Fletcher Cove Park is the main beach in the City of Solana Beach. A beach named ‘park’ in a city named ‘beach’? Welcome to California…Solana is sandwiched between Cardiff and Del Mar, and as such, has pretty stiff competition for being the prime attraction, in terms of sun, sand and surf. To make it short, they don’t compete. More on this down below.

Fletcher Cove Park, also known as the ‘Pillbox’ is Solana’s best offering, located at 111 South Sierra, where Lomas Santa Fe drive ends, with a parking lot and more free street parking, not to mention a train station within walking distance, to ensure easy access. Showers and restroom facilities, picnic tables, fire rings and a basketball court round off the list of attractions.

At this point, it would be appropriate to mention that this is not your conventional family vacation beach. The beach has more hard rock and stone than sand, and more importantly, the waterfront is guarded by a bluff, which provides stairway access to the beach from the street. Kids climbing up, or coming down off the bluff by themselves is not a particularly wise idea. Secondly, the beach gets almost fully washed over during high tide. Not that all this should dissuade you from coming, but let’s stick to the facts, huh? The beach has clearly marked ‘not safe’ areas, and so long as you stay away from them, and avoid the high tide, everything’s just peachy. And the ‘Cove’ comes from a cove north of the beach entrance.

Just across the highway is the Cedros Design District, with artsy shops offering sculptures, mosaics and handicrafts. Very quaint, very European and a treasure trove for art, fashion and designer clothing. Also found are cafe’s with ‘live’ music, rather eccentric and colorfully dressed locals and spa’s offering more than the standard massage, if you know what I mean…. In short, this is the kind of thing which American tourists spend their now devalued dollars on when in Florence or Bangkok. There’s also a kind of botanical garden called Cedros Gardens with a plant nursery, lotsa birds and fountains. And a farmer’s market.

All said and done, Solana Beach is not a trip you want to plan, but one which you really want to experience. No hotels worth booking except a Courtyard by Marriot, very little parking and most of the locals don’t give two hoots about tourists, and you’re more likely to be tolerated, rather than welcomed. Set base at the Marriot, Park at Fletcher Cove, and explore Cedros Design District. This is the real deal, not some place where a tour guide will take you, but something which you’ll never forget…As long as you have that outlandish costume you were conned into buying…

Web Links: City of Solana Beach ; Cedros Design District ; San Diego Attractions

Posted on December 4th, 2007 by PLing
Filed under: Beaches, California, Cities