Overview
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Torrey Pines is named after the famous Torrey Pine tree; the rarest form of pine that grows in only two locations in the United States. Endangered in the wild, they are protected at the Torrey Pines State Reserve & grow throughout neighboring golf course & surrounding areas. There are not many residential neighborhoods in Torrey Pines because the famous reserve stretches over 2000 acres of undeveloped land, and takes up much of what is considered the coast of that area. The reserve overlooks the Pacific Ocean, & looks much like it did hundreds of years ago when the Kumeyaay Indians resided here. The area is also filled with 8 miles of hiking & nature trails, plenty of unspoiled beaches, & a lagoon that is vital to migrating seabirds.
Torrey Pines is also conveniently located close to University of California San Diego, downtown San Diego, North county & the pristine beaches of San Diego. Overall, it is considered one of the rare and unexploited gems of Southern California, & locals find it to be one of the most beautiful areas to live in San Diego.
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I personally love Torrey Pines...there is no place like it....The hikes in Torrey Pines State Reserve are breathtaking!... I usually walk down the beach, and than take the back staircase up on one of the trails. It is beautiful & spiritual seeing nature unturned and how it truly was years ago! Take pride in seeing America's rarest pine growing fiercely across the cliffside.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind living here if I could afford it ;). You'll definitely pay for those gorgeous views. Nonetheless, it is one of the rare & unexploited gems of Southern California.
Torrey Pines is composed of many upper middle class families and the neighboring cities of Del Mar & La Jolla are considered some of the wealthiest communites of Southern California. The area is safe & clean & people take good care of the local beaches and are very eco-conscioius.
The Torreyana Grille at the Hilton Hotel located south of the reserve features picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean & local golf course. The restaurant is beautiful with brass, marble, fountains & an outside terrace to enjoy elaborate meals on. It's expensive but well worth the money, especially for special occasions.
The Come On In restaurant located on Torrey Pines road is a local bistro that offers a fusion of European & Californian cuisine. It was voted one of San Diego's top forty restaurants and also voted one of the 'best breakfasts' by the San Diego Union Tribune. The atmosphere is cozy & adorned with French decor, & the food is delicious! Try their cranberry cakes or famous lemon soufflé pancakes, but all of their other homemade baked goods are just as scrumptious.
There aren't too many local bars in the Torrey Pines area, but many of the local hotels feature upscale bars that are classic, very beautiful, & great for making memories at.
Torrey Pines offers both apartments for rent, and homes for purchase. Due to the ideal location to the beaches, golf course, & city, the price tag for living here can be costly, but worth every penny.
Torrey Pines is a commuter friendly town, located right off the 5 freeway and minutes from the 56 and the 805. Torrey Pines also offers public transportation from buses & trains, to trolleys that go to San Diego, & further up north to Los Angeles. It also offers its own trasportation system (Torrey Pines Transportation Inc.) which serves local areas as well as La Jolla.
This is a great town to rent in, considering its great location to the beaches, local shopping, & scenic views.
A lot of the apartments in this community do not allow pets, or if they do, they must be certain ages, and well trained. A great place to go if you do have a pet is Dog Beach in the bordering town of Del Mar. It is dedicated to 'man's best friend', & is an area where you can let 'Sparky' run free & socialize him with other dogs. Here dogs can run wild, play, jump, bark and just simply...be dogs!
During the day, Torrey pines offers a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy. Go on a peaceful hike in the Torrey Pines State Reserve, or break out your golf clubs and play a round at the Torrey pines golf course. At night, you are only a short ride away from the Gaslamp Quarter where there are many local bars & eateries to enjoy, & there is always something going on. Torrey pines is also a short distance to the Del Mar race tracks where 'the surf meets the turf' and they hold local thoroughbred racing as well as many seasonal events.
Take a drive up the coast on the historic Highway 101, where views of the ocean and local shops are unlike any other. The 101 also turns into Torrey Pines road which connects to the local 5 freeway & also can be taken to San Diego State University.
There is a local Ralphs & Whole Foods store in neighboring La Jolla. The Whole Foods store is one of the largest in southern California & offers an extensive collection of natural & organic foods. There is also a Bristol Farms, which is a little more upscale and pricier than some it's counterparts, but great to shop at if you are looking for food for entertaining.
If you are looking for a local gym, there is a 24 hour finess located in Solana Beach, or if you are looking for something a little less corporate, there is a gym called Del Mar Workout located off of Jimmy Durante boulevard.
Torrey Pines High School serves the local communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Del Mar, Solana Beach, & Carmel Valley. It is known as an 'academic powerhouse' & was voted one of the 100 best high schools in the nation by Newsweek Magazine.
University of California San Diego is one of the top universities in California and is located in neighboring Torrey Pines. They are known for their engineering, science, & medical branches as being some of the best in the country.
The local schools score some of the top scores in the country & Torrey Pines is considered one of the finest places to raise a family.
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