Carlsbad or "Village by the Sea," is 48 square miles of rolling hills with seven miles of scenic coastline enjoyed by residents and guests who come to play. Located 35 miles north of San Diego and 86 miles south of Los Angeles, it is easily accessible from either city and well worth a drive up or down the coast to see.  Old world charm co-exists with modern day pleasure in a city where the oldest building in town dates back to 1887 and the newest Legoland amusement park has been around just a few short years. 

Carlsbad is named for the popular 19th century Karlsbad Spa in Europe. When sea captain, John Frazier, drilled a well and struck water in the 1880s, it appeared to have the same mineral properties as water in Karlsbad, Bohemia. Continuing a proud tradition for which the city was named, Carlsbad is home to two world class spa resorts:  La Costa Resort & Spa and Four Seasons Resort, Aviara.

This charming city by the sea attracts guests from around the world and is also flower friendly as a premier growing region for poinsettias and ranunculus. Beginning in March and running for several months, flower lovers are abuzz at the arrival of spring which brings an endless sea of colors to local fields. People come from near and far and pay a small fee to get a glimpse of nature's perfect beauty.  The bird of paradise got its start here and is the city's official flower.

Legoland theme park, Carlsbad flower fields, a downtown shopping village with a European flavor, a shopping mall and family oriented vacation beaches are a few of the things you can do and see when you visit. There is also jetskiing, parasailing and sky diving for additional thrills. 

If golf is your bag, there's Aviara, an 18-hole public course, Rancho Carlsbad, a public 18-hole executive course and Encinitas Ranch, 18-hole public course. LaCosta Resort offers two 18-hole courses open to hotel guests and Shadowridge/ Vista features an 18-hole private course as does Vista Valley Country Club.

Easily accessible by car, train, bus or plane, travelers can rest assured they are in a safe community where you can sleep soundly knowing that the  location has no earthquake fault zone. (A fault zone is a region with a higher incidence or likelihood of earthquake activity). This is just one of the many features of a vacation in a the hospitable place which welcomes travelers and treats them well. 

Sand Crabs - "Come look at my bucket," said a boy pictured below, who vacationed in Carlsbad. He reached his hand into a bucket with a 50/50 mix of sand and water. Stirring it, he grabbed the tiny thing pictured and described how he found it along the water line.  "Look at all of them," he said as he reached in again and dozens of little crabs went scampering into the sand as he quit stirring.

 

website: http://www.shopcarlsbadvillage.org/events/farmersmarket.html
email: info@shopcarlsbadvillage.org

Parks: 980 acres devoted to parks. 150 acres developed by the city. Carlsbad State Beach, Batiquitos Lagoon, Agua Hedionda Lagoon, and Buena Vista Lagoon.

Special events:
February --Accenture Match Play Golf Tournament at LaCosta 
April -- Flower Fields 
May -- Carlsbad Village Fair 
July -- Triathlon 
August -- Toshiba Tennis Classic at LaCosta 
October -- Oktoberfest

Seawall & Lagoon      Antiques Shops