Founded in 1911 by developer J. Frank Cullen, the community was named in honor of his wife's native Wales and many streets have English names. A later developer, German musician Victor Kramer added the "by-the-Sea".
 
The community takes pride in its "walkability" with the beach, lagoon, restaurants, markets, post office, library, and other commercial services in easy walking distance to each other.
 
Restaurant Row offers beach-side dining and a wide variety of choices, including Mexican, Italian and California Cuisine with an emphasis on seafood.
 
San Elijo State Beach Campground provides beach campsites and day-use beach parking and lifeguard service.
 
Recreational areas include Glen Park, with tennis and basketball courts, a children's play area and picnic tables. Cardiff Sports Park has multiple baseball and soccer fields.
 
One surf hotspot is Cardiff Reef, located alongside Historic Highway 101 at the mouth of San Elijo Lagoon. Surf at the reef consistently breaks both right and left attracting professional and amateur surfers from all over Southern California and beyond year round.
 
Carpentier Parkway borders the downtown area and is a volunteer community project.
 
Experience the unique identity of Cardiff-by-the-Sea - moderate climate, breathtaking views, two miles of Pacific coastline to the west, the 900-acre San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve to the south and world-class surfing.
 
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a community within the city of Encinitas, is located 95 miles south of Los Angeles and 25 miles north of San Diego.