Encinitas Surf Lessons

(43 reviews)

1.8 km

San Elijo Beach is an excellent place to learn to surf, since the waves tend to be gentler than…read moreelsewhere. Eli Howard Surf School is a great school, especially if you're camping at San Elijo. The instructors were super supportive and helpful, and 2 hours was enough to tell me I want more surfing!

Great in-water instruction for beginners. Lots of reps on the inside reform for those who need to…read morefind their feel for the waves, then help with learning to catch and drop in on waves with a face

Surf Campers are always ready to refuel after surfing. Did somebody say "Crumb Cake!?"

If I can do it- you can, too!

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There is more to the camps than surfing!

Surfin Fire Surf School

(63 reviews)

2.1 km

In early April 2026, we took a surf lesson with Steve and had SO much fun. He met us (ages 44, 44,…read moreand 15) at the top of the steps at Stonesteps Beach and helped us suit up in comfy wetsuits. We were all first-timers from a landlocked state. Steve's instructions out on the water were easy to follow and he helped steady the boards to ensure we all got up! The ocean temp was perfect for a 75 degree sunny day- we were super comfortable. The ocean floor is very flat with no rocks or seaweed. Honestly wouldn't change a darn thing, and huge shoutout to Steve who is very good at this! Would absolutely do this again.

Surfing has always been something that I was too afraid or intimidated to try. I've lived in SoCal…read moremy whole life and was kinda embarrassed that I never REALLY tried to surf. I decided to face my fears and sign up for a lesson. I'm so happy I did. I had an amazing private lesson with Steve who was very patient and encouraging. They provided the board and wetsuit so all I needed to do was show up. It was a perfect day and the waves weren't too scary. They picked a spot that wasn't crowded and we just kept trying to catch waves. Steve provided helpful tips each wave and I eventually was able to ride multiple waves which surprised me! I wasn't expecting to be able to be able to stay up on the board, but through minor adjustments from Steve I exceeded my expectations. Thank you Lynn for setting everything up and making it easy. Highly recommend!

Waxing down the boards

All gear included.

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Fulcrum Surf

4.7

(80 reviews)

3.9 km

WARNING!!!! Took My Money, Canceled the Trip, Zero Accountability!!…read more Booking with Fulcrum Surf has been one of the worst customer experiences I've ever had. I paid several thousand dollars up front for a Kelly Slater Wave Ranch trip -- something special I had planned more than a year in advance as a Christmas gift for my fiancé. After the initial deposit, my card was hit with additional charges I did not authorize or approve beforehand. I assumed it was part of the package and kept going because I trusted the company and believed the trip was secured. Then they went silent. For months. When they finally resurfaced -- over a year after taking and holding my money -- it was to tell me the trip wasn't happening. No apology, no explanation, no alternative solution, and certainly no urgency. The trip that I had paid for in full simply did not exist anymore. Instead of refunding me, they offered store credit, as if I should be excited to keep gambling with a company that couldn't deliver the trip they already took my money for. I declined and asked for a refund back to my original form of payment, which is standard for any legitimate business. Since then? Radio silence. No refund. No acknowledgment. No accountability. Just a company sitting on my money, hoping I'll get tired and go away. In my opinion, this behavior is deeply unprofessional and completely unacceptable. A company that can quickly charge your card but disappears the moment they owe you money tells me everything I need to know. If you're considering booking with them, here's my honest advice: don't. There are plenty of surf travel companies out there that understand customer service, deliver what they sell, and don't leave customers chasing their own money for months. After everything I've experienced, I would never book with Fulcrum Surf again and would strongly warn others to think twice before handing over a single dollar.

Justin and Ari from Fulcrum might just be the best coaches in all of SoCal (and I've had a few!)…read more In a short time, they helped elevate my skills to a whole new level, transitioning me from a Wavestorm, to a mid-length, and now to a performance shortboard. Both place a big emphasis on form, incorporating both land and water exercises to strengthen the key muscle groups essential for shortboarding. In the water, they keep attention to the smallest details which is helping to fine-tune my technique - and the video analysis has been a game changer for my progress. Fulcrum sincerely cares about my progress and surf journey and I can't thank them enough.

