5 Reasons I Love Carlsbad

My travel bucket list is long and seemingly insatiable. The top tourist spots – Paris, Rome, Venice, Athens, London – have already been crossed off. And yet, when I was invited to Carlsbad — a city I had never heard of — I wasn’t sure what to expect.

In the four days I spent in Carlsbad, I learned that this town, just north of San Diego, is a scenic SoCal destination that’s surrounded by pristine golf courses and hill-top homes. It has all the perks of LA without the hype; the scenic views of San Diego, minus the congestion. After just a short trip, I was ready to call all my friends and tell them that they needed to go check it out. What makes this resort town such a hot-spot? Read on to find out…

Here are 5 reasons I loved my visit:

The Spa at La Costa

My visit to Carlsbad almost didn’t happen, with an east coast ice storm that had my 8 am flight sitting on the tarmac until noon, only to be cancelled. After several hours of airline customer service maneuvering, I managed to get on a late-night flight to LAX. By the time I stepped out of my longgggg cab ride, I was exhausted — and checking in at 2 am local time! Yikes!

Needless to say, I was in desperate need of a relaxing experience. Thankfully, a trip to the spa was just what the doctor ordered.

Arriving at the hacienda-inspired The Spa at La Costa early the next morning, I changed into my robe and lounged in the indoor-outdoor waiting area. The spa is surrounded by immaculate gardens, an outdoor fountain, and small paddling pool. I sat on the edge of the the fountain, sipping my favorite Tea Forté ginger pear tea, already feeling a world away from the office and the hectic, outside world.

My first treatment was their new Strawberry Hibiscus Body Buff. I settled into the heated massage bed, where my dry, jet-lagged body was massaged with avocado oil and sprinkled with powdered strawberries and hibiscus flowers. The mixture was gently worked in, from my neck to my toes. It felt like an aromatherapy massage mixed with a full body exfoliation, and I needed both. A quick in-room shower later and the finishing touch was the sweetly scented chocolate shea butter cream that left me bathing suit ready.

All that exfoliating and massaging had relieved my travel headache, and the perfect finale to my spa experience was the pampering Stone Journey Pedicure. My feet were in less-than-stellar condition, but a warm-water herbal soak (a geranium, ginger, tea tree, and jasmin mix) and buff already left them transformed. Hot stones were used to massage my feet and lower legs, which is said to relieve tension. For me it truly did, feeling the warm stones against my cold feet. I opted for a bright fuchsia polish to announce – feet first – that I was ready for my California experience.

Tip: Don’t leave without trying their outdoor Roman waterfall showers, then taking a walk on their stone path labyrinth for meditative reflexology. I also recommend checking out The Chopra Center, where professional healers help guests gain emotional, spiritual and physical balance.

The Flower Fields

My gardening skills can be summed up in two words: black thumb. My short memory (or maybe it’s my optimism?) allows me to continually buy potted plants, and then somehow reliably kill them in under a month.

That’s why I hesitated when every Carlsbad local I talked to mentioned a mandatory visit to the springtime gardening marvel, the Carlsbad Flower Fields. I wasn’t too eager to visit a field of flowers (boring, right?). Well, I decided to check it out anyway, and just getting a glimpse of them from my car window left me in absolute awe.

Row upon row of colorful flowers is a feast for the eyes. Open in the spring, from early March to early May, strolling through the over 50 acres of flower fields is a one-of-a-kind experience. Walk amongst bright pink, yellow and orange Tecolote Giant Ranunculus flowers (yes, I had to look up the name!), which have been cultivated here for over 85 years, originally planted by early settlers in the 1920’s.

Hop on a wagon ride to take in all the scenery and opt for a floral selfie as a modern keepsake with a classic backdrop.

Witch Creek Winery

As lush and romantic as Napa can be, you won’t miss out in Carlsbad, as its downtown tasting room proved every bit as tempting.

I’m always excited to go to local winery tastings because it’s a great way to meet new people and even get some (hopefully, colorful) advice about the local area. Walking through town, you can’t miss spotting Witch Creek Winery, with a striking rainbow tiger mural by artist Michael Summers on the side of the building.

Inside, you’ll find many one-of-kind wines to sip on. Sure, they have Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon but have you heard of Nebbiolo and Montepulciano varieties? I’m not a connoisseur, but my untrained palate found their wines to be delicious. The cute black cat on their labels is a good enough reason to take a bottle (or four) home.

Try these rare reds in the Carlsbad tasting room, and get the lowdown on this 20-year-old winery. It all started in the Witch Creek California hills (that’s where they get their name), but now they get their grapes from several regions in Cali, plus Mexico. How exotic!

Tamarack Beach

When you think of southern California, you think beach, right? So it’s no surprise that Carlsbad delivers with a number of temptingly scenic beaches. My personal favorite was Tamarack Beach.

This low-key beach is a year-round destination perfect for a morning stroll or evening bonfire on the coastline. There’s also a lengthy boardwalk if you just want to take in the view without getting sand in your shoes. Looking for something active to do? Try scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, beachcombing or surfing.

The waves might make for an intense swim, but are ideal surfing conditions. You’ll find several surfing schools offering lessons for first-time boarders brave enough to start on the ocean. I wasn’t — but my hubby swears it was worth it!

There are lots of restaurants in the area, but I’ve always loved a good picnic. Tamarack has a reputation for being one of the cleanest beaches, so you can set-up a romantic or family picnic on the unspoiled shores. Spend the day and take in the awe-inspiring sunset that locals swear is different every night; you’ll just have to visit again and again to be sure.

Carlsbad Village Dining

The heart of Carlsbad is Carlsbad Village, with dozens of shops and restaurants for locals and tourists to indulge in. It’s the ideal dining option because there’s literally something for everyone: Italian, seafood, Mediterranean, and my pick – vegetarian.

It’s not easy to find exciting vegan or vegetarian options at home, let alone while travelling, but Naked Cafe came highly recommended. The trendy spot has a laid-back California surfer vibe, with real (and real tasty!) food options.

It’s the perfect place for breakfast with yummy but healthy options like a coconut french toast or fuzzy monkey pancake (banana and granola!). If you just want to stop in for a quick treat, I’d go for their unique and deeelish pumpkin spice latte, made with real mulled spices and espresso. My mouth is watering just reminiscing about it! They also have made-to-order sandwiches (where you pick your spread and toppings), and homemade style soups. Whether you’re a vegan or not, you’ll find new tastes to love at this local cafe.

Bonus Tip: If you’re travelling with kids, make sure to visit Legoland California — a fun lego-themed amusement park in Carlsbad. Inside there’s a Lego zoo, lots of rides, a castle playground, as well as water park and aquarium options.

Taking in the sights and flavors of Carlsbad, I was left with a feeling of deep tranquility. It’s that California feeling everyone talks about, and Carlsbad definitely has it.