Cardiff-by-the-Sea

As its name conveys, “Cardiff” is literally by the sea, and is also, technically considered a part of the City of Encinitas, but unlike Olivenhain on the eastern side, Cardiff is on Encinitas’s western edge, bordering the Pacific Ocean. Unlike other areas within Encinitas, Cardiff has its own zip code, but that’s certainly not the only distinction which makes it such a desirable spot. Cardiff is home to many well-known surfing spots, such as Swami’s and Cardiff Reef.

As you might expect, Cardiff has a very low-key coastal style and possesses some quaint neighborhoods and street names, reminiscent of the homeland of one of Cardiff’s first landowners and developers. Originally a developer from Boston, Frank Cullen and his wife moved west desiring to buy a section of Southern California’s coastal farming land to develop homes. Cullen bought land and was also successful in persuading the MacKinnon family, who first settled the coastal area in 1875, to name it after Cardiff, Wales, the hometown of Cullen’s bride. MacKinnon agreed and Cardiff-by-the-Sea was “born” with accompanying street names such as Oxford, Manchester and Birmingham, a sentimental reminder of the community’s origin.

Cardiff retains its breezy atmosphere today and is a great place to take a leisurely stroll, particularly when feeling nostalgic.