You Might be from Carlsbad CA If…
Living in Carlsbad California is a delight in many ways. As a 10 year resident I think Carlsbad exemplifies the Southern California lifestyle that so many hear, and dream, about.
Oh, yeah, California Dreamin’ – remember that classic by The Mamas and The Papas? OK, so they mention LA – it’s just 90 minutes north. Take a step back with this video!
If you are a Beach Boys fan you know doubt know "California Girls" - here's just one of many videos of this classic.
Carlsbad has its very own windmill, located at Palomar Airport Road and Paseo Del Norte, just a hop from the 5 Freeway and the Coast Road. The windmill is part of a catering and conference complex, but what a sight to behold along the coast. Truly a Carlsbad icon
I bet you didn’t know that Carlsbad is actually named after a 19th century spa in the former Czech Republic known as Karlsbad.
And continuing that theme, Alt Karlsbad is a very cool European looking building on the Coast Road in the Vilkage where you can purchase mineral water at a kiosk OR take a mineral bath. Or have a massage and other services in a very cool building that has some intriguing décor. Yes, there are mineral springs in Carlsbad, discovered over 100 years ago. And the mineral water is used in the authentic Italian gelato now being made at my fave sweet spot, Gaia Gelato, that opened earlier this year.
Those who love skate boarding, a popular mode of transportation in SoCal, already know this - Carlsbad is the home of the first skateboard park in the world. Skateboarding became popular in the 60s – the thing for surfers to do when they couldn’t surf – and grew increasingly so in the 1970s. World famous skateboarder Tony Hawk lives next door in Encinitas and there is a wonderful new skate boarding park by the Safety Training Center, and another in the recently completed Alga Norte Community Park in the La Costa Greens area.
Lots of people have no idea that Carlsbad has a fish hatchery (white sea bass), AND the Carlsbad Aquafarm that produces mussels, oysters, clams and abalone, all located at the Agua Hedionda lagoon about 1.5 miles south of the Village and a popular hangout for the brown pelicans. Go figure.
Carlsbad is famous for strawberries, with the Carlsbad Strawberry Company known far and wide. The Carlsbad Strawberry Company fields can be seen along the freeway just north of Cannon Road and just east of the 5 freeway, and are great place to pick up a few baskets of strawberries or spend some time picking your own.
One of the popular tourist attractions in Carlsbad, for a limited time, are the Flower Fields, an amazing collection (acres and acres) of ranunculas that bloom from mid March until early May every year. This highly popular tourist attraction next to the Carlsbad Premium Outlets Mall draws thousands of visitors every year. And a great place to view the fields, anytime you want and for free, is on Armada Drive, at the top of the hill to the west. Not only do you get to enjoy the fields but you get a 180 degree panoramic view of all of Carlsbad, the ocean and the Carlsbad Windmill.
I’d be surprised if you don’t know that Carlsbad is the site of Legoland California, one of Legoland’s 4 theme parks – the others are in the UK, Germany and Denmark. And Legoland is much more than legos, with a water park, hotel and so much more.
Leo Carrillo, screen actor (The Cisco Kid TV series), philanthropist and environmentalist, built a hacienda and working ranch in Carlsbad in the 1900s. The ranch has been preserved at the Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Park, including a large collection of peacocks, and many acres of the original ranch have been developed into the master planned community, Rancho Carrillo. The park is free, and you can arrange tours with docents at specific times to get into all of the original buildings.
If you follow snow boarding you already are aware that Carlsbad is the hometown of Shaun White, professional snow boarder and winner of the Gold Medal at the Winter Olympics in 2000.
As far as I know Carlsbad has more lagoons than any other Southern California community - there are 3, the Batiquitos, Agua Hedionda and Buena Vista. Only the Agua Hedionda lagoon allows water activities and boating. Abundant bird life and places to walk add so much pleasure to the lagoons. There is a wonderful visitors center at the east end of the Agua Hedionda. They even have a very popular coffee kiosk!
Carlsbad has a number of popular athletic running and walking events during the year. But the big kahuna is the Carlsbad Triathlon, one of the world’s longest running triathlons (top 5). And what great scenery along the ocean for a good portion of the course.
The Carlsbad Museum of Making Music is a music-lovers paradise. You can spend hours here exploring all they have to offer, not to mention multiple concerts and events throughout the year. Well worth a visit.
And lest we forget, Carlsbad is one big beach, about 7 miles long. While there are lots of different “beaches,” access points, and names (I love the “Hole in the Fence Beach”), they are share one thing in common – a spectacular view of the ocean at the western end of the US continent with a multitude of ways to relax and enjoy. And a perfect place to enjoy watching the sun set over the ocean.
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