10 Reasons to Plan your Next Vacay or Staycation in Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California is in the North County San Diego area, about 45 minutes of downtown. It is a prime vacation spot for families and couples alike. Carlsbad “Village by the Sea” has 7-miles of beautiful beaches, a laidback community feel and plenty of kid-friendly activities and attractions to keep everyone happy. Not to mention our manicured golf courses, watersports, and five-star resorts. Carlsbad has so much to offer both visitors and locals. A visit to our town makes a great vacay and staycation!
Carlsbad has it all. Amazing Resorts? Check. Golf, Golf, and more Golf? Check. Some of the best restaurant options? Kids attractions? check and check.
It is no surprise the city has millions of visitors each year. According to the Carlsbad Tourism Business Improvement District. Carlsbad attracts more than 3.5 million visitors annually, The Hospitality and Tourism industry is a key component of Carlsbad’s Economic stability.
Here are ten reasons why you should visit or plan your next staycation in Carlsbad.
1. Carlsbad’s fun-filled attractions
LEGOLAND California Resort. The theme park offers more than sixty rides, shows and attractions
SEA LIFE Aquarium– it is a wonderful place to see a variety of sea life and learn more about the ocean and the animals that call the sea their home.
LEGOLAND Water Park – 10 acres of family-friendly water and seven slides.
AGUA HEDIONDA Lagoon sometimes referred to as Carlsbad Lagoon, is a saltwater wetland and watershed and offers year-round recreational use for water sports such as paddle boarding, kayaking or jet skiing.
2. The Food
No matter your taste or budget, there is something for everyone in Carlsbad! From award-winning restaurants to street food delights! Carlsbad has a thriving culinary scene including Jeune et Jolie, the city’s first Michelin Star-rated restaurant. They offer SoCal influenced French cuisine. Campfire is another local favorite with an outdoors theme of cooking food over a campfire, a delicious smoked flavored menu.
One of the city’s newest restaurants located at Park Hyatt Aviara is Ember & Rye, a steak seafood menu rooted in local ingredients.
Explore more of Carlsbad’s award-winning eateries.
3. Carlsbad Tours:
Enjoy A Taste of Carlsbad: Food, Wine & Walking Experiences in Carlsbad, CA
Become a local in 3 hours! You will experience delectable foods from six authentic one-of-a-kind specialty food shops, delicious local restaurants and ethnic eateries while receiving an insider’s view into the culture, history, and architecture that defines the Carlsbad Village.
Farm Tours:
Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch – 50 acres of colorful ranunculus flowers.
Strawberry Fields – The u-pick farm gives visitors an opportunity to pick their own strawberries. The farm also has a sunflower maze, photo opportunities, tractor rides and games.
Pumpkin Field – The farm changes with the seasons, from strawberries to sunflowers to pumpkins in the fall.
The Carlsbad Aquafarm produces between 1 to 2 million pounds of local and sustainable seafood annually. The farm is open to the public for farm tours.
Learn more about the fun things to do and see in Carlsbad.
4. Carlsbad’s World-class resorts accommodations.
Carlsbad is an excellent location for luxury hotel seekers. Some of San Diego’s best resorts are located around Carlsbad’s gorgeous golf courses. Carlsbad also has more budget-friendly hotels close to both Legoland and the beach. Plus, some pet-friendly options as well.
Carlsbad has nearly 5,000 hotel rooms available, including the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Park Hyatt Aviara, Four Seasons and Cape Rey Carlsbad which features an award-winning spa, championship golf courses, tennis courts, and swimming pools. Great family-friendly options are the LEGO-themed LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGO Castle Hotel, both located near the main entrance of LEGOLAND California.
5. Walking & Hiking
Carlsbad is a great walkable town. The Village has a walkable score of 80, which is great, they have wide, safe sidewalks. The beachfront also has a long boardwalk stretching from the Village all the way down to Tamarack Beach and is great for walking at sunset. Carlsbad also has a lot of great hiking trails around our lagoons.
Carlsbad Hiking Trails:
Lagoon Trail at Pelican Road
Eucalyptus Grove Trail
Batiquitos Lagoon North Bluff Trail Windrose Circle Trailhead
Hosp Grove Park
Calavera Lake
La Costa Valley Trail
Veteran’s Park Trails
Discover even more hotels and resorts in Carlsbad.
6. Carlsbad is a growing craft beer destination.
San Diego County is known as the “Craft Beer Capital of America,” with more than 150 breweries. San Diego’s North County is becoming a fast growing craft beer destination or choice.
Carlsbad Brewing Company
Arcana Brewing
Barrel Republic
Culver Beer
Karl Strauss
Rouleur Brewing
Scavengers Beer & Adventure Tours
Pizza Port
Check out the coolest craft beer spots in Carlsbad.
7. Carlsbad is home to world-class golf courses.
Some of the biggest names in golf have played at Carlsbad’s world-class golf courses including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa offers 36 holes at its Champions and Legends golf courses. The Omni also has two 18-hole, par 72 courses which are regularly used by the PGA Tour for over 30 years, now.
Aviara Golf Club at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort is the San Diego area’s only golf course designed by the late American professional golfer, Arnold Palmer. The par seventy-two, course has been named the No. 1 golf resort in Southern California via Condé Nast Traveler and has also been recognized as one of the country’s best resort golf courses by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine.
The Crossings at Carlsbad is another fabulous 18-hole championship golf course and event facility with state-of-the-art amenities and ocean views.
8. Carlsbad offers great shopping destinations.
Who does not like shopping at one of the largest outlet malls in the county? The Carlsbad Premium Outlet Mall carries cool brands such as Kate spade, Polo, Tommy Hilfiger and much more, in total ninety designers make Carlsbad their home. Come and shop ‘til you drop.
The Forum Carlsbad is another high-end retail shopping mall with a variety of specialty shops including Chico, Bed Bath and Beyond, Apple, Lululemon, Anthropologie, ULTA, Free people and Urban Outfitters.
The Shoppes at Carlsbad offers a variety of retail stores, including H&M, Hollister, Bath & Body Works, Claires, Foot Locker, Macy’s, and Regal Cinemas.
The Village Faire shopping center, located in Carlsbad Village, offers more than thirty-five restaurants, shops: Linda’s Gifts, Wish, Mermaids and Gelato Love.
9. Carlsbad has beautiful beaches.
Seven miles of gorgeous beaches, make Carlsbad a great spot for all water activities including boogie boarding, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding and swimming of course. Terramar Beach has a reef, which makes it a popular spot with local surfers.
Explore the best beaches in Carlsbad.
10. South Carlsbad State Beach Campground
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground is located right on the ocean. Enjoy bluff top camping underneath the stars, fall asleep listening to the sounds of the ocean. The beach has long expanses of warm sand for you to take your morning stroll. The campgrounds are within three miles of Village, which is a convenient spot for dinning or shopping.
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground recently added full hook-up sites to its array of camping choices. Premium sites overlook the ocean, while standard sites are slightly inland. The campgrounds also have a seasonal camp store.
Carlsbad has something for everyone and is the perfect spot staycations and vacations. With near perfect weather all year round, anytime is a good time to come to Carlsbad.
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