Moonlight Beach is a great family spot.

This playground has all the amenities and is just steps away from the best family beach in Encinitas. Covered with canopies, this playground offers different age appropriate areas with a fun beach theme, if your kids want to ride a toy dolphin this is their chance. If your kids decide 5 minutes into playing that they want to do something different - walk a few feet west and you'll be at the beach! This spot also supplies 3 volleyball sand courts with nets, so pack your ball and set some spikes. The area is very popular during the summer, but the beach hosts a large parking lot and there is street parking in the neighborhoods.

If you're hungry you can grab food at the very convenient snack bar they have at the beach or take a short walk to Coast Highway where you'll find local favorites like Modern Times, Leucadia Pizzeria and Lofy's. If you don't mind walking a little bit farther into town you'll have even more options including The Roxy, Honey's, Eve and the Taco Stand. Whatever you do, don't leave Encinitas without getting an ice-cream cone from Handel's Homemade Ice-cream shop!