Cardiff-by-the-Sea, usually referred to as Cardiff, is a beach community located in Encinitas, bordering Solana Beach to the south in San Diego County, California. The Pacific Ocean is to the west of Cardiff, Encinitas on its east and north, and a beach and lagoon on its south. With a population of under 12,000, Cardiff-by-the-Sea operates as part of the city of Encinitas, but unlike the other communities that comprise Encinitas, has its own ZIP code (92007).

In 1911, this former farming community began to develop Cardiff, when developer J. Frank Cullen broke ground to build new homes. It is reported by the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce that it was Frank Cullen's wife, a native of Cardiff, Wales, who persuaded him to name the community, "Cardiff". Many streets in Cardiff bear names this English-born landowner grew up with in his native UK. The names of, "Birmingham", "Oxford", "Chesterfield" and "Manchester" are major streets in this city. Cardiff is also home to a few well-known surf spots, such as Swami's and Cardiff Reef.

Carlsbad is an affluent seaside resort city occupying a 7-mile (11 km) stretch of Pacific coastline in North San Diego County, California. The city is located 87 miles (140 km) south of Los Angeles and 35 miles (56 km) north of downtown San Diego. Referred to as "The Village by the Sea" by locals, Carlsbad's Mediterranean climate attracts visitors year-round to its quaint hotels and five-star luxury resorts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 2012, the city's population is 109,318.

Carmel Valley is a wealthy, master-planned coastal community in the north-western corner of San Diego, California, USA. The community is composed of commercial offices, residential units, hotels, and retail stores and restaurants. This is not to be confused with Carmel Valley Village, a community in northern California. Carmel Valley is one of the newer neighborhoods of the City of San Diego, California. It is a master planned community that was formed by the City of San Diego on February 1, 1975, but construction did not start until 1983. The name Carmel Valley comes from the Carmelite Sisters of Mercy, who established a dairy farm and monastery in the area circa 1905. Although the area was known locally as Carmel Valley, in 1974 the area was given the institutional name North City West in the master plan. The name Carmel Valley was readopted in the early 1990s.

Del Mar is an affluent beach city in San Diego County, California. The population was 4,161 at the 2010 census, down from 4,389 at the 2000 census. The Del Mar Horse Races are hosted on the Del Mar racetrack every summer. Del Mar is Spanish for "of the sea" or "by the sea", because it is located on the Pacific Ocean. Colonel Jacob Taylor purchased 338 acres (1.37 km²) from Enoch Talbert in 1885, with visions of building a seaside resort for the rich and famous. The United States Navy operated a Naval Auxiliary Air Facility for blimps at Del Mar during World War II. 

Encinitas is a coastal beach city in San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately 25 miles (40 km) north of San Diego in North County and about 95 miles (153 km) south of Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 59,518, up from 58,014 at the 2000 census. The largest single industry in the city is the growing of ornamental flowers, particularly poinsettias. Encinitas is a Spanish name meaning "little oaks".The city was incorporated after a majority vote of 69.3% in 1986 from the communities of historic Encinitas, new Encinitas (Village Park, etc.), Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea and Olivenhain. These communities retain their identities and distinctive flavors.

Oceanside is a coastal city located on California's South Coast. It is the third-largest city in San Diego County, California. The city had a population of 183,095 at the 2010 census. Together with Carlsbad and Vista, it forms a tri-city area. Oceanside is located just south of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Oceanside was a beach town devoted to activities on a 6-mile (9.7 km) stretch of beaches. Residential areas like downtown (built in the 1890s), South Oceanside (built in the 1920s and 1930s), and developments east of Interstate 5 (built after World War II) are preserved and remodeled when these houses are considered to have historical value. Since the establishment of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in 1942, Oceanside has been home to U.S. armed forces personnel, and the wartime industry of WWII and the 1950s had an ammunition manufacturing facility in the city.

Rancho Santa Fe (Spanish: santa—holy, fe—faith) known locally as ″The Ranch″, is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California, United States, within the San Diego metropolitan area. With an estimated (2010) median income of $188,859, it is on the list of highest income communities in the United States with a population of at least 1,000. The population was 3,117 at the 2010 census, down from 3,252 at the 2000 census. The CDP is primarily residential with a few shopping blocks, a middle and elementary school, several restaurants and single family residential areas situated on primarily 1-3 acre parcels. In 2011, Forbes reported Rancho Santa Fe as having the fourteenth most expensive ZIP code in the United States (down from second place in both 2006 and 2007), and fourth most expensive in California (most expensive California ZIP in 2007), with a 2011 median home sale price of $2,585,000. Some homes in ZIP code 92067 but not within the CDP are valued at more than the median home-value within the Master Planned Community that makes up the official CDP, and many people who live within the 92067 ZIP code cite their community as Rancho Santa Fe even though they do not live within the strict boundaries of the Master Planned Community known as "The Covenant" of Rancho Santa Fe. In 2012, CNN Money / OnBoard LLC reported Rancho Santa Fe, with 96%, rated number one in the US ZIP code list of neighborhoods with the highest percentage of million-dollar homes. 

Solana Beach is an affluent city in San Diego County, California. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²). 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (2.88%) is water.

Over 12,000 residents call this small beach community their home. The Pacific Ocean is to the west; the community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea to the north, and the City of Del Mar to the south. The unincorporated village of Rancho Santa Fe is located on the east side.