Scenic and secluded, Fletcher Cove Beach is a popular locals’ spot tailor-made for kayaking, swimming and surfing. Overlooking the waves is Fletcher Cove Park, or “Pillbox,” named after the park’s WWII-era history as a gunnery. The newly renovated location is the city’s primary park and features a playground, mosaic-trimmed sidewalks and plenty of lawns and sitting areas for lounging and enjoying the beachy views.

Parking: Free to the public; lot open daily from 6am until 10pm

Rules & Regulations: No alcohol, smoking or fires allowed on the beach (BBQs permitted). Dogs will be allowed on-leash year round North of the Tide Park Beach (Tabletops) stairway access (located at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Solana Vista Drive) to Cardiff State Beach and South of the Del Mar Shores Beach (Rock Pile) stairway access (located at 180 Del Mar Shores Terrace) to Del Mar. Dogs will NOT be permitted on the beach or access at Fletcher Cove or Seascape Surf at any time of day year round. Dogs must be on a maximum of 6-foot leash at all times. Owners must pick up after their dogs at all times. Stricter fines up to $1,000 were also adopted as part of the new Ordinance and owners are highly encouraged to know the rules prior to heading down to the beach.

Lifeguards: On duty 8am until 6pm during fall/winter and 8am until 8pm during spring/summer. Beach and street patrol monitor year-round.

Tide Beach Park is an ocean lover’s dream. The beach offers prime conditions for surf-fishing, surfing, swimming and snorkeling over its Table Tops reef, as well as tide pools at its north end. Tide Beach Park is accessible by staircase and surrounded by bluffs, and its secluded beauty creates a sense of privacy and adventure for visitors.

Parking: Free to the public; street

Rules & Regulations: No dogs, alcohol or fires allowed on the beach (BBQs permitted). No smoking.

Lifeguards: On duty 10am until 6pm during summer months only. Beach and street patrol monitor year-round.

In addition to children’s play areas, picnic tables and grills, lawns and sports fields; La Colonia Park features a community center and the Stevens House, which is the oldest house in Solana Beach. The Stevens House was home to many generations of the Stevens family, a beloved and prominent local family who moved to Solana Beach from North Dakota in the late 1800s. Fittingly, it is now the site of the Solana Beach Heritage Museum, as well as the soon-to-be Veteran’s Honor Courtyard memorial.

Sprawling over 125 acres of grassy lawns, San Dieguito Park offers exercise stations, a playground, picnic and BBQ facilities, a basketball court and even a wedding gazebo. It is also the location of Miracle Field, a baseball field open to all members of the community but built to accommodate children and adults with special needs.

Discover beauty and wonder in one of San Diego’s largest coastal wetlands. This extraordinary county and state regional park protects nearly 1,000 acres of habitat that hosts more than 700 species of plants and animals. The reserve is located in north San Diego, between Solana Beach and Encinitas, extending inland to Rancho Santa Fe. Hike along seven miles of trails, and come along for naturalist-guided Weekend Walks. Scan the landscape for awe-inspiring sightings of rare and migratory birds. Enjoy the scents of coastal sages, fresh breezes, and the solace of nature.

Hike into one of the wildest stretches of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Annie’s Canyon Trail, once prone to vandalism, was restored and opened on June 21, 2016. It is named Annie’s Canyon Trail in honor of a conservancy supporter, Annie, a 30-year resident of Solana Beach who desired to expand and restore wild areas for nature and for people. Whether you hike through the steep switchbacks, or choose the winding path to the overlook, the views of the ocean and lagoon are panoramic.

Annie’s Canyon Trail is a moderate-to-strenuous ¼-mile loop trail accessible from Rios Avenue trail. Naturally eroding sandstone walls create a sense of mystery and wonder. Imagine what this canyon view revealed to the Kumeyaay and early settlers. It’s likely this was a spiritual place for many people with its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and lagoon at an elevation of 200-feet above sea level. The canyon was sculpted by water, over time, which poured over sandstone and smoothed its surface into narrow corridors with sandy footing like a dry creek bed. It is deeper than it is wide.