Next Year Same Place

One of the true joys of life is travel. It exposes you to experiences that can lead to a new perspective. Coupled with a vacation, it can create some of the most meaningful experiences of your life.

Everyone has their own preference as to the type of vacation they like. I do not like to vacation in a place where the main activity is to sunbath. I find those vacations boring.

I prefer vacationing in an urban area, like a big city. When I go to metropolitan areas, I look forward to the restaurants, tours, museums, historical landmarks, and informal sightseeing. The most time I usually had for a vacation was two weeks; during that time, I would want to experience as many things as possible. I would find it invigorating.

It was also exhausting. Although those types of vacations can be energizing and stimulating, I do not find them relaxing. For relaxation, I find solace in the same vacation spot year after year. The sameness allows the experience to be relaxing and refreshing.

For me, that place is North San Diego County—commonly called North County. Specifically, the towns of Carlsbad, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Del Mar—cities located next to each other on the beach, along the historic Pacific Coast Highway. It is a vacation I always look forward to.

North County is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from where I live, so it is very accessible for me. As soon as I arrive, my relaxation ritual takes hold.

A local gourmet grocery store is the first stop my wife and I make. . I usually find grocery shopping a very mundane experience. But not here. The produce is displayed in such an inviting and approachable way that it suggests a roadside farmers market. And the deli section has an array of prepared foods and creative salads that all look scrumptious. We get a variety of items to snack on throughout the several days that we will be vacationing.

There are also several restaurants that we regularly frequent. One in particular is located about 150 yards from where we stay. In the five years of its existence, we have been able to watch its yearly evolution. The restaurant started as a butcher shop/sandwich store and then—over the next few years—added breakfast and lunch. The following year, the place started offering dinner on the weekends and then added Thursday night. Throughout these changes it kept the same physical location—just re-arranging the tables and chairs as the offerings increased. Watching and participating in this metamorphosis gives me a feeling of comfort. Each new iteration of the restaurant seems subtle and organic. The place has always been good but has evolved over time into something special. It puts truth to the old saying: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Another one of the regular activities that we enjoy is birding. Correction—my wife enjoys birding; I enjoy accompanying her. We go to wetlands in Solana Beach, about three miles from where we stay. There is a low-impact nature trail that is essentially a mile-long loop. Our birding adventure usually entails once around the loop—with periodic stops to look at birds. Although my wife often says that the birding in the summer in North County isn’t ideal (it’s better in the fall and winter), she does get her birding “fix.” And since this “once around the loop” is the extent of her birding endeavor, I am able to spend the time enjoying being outside in nature

Another regular activity is going to the flea market in Encinitas. Although it’s called the Moonlight Marketplace, it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. About 50 different vendors sell a cornucopia of items, such as jewelry, vintage clothing, soaps and candles, leather goods, and other kinds of arts and crafts. In addition, there are gourmet food and drink items, plus food trucks. All of this is right off the main drag in downtown Encinitas.

This part of Encinitas has a very heavy Southern California beach vibe to it; It is very low-key, and even the locals seem to be on vacation. Downtown has an array of interesting restaurants. Two of my favorites are the Taco Stand and Gelati & Peccati. We have had luck in the past following “the wisdom of crowds.” We choose a place that looks popular, figuring the horde must be right—and usually they are.

A little more than a mile north is the community of Leucadia (a neighborhood in Encinitas). It is the prototypical, laid-back North County beach community. And in the heart of Leucadia, right on Coast Highway, is Pannikin Coffee. Located in a bright yellow, multi-story Victorian-style house, it stands out on the street. Inside are couches and comfy chairs; outside are several picnic tables and wooden beach-style lounge chairs. It is the ideal place to have a cup of coffee and “chill.” Although it has an impressive array of bagel dishes, pastries, and other breakfast fare (plus sandwiches, wraps, and such for brunch/lunch), I usually just get one of their signature coffee drinks—a Mexican Mocha with four shots of espresso. The drink is called the Keith Richards. But if I am in the mood for a different experience, I will get the Jimi Hendrix, which has the same ingredients and an added hazelnut shot. Either way, I find that being caffeinated doesn’t dampen my enjoyment of the laid-back atmosphere at Pannikin.

But of course, being in San Diego County, the beach is a big attraction. I find the coast along North County one of the prettiest places in California. Walking on the beach gives me an inner feeling of peace and contentment. The breeze off the ocean always makes a stroll a pleasant thing to do. Del Mar is a very family-oriented beach. It is also a dog-friendly beach. You see lots of people with their dogs, but the beach never seems crowded. Everyone appears to be having a good time. Walking on the beach is an experience that never gets old.

So, for me, the perfect vacation is a repeat visit to North County San Diego. I feel fortunate every time I go.