Swami's Beach(Sea Cliff Park, Swamis Seaside Park)

Located at the south end of the city of Encinitas, Swami’s Beach is considered among the best beaches for surfing in the nation. The beach is also known as ‘Swami’s Reef,’ ‘Swamis,’ ‘Swamis Seaside Park,’ and ‘Sea Cliff Park,’ – and was named after Swami Paramahansa’s Self-Realization Fellowship ashram located on top of a cliff that overlooks the beach.

There are several amenities here including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, barbecues, and picnic tables. For picnic lovers, Swami’s Park is on a cliff with shady areas.

Many expert surfers, including Rob Machado and Taylor Knox, visit here because of the mid-sized waves, especially during winters. Swami’s Beach offers two other activities – swimming and paddleboarding.

Getting here is very easy – after you get off South Coast Highway 101, drive south to K Street where you will find a free parking lot (with space for 30 cars). There is also street parking available along the highway and K Street. To access the beach, there is a wooden staircase with 145 stairs at the edge of Swami’s Park that leads directly to the beach.

If you are looking for nearby attractions, there are many within a 30-minute drive. If you like skating, Encinitas Skate Park, also known as Poods Poods Park, is a great place for skateboards and offers fun colored concrete bowls, stairs, banks, and a pool-styled bowl with seating. San Diego Zoo is a non-profit wildlife sanctuary that is home to 3,500 rare and endangered animals, and over 700,000 plants. Another great option is the San Dieguito Heritage Museum at the Heritage Ranch which displays historical photographs and artifacts from Encinitas. If you like water parks, SeaWorld San Diego features water rides, roller coasters, pet shows, and underwater diving at Explorer’s Reef. Spread across 370-acres, Del Mar Fairgrounds is nine minutes away – it is known for many events including the annual San Diego County Fair, Del Mar National Horse Show, Scream Zone, and Holiday of Lights.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a three-minute drive of Swami’s Beach. Swami's Cafe Encinitas 101 is a local vegetarian-friendly American eatery with a nice menu including tuna sandwiches, burritos, pancakes, shakes, and vegan options. Union Kitchen & Tap is a restaurant bar featuring cocktails, craft beers, and wines – it was mentioned in "San Diego’s Hottest Neighborhoods: Encinitas" by Visit San Diego. If you like Mexican cuisine, City Tacos offers tacos, nachos, mahi-mahi sandwiches, and margaritas in an outdoor setting.

If you are looking for a hotel, you can drive 20-minutes to Hotel Fairmont Grand Del Mar, a 5-Star AAA 4-Diamond hotel that has been awarded the Traveller’s Choice Award by Tripadvisor. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, A Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa, is a pet-friendly 4-Star featuring a pool, bar, spa, restaurant, tennis court, and fitness center. For more affordable options, the 3-Star Best Western Encinitas Inn & Suites At Moonlight Beach has a pool, and the 2-Star Rodeway Inn Encinitas North has a golf course.