A complete range of instruction from beginner to advanced coaching, summer surf camps, Independent Surf PE, international travel and more.

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Awesome crew!

Leucadia Surf School

(27 reviews)

1.7 km

Instructor was a great guy, very funny and helpful, He taught me and my cousin how to stand plus…read morethe fundamentals of surfing on our first lesson

My 10 year old son came home from day 1 of Leucadia Surf School and said he had the greatest day…read moreever and had so much fun surfing. This camp is all surfing and no fluff. Wonderful staff, positive environment and safe. You wanna learn? Leucadia Surf School provides more time in the water surfing and doesn't gouge on price. For that, I am grateful.

Lot of good boards for our summer surf camp. Getting hot now, the water getting warm.

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Group photo of the first week of surf camp at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. We have the main beach at Moonlight.

Maui Surf Academy

(24 reviews)

2.3 km

My kids (ages 6 and 9) had a great experience at this surf camp. They will meet your kid where they…read moreare at and encourage them without any pressure. And the location is hard to beat...Highly recommend Maui Surf Academy!

Matt and his team (Baylee and Nathan you rock) are so fabulous!!! My oldest daughter was already…read more standing up on day 2 of 5! They kept the kids engaged and inspired to learn. Overall excellent customer service. We will be back next year!

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Cardiff Surf

Family owned which is rare. Awesome items reasonably priced and clothes last. Check it out and…read moresupport them! Will return soon.

Rented a surfboard here and it was a fantastic experience!!! The board I rented was a longboard…read morethat was wonderful in the water (I even tried to buy it from them!!!). Excellent customer service from start to finish. I will definitely be back!

Body Glove Wetsuits in Stock!

CSC Patch Hat

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Hang Zen Surf + Sea

(19 reviews)

3.9 km

Scotty is as good a surf coach as you'll find anywhere in the world, not just in SoCal. The best…read morepart is that he works exceptionally well with all skill levels, from first-time surfers to advanced surfers seeking larger waves and tow-in experience to maximize wave count. Personally, he coached my daughter for years, and she was riding head-high waves at just seven years old. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to fish with him on numerous occasions, and we almost always return with multiple yellowtail. Scotty is the true definition of a waterman and, more importantly, a genuine human being with a heart of gold. I highly recommend Scotty for your Encinitas and North County SD surf lessons at any level, as well as for an outstanding San Diego and Oceanside fishing experience.

Scotty came highly recommended by my cousins who are Encinitas locals - their son took lessons…read morefrom him and knew he'd be the perfect fit for my 6-year-old son and me. And they were absolutely right! We had an absolute blast. It was our very first time surfing, and Scotty was incredibly thorough and attentive to my son, which I deeply appreciated as a parent. He kept the focus on safety while ensuring we learned a ton and shredded plenty of waves. We will definitely be back for more lessons with Scotty on our next trip up from Florida!

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Concept Surf Shop

We had such a great experience with Concept Surf Shop and Uriel, surf instructor, this summer! We…read morebooked multiple private lessons with Uriel, and he was amazing. He was patient, encouraging, and did a great job explaining things in a way that really clicked with her. He created such a positive environment where she felt comfortable trying new things, making mistakes, and continuing to improve. By the end of the summer, she was more confident in the water and even more excited about surfing. We are so grateful for the time and effort he put into helping her grow, and we'll definitely be booking more lessons in future. Highly recommend!

Best place to rent boards in Encinitas. Walking distance to the beach. If you have friends coming…read moreto town, they also offer surf lessons, wetsuits, sunglasses, shirts, hats and dog bandanas.

Practicing pop ups before going in

Colin the instructor giving student Colin tips

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Natural Healing Institute

2.7

(34 reviews)

4.0 km

NHI has left a positive impact on my life. There is always that one teacher or professor that…read morebecomes a favorite in one's life. That is Steve Schechter for me. His knowledge and way of teaching has always inspired me. I graduated from NHI 14 years ago, there is not a day that goes by that I do not utilize the tools and knowledge I had received in my daily life. The responsiveness of NHI's staff is Stellar! The communication is always open. The guidance from the staff to help you on your journey is remarkable. I highly recommend NHI to anyone who is interested in the Wellness field . I am forever grateful to Steve and Staff for all that they have done for me. Sending light and love to NHI always!

