Sun-kissed and salty-breezed, Carlsbad is a California coastal town that instantly puts you in vacation mode. Situated a short drive north of San Diego, this laid-back beach town blends endless ocean views, charming village streets, and a serious love for outdoor living. From surfing at sunrise to strolling through flower fields and coastal cafés, Carlsbad is a welcoming place where you can slow down, explore, and soak up the good vibes—one wave, trail, and taco at a time.
In all of the years I've spent exploring California - I bet I drove by Carlsbad at least a dozen times. I was finally determined to see what this place had to offer and I was not disappointed. Not only was I not disappointed - I could see myself living here. A compliment I don't pay all that often. People were friendly, the vibes were good, and I didn't get sick of the sunny days and ocean views.
On a Carlsbad Food Tour - I also discovered there are so many interesting places to eat. Compared to many coastal towns in California, most places are fairly reasonable - which is a huge plus. Add in free parking in most places around the city and your wallet will be grateful.
People here love to eat out and they have their choice of whatever they crave. Even places that aren't in the popular Carlsbad Village (where so many great dining options exist) shouldn't be overlooked. I walked into a brewery called Draft Republic that was near my hotel and expected run of the mill pub food. Instead I wound up with an incredible meal!
The blackened grilled chicken sandwich with maple bourbon bacon, smashed avocado, and garlic aioli was amazing! It paired nicely with the strawberry Dole Whip I ordered a bit later down the road at The Strawberry Shack - a local favorite for sweet treats just up the street from the beach.
In addition to joining a food tour, I also took some time to explore a couple of museums and even a quick visit to Legoland - one of the region's top tourist attractions. Add in a couple of walks on the beach and a scenic drive - and before I knew it - three days had come and gone!
Carlsbad Food Tours
Even though I'm not a "foodie" - I definitely recommend a food tour when you visit new destinations. The Carlsbad Food Tour was really well organized and included much more than just a sampling of food. Our guide was really excited to share local history and point out random things along the way that you might otherwise miss.
For example - I learned that Carlsbad got its name from a "sister city" in the Czech Republic. In 1882, a man named John Frazier discovered alkaline water in a well on his farm. The water turned out to be nearly identical to the water used at a famous wellness spa in the city of Karlsbad. Frazier began bottling the water and marketing it as a health drink at the local train station. People still come from all around to fill up their jugs and water bottles with Carlsbad water at the same well.
The tour ended with a delicious treat from the Strawberry Shack!
Music and Miniatures
Carlsbad is home to two fun local museums that caught my attention. The Museum of Making Music is featured in my book The Ultimate American Music Bucket List. It's a cool place with a large variety of instruments on display - including many that you can actually try to play! (I tried out a few of them including a banjo!)
The other museum that turned out to the true "hidden gem" of Carlsbad was the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum. It's an amazing collection of miniature engineering marvels! Everything from airplanes, to boats, cars, engines, robots, etc - all hand built from scratch. Most everything on display took at least a decade to build. I've never seen anything quite like it.
Legoland
Legoland is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Carlsbad though it's geared toward younger children and families. However - Legoland had one thing I absolutely wanted to see while I was in town: "Mini-land". This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen at an amusement park! Some of America's most notable destinations like Washington D.C., San Francisco, Las Vegas, and of course Southern California spots like Los Angeles and Carlsbad - all replicated in miniature form with Legos!
Surfing and The Beach
Who doesn't love a relaxing stroll along the beach? Not only does Carlsbad have beaches - you're likely to spot surfers riding the massive waves. Surfing is a part of the culture in this part of Southern California and Carlsbad is proud of its surfing heritage.
I can't tell you how many times I spotted people of all ages riding to and from the beach on bicycles - with surfboards in tow! All that was missing was Beach Boys song playing on the radio.
Each day I was able to enjoy the beach views from my perch at Hilton Garden Inn at Carlsbad Beach. This was my home base during my stay and I can't recommend them enough if you're going to spend some time here. It's a perfect location and the staff was great.
(Side note - the on-site restaurant was actually very impressive as well. Most hotel restaurants are just so-so. Everything I ate here was terrific!)
Flower Fields & More...
Many people flock to Carlsbad to check out the popular flower fields each spring. However, I was visiting in February and they weren't quite ready to blossom. The season typically begins March 1st.
I did make a point to stop at the Carlsbad Strawberry fields and purchase some strawberry jam to take with me on the road. I love picking up local products when I'm traveling and I'm excited to taste test when I have my next bit of downtime.
I could definitely come back to Carlsbad and keep busy! I ran out of time to personally experience everything Carlsbad has to offer but the local tourism office has a great website to find other things that may pique your interest!
Also be sure to listen to my "Bill On The Road" report from Carlsbad as heard on America At Night across the U.S. on 300 radio stations.
