Six Things Every Visitor To Carlsbad California Must Do

Carlsbad is a picturesque seaside village ideally located 30 miles north of San Diego.  Here you will find irresistible sandy beaches, three unique lagoons, two luxurious resorts and more than two dozen fine hotels.  Visitors love walking around the “village center” that offers outstanding shopping and dozens of great restaurants for every taste and pocketbook.  There is a never-ending array of things to do in Carlsbad – this report shares six things every outdoor-loving visitor MUST do.

1.  One of the most beautiful sites on the West Coast, Carlsbad’s famous Flower Fields are transformed into fifty acres of visual splendor each spring from March through early May, framed by the magnificent vistas of the sparkling Pacific ocean.  Children can run around and blow off steam while adults linger and enjoy the quiet on the color-filled hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

2.  Batiquitos Lagoon is a coastal salt marsh with tidal mud flats – one of the few remaining wetlands in California.  Many native plants and more than 185 species of birds can be seen at the lagoon.  The lagoon is a destination for nature lovers of all types – bird watchers, artists, joggers, naturalists, hikers and plant lovers love the three miles of trails – trails renown as quiet places for exercise, meditation or simply contemplation. Free naturalist-led tours are offered some weekdays and most weekends.

3.  Legoland is a theme park designed especially for children – but adults enjoy it, too.  The park is clean, pleasantly landscaped and alive with color.  There are plenty of rides and attractions plus free play areas where the kids can run around and blow off steam.  Oh, and if it’s hot, there’s no shortage of places for them to get wet and refreshed.  Parents appreciate the healthy café with tasty, healthy food and snack choices that the kids will enjoy – without emptying your wallet. 

4.  The tree-lined village of downtown Carlsbad is the perfect place to walk, shop, dine and sight-see.  Find a parking spot and set off on foot to explore Carlsbad Village where you will find unusual boutiques, eclectic antique shops, lovely jewelry shops, European toy stores, an amazing array of clothing stores, quaint pubs and architecturally significant historic homes.  A well-known landmark is the historic Alt Karlsbad Hanse Hous, site of the first mineral water spa, a mainstay of Carlsbad Village since the 1880s.

5.  Carlsbad Village offers many restaurants from the very casual to quite upscale. Le Passage on State Street is a local favorite – a delightful French bistro with outdoor dining.  Fish House Vera Cruz is a well known and popular family-style seafood restaurant with a marvelous fish market.  There are great bars and night spots that get fun and lively, especially on summer weekends,

6.  The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Nature and Discovery Center features a native garden with nearly a thousand California native plants of more than 50 different species.  Visitors can walk short trails lined with educational panels explaining Agua Hedionda Lagoon and its flora and fauna.  Seven species of sage, five varieties of Manzanita, five varieties of wild lilac, and a selection of coffeeberry, buckwheat, currants, honeysuckle and fuschia grow in the garden.   The Discovery Center features many interesting and informative exhibits offering glimpses into the lives of Native Americans who once inhabited the area.