If you have any doubts if this program is the right fit for your or not, DO NOT enroll. I enrolled…read moreat NHI and paid in full ($3900) for the Holistic Health Practitioner program. Upon receiving materials, I completed one lesson within the entire 1,000 hour certification, approximately 5-8 hours of coursework and felt the program was not the right fit for me. A large portion of the materials was emailed and it took over an hour to sort out what, was what. Most if not all of the program is chapter reading and then a quiz. I contacted NHI using their stated email address on their FAQ but did not receive any response for two days. The FAQ listed on the NHI website stated a refund could be issued based upon percentages completed in the program. Upon making contact again using a different email, I had to reach out every day for 5 days being told "they would hopefully get back to me later that day". Eventually being told that the Director would not honor my refund; "Once you have received your books and all of your enrollment materials, there is no refund except for the books, if you want to send them back, providing they are in "like-new" condition and we can send them to another student. (About $250 mind you) We would, however, like to offer you some extra help and other live lectures at no cost to you, that hopefully will help you get the most out of the program." Why would I want free lectures if I do not want your core content? The communication with NHI has been nothing but unprofessional and the fact that they advertise but do not honor their own refund process is extremely frustrating and concerning. Please do your research and know that this program is for you before you drop $3900 on a useless certification like I did.

Yoga Instructor, Somatics and Movement Therapist (YISMT)™ 200 hr Program

Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC)™ 200 hour Program

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Thai Bodywork Certificate Program

Country Club Child Care

4.9

(57 reviews)

18.9 km

We've been with CCCC for about six months, and prior to that we were living in Los Angeles, where…read moreour son attended a daycare he absolutely loved. Naturally, we were a bit nervous about making a switch when he was so young--but the transition couldn't have gone more smoothly. He quickly settled in and formed bonds with both the teachers and the other children. One of the things we really appreciate is their communication. They share photos throughout the day (which my husband and parents especially enjoy) and provide updates at pickup. It's clear that a lot of thought goes into their daily activities too--they're creative and engaging. We've seen meaningful growth in our son, both developmentally and socially. He truly thrives around other kids, and we credit much of that to his experience at CCCC. Another standout quality is their flexibility. Our schedule is mostly part-time, but when we've needed full-time care for certain months, they've been incredibly accommodating. That kind of flexibility is hard to find at larger daycare centers.

Country club child care has a warm, home-like atmosphere where kids feel safe and cared for…read more I especially appreciate how clean and organized everything is, and how much attention is given to each child. It doesn't feel like a big, overwhelming daycare -- it feels more personal, which is so important for little ones. They also do creative activities like arts and play-based learning, which helps kids develop and stay engaged. If you're looking for a smaller, nurturing environment for your child, this is definitely a great option.

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Cardiff Family Daycare

(27 reviews)

2.7 km

We cannot recommend Jodie and Cardiff Family Daycare highly enough! Our son started with Jodie when…read morehe was 16 months old and stayed for a full year. During that time, we saw incredible progress in his development and social skills. Jodie is so creative with her daily activities; she doesn't just 'watch' the kids, she truly teaches them through play. One of our absolute favorite parts of the week was Music Day, where a musician comes in with a guitar to sing with the children. It was a highlight for our son! Jodie has cultivated a wonderful, kind group of children, and the environment is always warm and welcoming. We only moved him because we wanted a Spanish-immersion environment for his language development, but we are so grateful for the love and care Jodie gave our son. She will be missed!

We loved our time at Cardiff Family Daycare. The owner Jodie is so warm and experienced- we…read moreimmediately felt safe to leave our 9 month old in her care. We loved that the kids do lots of outside activities and that Jodie is flexible with how they nap and any other individual needs they might have. We will continue to bring our kids there when their new schools have breaks and we need coverage care. 10/10!

