The Cedros District in Solana Beach

I really enjoy visiting the Cedros District in Solana Beach. If you have not taken time to tour this area, just a block east of the coastal route (the 101), it is well worth the visit.

I am not a big clothing shopper (much of my shopping is on-line) but I do enjoy shopping for art, antiques, home furnishings and garden/patio. If you are only into clothing, this area is not the best place for you.

But if you are shopping for your home, looking into a designer, decorator, or architect, or planning your own remodeling and redecorating projects, then this is one of the better venues I have found in San Diego.

I spent a good part of the afternoon there the other day and decided to write about it. There are lots of photos and a visual tour. So stop by an take a look at my Shopping Stroll in the Cedros District.

I'd love to hear what you think. And if there are particular places that you liked, let us all know.

North County, San Diego? Or San Diego North

So which is it? North County? Or San Diego North?

It was really confusing to me when we moved here in 2005 and settled in Carlsbad. Everyone referred to the area as North County, and until I looked into it I thought it was a separate county. I know it's not. So what does North County refer to?? What towns are included and which ones are not? I think this is still a confusing issue. But I have a general idea.

I understand where it developed from. With the rapid growth of towns like Oceanside, Encinitas, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Escondido and other "suburbs" of San Diego following the 5 being built, and with many towns (also including Del Mar, Solana Beach) becoming incorporated beginning in the 50s, it became common to refer to the northern reaches of the county as North County.

I recently read an article in the San Diego Magazine that talked quite a bit about this area and its growth. There is now a push to refer to the area as San Diego North to better link the region to the rest of the county. This push is coming from Cami Mattson Director of the San Diego North Convention and Visitors Bureau. The article talks about her branding of our region as an area for resorts such as those found in Santa Barbara and Laguna Beach (guess they are referring to places like Aviara and La Costa, to name a few). So the pressure for referring to the area as San Diego North is part of this branding effort, as I understand it.

I don't know that it makes a difference. And it really doesn't matter to me. I am just getting used to calling the area North County so I'm not sure I can change that readily. And I'm not convinced it really will make a difference to the economics of the area - perhaps in the advertising. We'll see.

So what do you think? Does the name North County confuse you? What about renaming the area? Do you even care? I'd love to hear what you think.

Do You Go to Farmers Markets?

One of the neat things about living here is the benefits of going to Farmers Markets...year round. There are lots of them in the San Diego area.

They are such a treat back East, because you only have them a few months out of the year, and while the produce then is terrific, at other times it is rather marginal.

Out here I have discovered a number of markets in North County that I enjoy visiting, and buying produce and other goodies from.

Carlsbad has a Farmers Market every Wednesday from 1 - 5 PM and on Saturdays from 9 - 1. They are located at Roosevelt and Carlsbad Village Drive. There is a great array of stuff here, including flowers, cheeses, granola, plants and on and on.

There is a good market also in Solana Beach in the Cedros District (Cedros Street) on Sundays from 2 - 5 PM.

I have been to the one on Vulcan in Encinitas (Leucadia) only once during the winter and there was not much to offer. But I suspect it was more the time of year than the quality of the market. Open on Sundays from 10 - 2 PM.

If you don't go to any of the area's markets, you are missing a great source for terrific produce and more at good prices.