Discover Coastal Carlsbad
Carlsbad Coastline
Just 45 minutes north of San Diego, the beachside community of Carlsbad captures the essence of the Southern California lifestyle — laid-back, sun-soaked and effortlessly inviting. With seven miles of stunning coastline, Carlsbad is an ideal place to unwind, offering outdoor adventures from surfing and hiking to championship-level golf. Visitors can explore such top attractions as LEGOLAND® California Resort, the Museum of Making Music and the seasonal wonder of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch®. Food lovers will find a dynamic culinary scene, home to two Michelin-starred restaurants, along with a growing number of craft breweries and wine bars. Whether you’re staying at an upscale resort or a budget-friendly hotel, Carlsbad makes it easy to relax, recharge and fully enjoy the experience.
Carlsbad Highlights
Carlsbad Restaurants
Carlsbad Restaurants
Jeune et Jolie
This Carlsbad favorite (whose name translates from the French as "young and beautiful") has made a big splash under the guidance of owner John Resnick — who also opened the nearby Campfire — and Executive Chef Eric Bost. The Michelin organization, which awarded the restaurant a coveted star in 2021, calls Jeune et Jolie an "appealing and well-orchestrated French restaurant oozing with style and elegance at every turn."
Lilo
Compact but mighty, Lilo — the newest member of Carlsbad's spectacularly successful Bost/Resnick restaurant family — received a Michelin star just two months after opening. The 22-seat Lilo offers a fine-dining tasting menu that dazzled the Michelin raters. As they wrote: "Good things often come in small packages, and it's certainly true of Lilo, where guests are welcomed to a moveable feast beginning on the heated patio with an array of small bites before moving into the petite dining room. Chef Eric Bost and his team take clear pride in providing an extra level of care in their dishes, evidenced in plates like dry-aged Japanese kinmedai paired with a ragout of geoduck and bone marrow or 40-day dry-aged beef ribeye with preserved gurumelo mushrooms, seaweed, and bordelaise."
Campfire
A Michelin "Bib Gourmand" honoree since 2019, Campfire is an ode to fire, smoke and the outdoors (the place even has a teepee out back). Michelin's reviewers note that the restaurant's centerpiece is its custom-built 12-foot wood-burning hearth, "which lends an appropriate note of smoke to many of the kitchen’s offerings." And they add: "A nearly obligatory end to this glamping experience is the DIY s’mores, served with a small pile of red-hot coals for toasting fluffy house-made marshmallows."
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Dining options at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa include Bob’s Steak & Chop House and VUE. Both offer fresh-from-the-farm ingredients and seasonally inspired menus, plus indoor and outdoor seating.
Park Hyatt Aviara
Park Hyatt Aviara's beautiful lobby lounge, Pacific Point, makes for the perfect spot to catch Carlsbad's finest sunsets while sipping on your favorite cocktail or glass of wine. The luxurious hotel is also home to Ponto Lago, providing a refined modern setting featuring local Baja-inspired cuisine and specialty cocktails using mezcal and tequila. Ember & Rye serves delectable steaks and fresh seafood dishes rooted in fine local ingredients, served in a casual, vintage clubhouse setting located at the signature Arnold Palmer-designed Aviara Golf Club.
Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa
Offering locally grown fresh ingredients and flavors, 20|Twenty at the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa incorporates recipes from around the world, spectacular vistas of the Pacific coastline and a large outdoor patio area complete with fireplace.
Golfing
Golfing
Omni La Costa
The Omni La Costa golf courses, Legends and Champions, boast a rich tournament history dating back 50 years, filled with players ranging from the best professional golfers in the world to politicians, Hollywood celebrities and legendary sports heroes, including Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Tiger Woods. Visited by the PGA Tour for over thirty years, the two 18-hole, par 72 courses are nestled amongst 400 acres of lush landscape featuring slick putting surfaces, well-positioned bunkers and beautiful lakes. Going to this Carlsbad resort is the thing to do! You can also stay at this Carlsbad hotel and resort.
Aviara Golf Club
The only Arnold Palmer signature golf course in San Diego, the 7,007-yard, par 72 course at the Aviara Golf Club at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort winds through rolling valleys and features ocean views and stunningly manicured landscaping.
The Crossings at Carlsbad
The Crossings at Carlsbad is an 18-hole par 72 course that offers cool ocean breezes and panoramic views. With over 6,800 yards of play and five sets of tees, this course accommodates players of all skill levels.
Shopping
Shopping
Carlsbad Premium Outlets
Located adjacent to the Carlsbad Flower Fields, the Carlsbad Premium Outlets mall offers more than 80 stores, with everyday savings of 25-65%. Well-known designers and renowned brand name stores include Banana Republic, BCBG, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, Elie Tahari, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Theory, Tommy Hilfiger, Tory Burch, and Tumi.
Other Activities in Carlsbad
Other Activities in Carlsbad
LEGOLAND® California Resort
Geared toward children ages 2 to 12, the LEGOLAND® California Resort features a variety of LEGO-themed attractions including “Miniland,” which showcases some of the nation’s most famous cities — including San Diego — through life-size replicas built entirely from LEGO brick; and the LEGOLAND Water Park, with a 45-foot tower water slide. The adjacent SEA LIFE™ Aquarium is the first of its kind in North America, featuring unique hands-on and LEGO-themed exhibits. Taking the kids to LEGOLAND® is the thing to do in Carlsbad!
The Flower Fields® of Carlsbad
Each year in March and April, over 50 acres of blooming giant ranunculus flowers transform the hillsides of The Flower Fields® of Carlsbad into spectacular, vibrant color. Wagon rides and tours are offered and special events take place throughout the growing season, such as Kid's Day, Bluegrass Day, Arts and Crafts Fairs, and more.
Museum of Making Music
Explore more than 500 musical instruments during a tour of the Museum of Making Music, a museum dedicated to revisiting music throughout history, from the 1890s to today. In addition to displays and interactive, multimedia exhibits, the museum also hosts special events throughout the year, including concerts, films, workshops, camps and guest speakers.
Historic Highway 101
Drive down the coastline on Historic Highway 101 from laid-back Oceanside to luxurious La Jolla, enjoying the diverse and vibrant communities along the way that capture the true essence of a Southern California coastal vacation.
Carlsbad Events
Carlsbad Events
Carlsbad Village Street Faire
More than 100,000 residents and visitors take to the streets in the Village of Carlsbad for the twice-yearly Carlsbad Village Faire, the largest single-day street fair in the nation, held in May and November.
Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon
The Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon take advantage of the ideal winter running weather and spectacular coastal setting of Carlsbad. Each January, up to 10,000 runners enter these races that wind through the Village of Carlsbad and down historic Highway 101 along the Pacific Ocean.
TGIF Concerts in the Parks
Since 1986, the City of Carlsbad has hosted TGIF Concerts in the Parks, a series of free concerts at three community parks. The concerts take place on Fridays and run from late June through the summer.