Leucadia State Beach(Beacon's Beach)

Located 25 miles away from the city of San Diego, Leucadia State Beach is a 10-acre state-protected narrow beach area with light brown sand.  This state beach is located below blufftop residential areas within the coastal neighborhood of Leucadia in the northern part of the city of Encinitas – this state beach is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  This oceanfront state park has two beaches - Grandview Beach and Beacon’s Beach.  Leucadia State Beach does not have lifeguards or other amenities, so please plan accordingly. 

Leucadia State Beach offers many fun activities including swimming, surfing, fishing, snorkelling, wildlife watching, beachcombing, diving, paddle boarding, surfing, kite surfing, bodyboarding, windsurfing, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, and boating.  Leucadia State Beach is ideal for all kinds of surfers because the water here offers mild yet fun surfing waves.  If you are planning to surf or swim near Leucadia State Beach, we recommend being careful because the water near Leucadia State Beach is known to have rip currents.  Leucaida State Beach is popular with divers - the water near Leucadia State Beach is home to a number of animals including seals, otters, sea lions, dolphins, migrating whales (December to April), octopus, leopard shark, garibaldi fish, California  spiny lobsters, and California moray eels.  Please note that seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales are protected under a law named the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and harming them can result in a civil penalty of up to $11,000 and possible imprisonment.  If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of birds around Leucadia State Beach including gulls, cormorants, and brown pelicans.  If you are planning to fish near Leucadia State Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of California Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Leucadia State Beach is ideal for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience because it sees fewer visitors as compared to other nearby San Diego beaches.

It is easy to get to the beaches in Leucadia State Beach - the access path to Beacon’s Beach is located near 948 Neptune Avenue, while the access path to Grandview Beach is located further up north at 1700 Neptune Avenue.  There are free parking lots near the access paths of both these beaches.  However, we recommend visiting early because these small parking lots often fill up quickly.  You can take the steep access paths located near the parking lot leading from the bluff top to the beaches below.

There are many attractions near Leucadia State Beach.  San Diego Botanic Garden is a 37-acre garden that is open from Wednesday through Sundays between 10 am to 5 pm and it features interesting botanic exhibits – these exhibits showcase more than 5,000 different plant varieties collected from all over the world.  This botanic garden has many interesting features like one of the largest children’s gardens in the United States’ West Coast region, a bamboo garden, a conservatory, and a garden showcasing native plant species – the garden also hosts many interesting activities including academic programs and a light show.  If you like shopping, the Downtown area of Encinitas has some great stores offering specialty items, clothing, furnishings, and souvenirs. 

The  San Dieguito Heritage Museum features historic buildings that were built by early settlers in the San Dieguito area – this museum also has interesting exhibits that offer an interesting insight into the history of the San Dieguito region and it also organizes a variety of events including guided ghost tours and educational programs.  If you are looking for another attraction near Leucadia State Beach, the Batiquitos Lagoon is a coastal lagoon and wetland area that is also a 610-acre preserve - this preserve has a vivid landscape comprising many habitats including wetlands and coastal scrub that you can explore through hiking trails.  The lagoon offers a unique insight into the vibrant natural and cultural history of southern California - you can also see many kinds of birds while exploring this preserve including egrets, herons, hawks, and osprey.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Leucadia State Beach.  Vigilucci’s Trattoria Italiana is an upscale restaurant and offers delicious pastas, steaks and seafood dishes.  The restaurant was also awarded TripAdvisor’s Travelers’Choice award in 2020.  Pandora’s Pizzas serves a variety of delicious pizzas and it also serves salads, sandwiches, pastas, and chicken wings.  A family friendly restaurant is Honey Bistro & Bakery that offers excellent breakfast dishes including egg dishes, pancakes, and waffles.  In addition, it also offers a variety of delicious dishes for lunch including salads, soups, Mexican dishes, burgers, and sandwiches.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Leucadia State Beach, East Village Asian Diner that is famous for its monk bowls and it also offers excellent East Asian dishes including chicken teriyaki, Thai peanut noodles, and sweet-and-sour chilli shrimp.  Fish 101 Leucadia is a popular seafood restaurant that is known for serving excellent seafood dishes including curries, tacos, seafood bowls, salads, and fish-and-chips.

If you are looking for a hotel to stay near Leucadia State Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 4-Star Omni La Costa Resort & Spa offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a bar, a kids club, a sports lounge, multiple shopping stores, two golf courses, a fitness center, 17 tennis courts, a spa, 8 pools (some with waterslides), a hot tub, and a kids club.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Best Western Encinitas Inn & Suites At Moonlight Beach that offers many amenities including a pool, a gym, a hot tub, laundry facilities, vending machines, cabanas, and complimentary breakfast.  If you are looking for another good and affrodable hotel near Leucadia State Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Days Inn by Wyndham Encinitas Moonlight Beach offers many amenities including a cafe, laundry facilities, complimentary breakfast, and a pool.  Another modestly-priced hotel is the 2-Star Rodeway Inn Encinitas North that offers many amenities including laundry services and vending machines (available for a fee), a sundeck, and complimentary coffee.