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Kids Castle Day Care

(22 reviews)

5.8 km

I cannot recommend Kids Castle enough! My 2-year-old has been attending since last September, and…read moreit has been the perfect fit for our family. Before finding this wonderful at-home care facility, my child had a poor experience at a local large daycare, which left us nervous. However, she settled in very quickly at Kids Castle and is now happy to go in and play every single day. The small team of women who run it are incredibly professional, polite, and caring. Their communication skills are excellent, which makes me feel so relaxed leaving my child there. The quality of care and activities is top-notch. They cover everything from reading, counting, and learning colors to dancing, cooking, arts and crafts, and vital social-emotional learning. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found Kids Castle and truly hope we can stay here until my child reaches TK!

My wife and I moved to La Costa in November and started looking for childcare right away. We added…read moreour names to the waitlist at Kids Castle daycare and kept our fingers crossed. About five months later we got the call, and it has been the best experience since. The wait was absolutely worth it. My daughter has already shown real progress from all the activities and structure they provide. I also really appreciate the daily photo updates, it gives us peace of mind and lets us feel connected to her day. We could not be happier with our decision. I cannot recommend Kids Castle enough

Watering plants!

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Montessori School of Encinitas

4.7

(22 reviews)

2.2 km

We absolutely love this school! They are so great with the kids and provide not only a great…read moreeducation, but a kind, safe and loving environment for the kids. One of my kids will be starting kindergarten soon and will be very well prepared. MSE has taught her to read, write, addition, subtraction, etc. She has an advanced understanding of science, biology, history, music, etc. The teachers we have had are all SO great. I can't say enough good things, I highly recommend!

Great school. Our daughter has learned and grown so much. We are so lucky to have this place!read more

Celebrating World Peace Day

Fun Field Trips

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Sensory Play for Toddlers

The Academy at Bright Horizons

(18 reviews)

4.0 km

What can I say about this incredible place? Both of my kids attended The Academy, and we have loved…read moreevery single moment. It all started in the winter of 2022, when we found out we'd be moving back to California. I was frantically searching for a preschool and hitting walls at every turn. I knew I wanted a Montessori-inspired approach, and I needed a school with room for both of my children. When I reached out to The Academy, they responded quickly and were so accommodating of the fact that we couldn't do an in-person tour. Kristine, who was the interim director at the time and has since become the director, did our tour over FaceTime and the moment it ended, I just knew. And the best part? It ended up being right down the road from the house we bought. If that doesn't scream meant to be, I don't know what does. My oldest started in the preschool class and my youngest in the young toddlers class. By the time my oldest graduated, he was more than ready for kindergarten and now the time has come for my youngest to do the same. I won't pretend I'm not going to cry on her last day. This school has been so much more than a preschool. It's been a place where I knew, without a doubt, that my children would be loved, protected, and given every opportunity to flourish. Every teacher we had was wonderful. The admin team consistently goes above and beyond for their families. Our previous preschool was a completely different experience. The constant staff turnover at this other school, meant our kids rarely had the same teacher twice, and it showed. The stability and consistency at The Academy has made all the difference. If you're a parent searching for the right place for your little one, look no further. Truly. My kids already ask if they can come back to visit. That says it all. Thank you to Kristine, Mallorie, Maricel, and every teacher who made our time there so meaningful and special. You will never fully know how much you all mean to our family. We will miss you more than words can say.

We have had a very positive experience here! I have an older son so this is also my fourth…read morepreschool so I feel like I have something to compare it to. My daughter started at 18 months. The teachers in the toddler classroom are so sweet and patient - Miss Monica and Miss Jayme. They are willing to work with whatever schedule you'd like to ease the children into the classroom. They are also very good at helping the children transition as many times this is their first place away from home. They have part time or full time schedules available. There is also an app and there are constant updates parents receive including lunch time, nap time, diapers and play time with pictures. I also love that there is a drive through drop off and pick up where the children are brought into school or out to the car. I'm a working mom and responsible for all the drop offs and pick ups and since my son attends another school, we don't have to get out of the car so this makes things much easier. The school also hosts some parent classes for free if you're interested. Cost wise for full time, it is on the higher end from what I've seen but it's cheaper than having a nanny which is what we had previously. I also believe it is reflected in the quality of care so it is worth it to me. I am happy we found this school and my son will be attending as well starting in a couple of weeks.

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Gaby’s Daycare