1. Introduction
Explore the beautiful surfing culture and community in Encinitas, California.
2. Private Surf Lessons at Alila Marea Beach Resort
First Impressions of Surfing
It’s rare that anyone gets the hang of surfing on the first (or second, or third) try; moreover, during their first-ever lesson, I expected my kids to prefer playing in the warm sand. However, both my daughter and son kept getting back on their boards, eventually managing to stand up. Seeing them succeed filled me with pride at how comfortable they seemed on the water.
About Alila Marea Beach Resort
Our private surf lesson was arranged by the team at Alila Marea Beach, a clifftop resort that opened last March on the bluffs north of San Diego. The Alila raises the bar for upscale hotels in the region: designed by Joseph Wong Design Associates, its 130 inviting rooms feature granite bathrooms, Indian jute rugs, floor-to-ceiling windows, and private fire pits. At the on-site restaurant Vaga, chef Claudette Zepeda is dedicated to a zero-food-waste kitchen while providing guests with dishes that focus on produce, such as beets with coconut cream and pink peppercorns or mushrooms with miso and fermented citrus.
3. Connected to the Local Community
Encinitas: A Surf-Centric Community
What truly impresses is how rooted the property is in the surrounding community of Encinitas, celebrated for its surf breaks and free-spirited culture. The resort sources its coffee beans from Lofty Coffee; outfits café staff in uniforms from sustainability-focused Vuori Clothing; and enriches the restaurant experience with handmade pottery from The Wheel. Furthermore, guests can explore the town on cruisers from Electra, a bike company based right on the South Coast Highway. Such local connections are significant, especially with luxury-resort brands.
Surfing at Swami’s Beach
To say that Encinitas is immersed in surfing is no exaggeration. Spend any morning at Swami’s Beach—named after Paramahansa Yogananda, who founded the ashram on the cliffs above—and you’ll see numerous surfers of all ages. After hitting the waves, many will likely stroll to the Lotus Café for a delicious breakfast burrito. Surf culture is also evident at the Alila: prints from Aaron Chang, a local photographer and longtime contributor to Surfing magazine, adorn the property.
4. Focus on Sustainability
Design Elements Inspired by Surfing
The interior-design team Mark Zeff Associates collaborated with legendary Encinitas board shaper Brian Szymanski to create surfboard-inspired wall panels for The Pocket, the poolside bar. To combat single-use plastics, Alila worked with the Rob Machado Foundation, established by the renowned surfer and environmental activist, to provide refillable water bottles and water stations. Guests can also take surfing lessons through a partnership with the surf school Surfin Fire.
5. Embrace the Local Lifestyle
To gain a real understanding of this unique California beach town, it’s important to mingle with the locals. Encinitas—formed from the five historic communities of Encinitas, New Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Olivenhain, and Leucadia—feels vibrant and lively. Surf shops, yoga studios, cafés, and taprooms line the main street, including Culture Brewing and Modern Times. In Cardiff, the newest addition, The Waverly, a stylish all-day restaurant, bustles with patrons enjoying wild-mushroom toast and Japanese-eggplant dip. Additionally, Broad Street Dough Co., a vegan-friendly doughnut shop, often has families lining up out the door.
Shopping and Community Initiatives
Further up the coast in Leucadia, shoppers can explore fair-trade brands at the woman-owned boutique Thread Spun, which features an accessory line produced by refugees resettled in San Diego County. This community exemplifies support and collaboration among its members, and we were grateful to be part of it.
