North County’s well-kept covenant
Rancho Santa Fe, locally known as "the Covenant," was founded in 1928 on a promise to preserve its Mission architecture and rural charm. Visionary architect Lillian J. Ross master-planned the community, leaving a lasting legacy with 11 buildings now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, this historic master-planned community boasts elegant architecture and a serene atmosphere. According to Jamie Lennon, a San Diego Realtor and creator of the Stay Classy San Diego Youtube Channel, "Rancho Santa Fe offers tranquility, exclusivity and some of the nation's most valuable properties. You're in esteemed company here." Interestingly, Bing Crosby was so enamored with Rancho Santa Fe that he purchased 65 acres in 1934. Residents can pay homage to the legendary crooner at the Crosby Club on Bing Crosby Boulevard.
Hillside homes and 24-hour gated communities
Rancho Santa Fe is set amidst the rolling hills of North County; meandering roads are lined with towering eucalyptus and palms. Monterey, Spanish-style and modern craftsman-style homes line the village center while sprawling Mediterranean-style homes sit hillside overlooking the valley. The Fairbanks Ranch gated community borders the neighborhood to the southwest, a private, luxurious community filled with French Tudors and contemporary architecture. Two-bedroom homes start at around $1.3 million, capping at around $4 million. Multi-story hillside estates with between four and five bedrooms can go for anywhere between $6 million to well over $10 million.
Local schools earn A’s across the board
Three school districts serve the area: Rancho Santa Fe Elementary School District, Solana Beach School District and San Dieguito Union High School District. The Solana Beach Elementary District earns an overall A from Niche, offering the A-rated Solana Santa Fe Elementary. Students can continue on to the A-plus rated San Dieguito Union High district and attend Earl Warren Middle, also earning an A-plus. Torrey Pines High offers school sponsored clubs like Middle Eastern Union and International Friends, earning an A-plus from Niche.
San Dieguito County Park is two parks in one
The coastal San Dieguito County Park in Del Mar offers 125 acres of exploration, divided into upper and lower parks. Residents can spend the day discovering suspension bridges, a butterfly garden and five playgrounds. The upper park is the more kid-friendly area, featuring paved trails and ball fields in addition to the playgrounds; the lower park is dedicated to hiking. Six miles away, the Solana Ranch neighborhood park features a walking loop, open turf areas, and a central plaza with playgrounds and a turf amphitheater. The Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club, established in 1929, is exclusively available to Rancho Santa Fe Covenant residents, offering a lush course to tee up on.
Designer home goods and handmade jewelry
Residents can start their mornings at the cozy, flower-filled Thyme In The Ranch café, serving up coffee and freshly baked muffins from their bakery and salads for lunch. Rancho Santa Fe Bistro sits across the street in Plaza De Acacias, a long-popular French-inspired eatery open daily and featuring an impressive wine list. Renowned Southern California designer Amy Meier opened an eponymous store downtown for home goods, and local artisan Lisette Polny owns Zofia Day Jewelry nearby. For groceries, residents drive next door to Encinitas for the cornucopia at Harvest Ranch Markets or Sprouts on Encinitas Boulevard.
Head to the beach or downtown on the 5
Scripps Memorial Hospital is 8 miles away in Encinitas. Residents can take the 5 south for about 10 miles to get to the Torrey Pines State Beach (about 20 minutes away), or downtown San Diego and the San Diego International Airport in about 26 miles (about a 32-minute drive away). The nearest bus stop to Rancho Santa Fe is the Paseo Delicias & Via De La Valle stop.
Photography Contributed By
Matt Brown
