San Diego & Around - California - page 1589

Del Mar Plaza MALL
( www.delmarplaza.com ; 555 Camino del Mar)
Where 15th St crosses Camino del Mar, the tastefully designed Del Mar Plaza shopping
center has restaurants, boutiques and upper-level terraces that look out to sea - fab at sun-
set.
Getting There & Away
N Torrey Pines Rd from La Jolla is the most scenic approach from the south. Heading
north, the road (S21) changes its name from Camino del Mar to Coast Hwy 101 to Old
Hwy 101.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Beachy Cardiff is good for surfing and popular with a laid-back crowd for the miles of res-
taurants and surf shops along Hwy 101 by Cardiff ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.parks.ca.gov ;
7am-sunset; ) and San Elijo ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; ) State Beaches. The other main
draw is the 1000-acre San Elijo Lagoon ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 760-623-3026;
www.sanelijo.org ; 2710 Manchester Ave; nature center 9am-5pm) ecological preserve, popular
with bird-watchers for its herons, coots, terns, ducks, egrets and more than 250 other spe-
cies.
San Elijo State Beach ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 760-753-5091, reservations 800-444-7275;
www.parks.ca.gov ; 2050 S Coast Hwy 101; summer tent/RV sites from $35/55) has a campground,
while Las Olas (mains $9-19; 11am-9pm Mon-Thu, to 9:30pm Fri, 10am-9:30pm Sat, 10am-9pm
Sun; ) serves fish tacos with a sea view; it's so popular that it has its own traffic light.
Also across from the beach, Ki's ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 760-436-5236; 2591 S Coast Hwy
101; mains breakfast $5-9, lunch $7-14, dinner $13-22; 8am-8:30pm Sun-Thu, to 10pm Fri, 9pm Sat;
) is an organic cafe/restaurant and a hub of local activity; there are inspiring beach
views from the 2nd-floor bar and dining areas.
Encinitas
Peaceful Encinitas has a decidedly down-to-earth vibe and a laid-back beach-town main
street, perfect for a relaxing day trip or weekend escape. North of central Encinitas, yet