heart of the Cedros Design District.
Much of the Solana Beach coast line is bluff, occupied in many areas by private homes (Pacific Avenue, Circle Drive). There are also expensive oceanfront condo developments, especially along S. Sierra Avenue. The public can access the beaches at several points, such as Tide Park and the popular Fletcher Cove (with tot lot, restrooms, a grassy area, and basketball). Fletcher Cove is the site of the popular annual Fiesta Del Sol.
Mother Nature, as always, has her way with the coastline. Some areas along the ocean are at risk for bluff failures and active shifting of the bluffs. And some residents have installed seawalls when they could get approval. Recently new hefty fees have been implemented against residents who install seawalls to compensate the public for loss of beach.
Children in town attend one of 6 elementary schools in the Solana Beach School District. Older children will attend public schools in the San Dieguito Union High School District. There are several private schools as well.
Golfers can enjoy two courses in Solana Beach – the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club (private) and the Lomas Santa Fe Executive Golf Course, which is public. You’ll also find excellent courses nearby in Del Mar (e.g., Torrey Pines) and Rancho Santa Fe, most of which are private and expensive.
Housing in Solana Beach is fairly diverse, ranging from vacation and rental apartments, to a mix of attached and detached condos, single family homes, and luxury oceanfront properties. Because of the hilly topography a good number of properties on the east side of the Coast Highway, and even east of the 5 freeway, offer distant views of the ocean, as well as the San Elijo Lagoon. Beware that homes near the freeway will have some traffic noise so be sure to check this out if it’s a concern.
You may find a few brand new home here and there, as well as a large mix of bungalow and cottage style properties. You’ll also see contemporary, traditional, Spanish and other housing styles that defy classification. A drive through town will often show remodels taking place to take advantage of the views. Be aware that residents, and the town, are especially concerned about preserving views. You will likely be required to show the silhouettes and elevations of any planned remodels and additions using C-Story Poles in the event your neighbor’s views could be potentially obstructed.
The Solana Beach real estate market traditionally does not have a large inventory of homes. Combined with the location, the beach life, and area amenities, this results in Solana Beach being one of the more expensive communities on the coast in San Diego County behind Del Mar and La Jolla, and neighboring Rancho Santa Fe, the most expensive.
Solana Beach offers a wonderful seaside lifestyle and ambiance, with plentiful shopping, good schools, varied dining, and beautiful beaches just 30 minutes or less to downtown San Diego on the freeway (non-rush hour). The location allows residents offer easy access to shopping and other amenities in neighboring Del Mar and La Jolla, and the local train station, with both commuter rail and Amtrak trains, gives you the option of visiting downtown San Diego, North County, and Los Angeles in a little over 2 hours. This high quality of life may come at a hefty price, depending on the house, but more reasonably so than its 3 closest neighbors – Del Mar, La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe.