Visit Carlsbad and Start Having Some Fun

Visit Carlsbad and Start Having Some Fun

Carlsbad is one of those towns that has more fun things to do then you might have time for.  From hanging out on the beaches, hiking the lagoon or wine tasting, Carlsbad has you covered in activities. Here are 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad, come for a visit you’ll love it.

• Beaches

Carlsbad is located in sunny San Diego County and it has 7 miles of pristine sandy beaches to explore. Bring your surfboard and check out Tamarack Beach or Ponto for some great rides on the waves.  Stand-up paddle boarding has also become a very popular activity on the lagoons or at the beach. The boardwalk runs along the beach in Carlsbad and is ideal for bike riding or walking.

• Carlsbad Village

Located in the heart of downtown Carlsbad near the waterfront. Carlsbad is a fun little beach town in north county San Diego.  Carlsbad Village is where many of the visitors to town spend most of their time, local boutiques, eateries and hotels are all located near the village including the famous Carlsbad Inn which is a great place to stay while you are in town. Carlsbad Village is very walkable, come and stroll through the streets and get a glimpse of Carlsbad history while you do so. The Village is one of my favorites of the 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad.

• Historical Sites believe it or not is one of the 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad

 Carlsbad Mineral Water & Spa A great way to learn about the history of Carlsbad is to visit the Carlsbad Mineral Water & Spa and taste some of the local alkaline artisan mineral water and maybe even have a relaxed spa treatment while you are there. The city of Carlsbad was named after “Carlsbad, Czechoslovakia the famous spa city in the Czech Republic.  Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is a spa town in the west Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Its numerous thermal springs have made it a popular resort since the 19th century.

•  Carlsbad Barrio Museum

Located on the corner of Roosevelt and Walnut in the original Lola’s building. The museum houses information about some of the first families to settle in the barrio; the Ramirez and Trejos families came to the Carlsbad Barrio area in 1918.

• Shipley Magee House 

A craftsman home built in 1887 by Samuel Church Smith, one of the founders of the Carlsbad Land and Water Company. It is now home to the Carlsbad Historical Society. Magee’s House also has a beautiful rose & herb garden.

• Leo Carrillo Ranch & Historic Park

A designated Historic National Landmark that was opened to the public in August 2003. Leo Carrillo is a 27-acre historical park that was originally a working ranch owned by the famous actor Leo Carrillo.  As an entertainer Leo was highly successful, appearing in 15 major stage plays and over 90+ motion pictures.  Leo’s greatest fame however, came from his portrayal of Pancho, the mischievous sidekick to Cisco Kid in the 1950 television series.

• Shop Carlsbad:  Shopping is always in the top 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad

Carlsbad Village Shopping is great, here is a list of some favorites: Olde Ivy Antiques, Wysh Boutique, The Beat Clothing, Blues & Shoes, Coolest Shoes, Linda’s Gifts, Mermaids, Aranelle, Double Take and Retail Therapy.
                                                                                                                                  
Village Faire Shopping Center is another great option for browsing the local shops in Carlsbad and it is located at the corner of Carlsbad Village drive and Carlsbad Blvd.
Carlsbad Art & Antique Mall A must does shopping experience in Carlsbad.
Carlsbad Premium Outlet Mall features 90 stores offering exceptional designer named items. The Outlet Mall has some extraordinary savings of 25% to 65% on your favorite brands.   The mall has an impressive collection of designers and leading brands including Banana Republic, Coach, Jones New York, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, True Religion and many more.  Dining is also available in the mall, options include both indoor and outdoor seating including one of my favorite Belle fleur Restaurant.
The Forum Carlsbad is another great place to spend the day shopping and having fun. The Forum has an elite collection of merchants, including Victoria Secret, Free People, J Crew, Apple and many other designer’s brands. Dining options include Buca de Beppo and Casa de Bandini.
Carlsbad Street Faire:                                                                                                    
The one-day street faire is the largest in the nation, more than 100,000 people will take in the beauty of our seaside city while browsing through unique booths for unusual and distinct items. The Carlsbad Village Faire will take place on May 1, 2016. Each year, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce hosts the faire in May and November.

• Wine Tasting: Carlsbad has several great wine tasting locations in town:

Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad, it is considered an Urban Winery’ in that there is no vineyard on the property, they source their grapes from various locations including Paseo Robles in Northern California, Fallbrook and Valley de Guadalupe in Baja California. They then blend the grapes using traditional wine making techniques and create some fabulous red wines. Of course wine tasting is on the list of 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad, why wouldn’t be?

Paon Restaurant, Wine Bar & Fine Wine Specialty Shop is another great place to taste some fabulous wines in Carlsbad.
Relm Wine Bistro is another fabulous place to relax and listen to music while sipping wine and enjoying a delicious cheese platter.

• Carlsbad Breweries

San Diego County, California has been called “the Craft Beer Capital of America. There are more than 100 breweries in the county. As of 2014 San Diego ranked among the 50 largest brewers in the US. North County San Diego Highway 78 from Oceanside to Julian is affectionately called the “Hop Highway”, because of all of the local breweries.  And Carlsbad is not far behind them with heavy hitters like Karl Strauss Carlsbad and Pizza Port and 83 Degrees , the brewer business in Carlsbad is booming.
Scavanger’s Beer & Adventure Tours is another great way to experience Carlsbad’s Beer culture. It is an all-inclusive beer adventure. Ride along with us in their vintage 1973 Swiss Military Safari Jeeps around the sunny Carlsbad coast. Sample tasty IPA’s, Farmhouse ales, Lagers, Porters, and Stouts at some of San Diego’s coolest breweries. Check out Carlsbad Beer & BBQ Safari at http://www.brewerytoursandiego.com/carlsbad

• Culinary Tourism  

Carlsbad Food Tours is a culinary & history tour of Carlsbad Village. The tours are facilitated by gourmet docents (tour guides) who have a love and passion for Carlsbad’s eateries. The goal is to provide both a fun and fulfilling experience as we walk (and eat) our way through Carlsbad’s most scenic and historic neighborhoods. Expect the tour to be about three hours as you learn about the origins of Carlsbad, to what we see today.  Throughout the tour, you’ll sample unique local favorites from neighborhood restaurants, cafes, and specialty food stores.  All food tastings are included in the ticket price and enough for an average lunch or light dinner. Carlsbad Food Tours provides unique and specially-selected food tastings served from locally-owned and operated specialty food shops and ethnic or local eateries. Stops include one of Carlsbad’s most romantic restaurant, tasty deserts from local eateries that have been made from recipes passed on from generation to generation. Award-winning wines that are grown in California, will be a delight for your taste buds. California wines are some of the best wines in the world.  Enjoy wine tasting at one of Carlsbad’s Urban Wineries.

Tasting Locations include: Gregorio’s Italian Restaurant, Witch Creek Winery, Cicciotti’s Italian Restaurant, Humble Olive Oils, Cafe Topes, Cafe Panini and Chocolate Bar and Gaia Gelato.

• Carlsbad Flower Fields

Carlsbad Ranch-Relax and take a few hours to indulge your inner nature lover in a place that is filled with vibrant colored flowers. The Flower Fields is home to the famous Giant Tecolote Ranunculus Flower that blooms there at spring time every year.  When the flowers are in bloom it looks like Holland has arrived in Carlsbad.  It is a spectacular view of the blooms on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  It is a great place to take family photos while strolling the gardens. Prime time for viewing the Flower Fields is March – May.

• Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Carlsbad’s ultimate luxury retreat and top ranked spa with a 36 hole world famous Golf Course. It is currently being home to two PGA Tours. And is also a member of the Historic Hotels of America.

• Making Music Museum

An organization that presents visitors with an interactive journey through a century of instrument innovations that shaped American popular music. The Making Museum has over 450 vintage instruments and hundreds of audio and video clips, that provides a unique, memorable and educational adventure for all to enjoy!

• Gemological Institute of American in Carlsbad

GIA World Headquarters is the premier gem studies school located in Carlsbad, CA. Gia has state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories for the study of gems.  Gia is also an internationally recognized museum on gems.
Outdoor and Indoor activities are on the list of 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad

• Nikaro Outdoors

Located in downtown Carlsbad. The bike tours provide epic rides with the mighty Pacific Ocean as a backdrop as we pass through many seaside towns.

• Pedego Electric Bikes

Conveniently located in the Village of Carlsbad, and just minutes to the beach, Pedego Carlsbad offers electric and pedal bicycle sales, rentals, tours and service. Bicycle Tours in Carlsbad:

• Carlsbad State Park Campgrounds

A camp by the sea is a special place to be. Carlsbad State Park has a large campground that can accommodate RV’s and tents. The park has 220 campsites and two day-use areas. Ponto Day-Use Area, south of the campground, has restroom. South Carlsbad State Beach is reached by exiting Interstate 5 at Palomar Airport Road in the City of Carlsbad and heading south along the Pacific Coast Highway (Carlsbad Blvd).Camp Carlsbad

• TGIF Concerts in the Park

Eat, Drink, Dance & be Merry, when the music stops it is time to go home.

• Carlsbad Music Festival

Music by the sea usually takes place in the month of August.

• New Village Arts Theatre

An award winning professional art theatre in the heart of Carlsbad. The theatre has a wide variety of events and shows including highly rated musicals and plays.  It also serves as a music venue for local bands and groups.  The New Village Arts Founder Studio is an onsite artist workspace located within the center.

Carlsbad has more then 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad, come see for yourself at Carlsbad has to offer. Actually the 20 Fun Things to do in Carlsbad should be 40-50+ things to do in Carlsbad.