Rancho-Santa-Fe Travel Guide
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The coastal and inland sections of North County are as different as night and day. Inland you'll find beautiful barren hills, citrus groves, and conservative ranching communities where agriculture plays an important role.
Rancho Santa Fe is about 27 miles north of downtown San Diego; from there the scenic Del Dios Highway (S6) leads to Escondido, 32 miles north of San Diego. Nearly 70 miles from the city is Palomar Mountain in the Cleveland National Forest, which spills over the border into Riverside County.
Exclusive Rancho Santa Fe was once the property of the Santa Fe Railroad, and the eucalyptus trees the railroad grew create a stately atmosphere. The area was "discovered" in the early 1900s by movie director Theodore Reed, who encouraged his friends Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford to purchase property as an investment -- they bought 800 acres in 1924. After just a few minutes in town today, it becomes apparent that Rancho Santa Fe is a playground for the überwealthy, though not in the usual pretentious sense. Proving the adage that true breeding makes everyone feel at ease, and that it's gauche to flaunt your money, this upscale slice of North County is a sweet little town that's enjoyed by everyone. Primarily residential Rancho Santa Fe has just two hotels that blend into the eucalyptus groves surrounding the town. Shopping and dining -- both quite limited, and refined -- revolve around a couple of understated blocks known locally as "the Village." There are more real estate businesses than anything else: the homes advertised all list for well into seven digits. Welcome to the most affluent community in the United States.
