As we continue our walking journey in North County San Diego we uncover yet another area in Carlsbad where you can find real estate within walking distance to amenities like shopping, dining and other things to do (bookstores, beaches).

Other Walkable Neighborhoods:

Walkable Neighborhood Series: Downtown Encinitas

Walkable Neighborhood Series: Cardiff Real Estate in The Walking District in Cardiff-by-the-Sea  

Carlsbad Village is a charming community on the ocean about 30 miles from downtown San Diego. Carlsbad has long been regarded as a popular tourist destination year-round, and retirement spot due to the many amenities, terrific beaches, fabulous weather and the wonderful Southern California lifestyle.

Carlsbad Village has numerous restaurants with a broad diversity of food styles and budgets, from very casual to more upscale (favorites of mine are Le Passage, and Fish House Veracruz). Some are located near the ocean with a few having ocean views (e.g., Dini's Bistro, and the Vigiluci's by Tamarack Beach).

There are plentiful shops of all persuasions - clothing (new, second-hand), home and garden, jewelry, antiques (individual stores as well as small antique malls just north of Grand Avenue), beads, beach wear, surfing, and much more. Want ice cream? Pottery? Newspapers? Books? Got all that. Enjoy art? There are several galleries too. Small business services are found throughout Carlsbad Village to meet every need - glass repair, home design, tax preparation. You can even buy mineral water from the Alt Karlsbad building on the main drag.

The Coaster stops in Carlsbad Village, so you can head to Oceanside via this commuter train or take it downtown to enjoy all the shopping and dining San Diego has to offer in the Gaslamp Quarter and nearby.

Carlsbad Village has two Farmer's Markets, too. One is Wednesday afternoon from 1 - 5 PM, the other is on Saturdays from 9 - 2.

And of course there are the wonderful Carlsbad beaches - for surfing, watching sunsets, enjoying beach picnics, swimming, and walking. There is also a boardwalk along the bluff (well, it's concrete) for strolling and enjoying the waves, sunsets, and the pelicans flying by.

Folks seeking retirement options have a number of places to choose from. There are several retirement communities in the village, some very close to the ocean along the Coast Road and others a few blocks inland (near the Senior Citizens Center on Oak Street). Carlsbad by the Sea is perhaps the best known, and largest, community. They even have their own art gallery, The Front Porch Gallery.

Carlsbad real estate near Carlsbad Village is, as one would expect, fairly pricey given the proximity to the ocean. There are homes and condos with ocean views, and on occasion an ocean front property. But there are some reasonably priced options as well if you are not too fussy.

Carlsbad real estate in the detached home category near the village ranges from $599,000 to $1.4 million with 10 homes currently on the market; most of these are small cottages, some of which have been remodeled, and they fall in the Very Walkable to Walker's Paradise categories. At least one is more suitable as a development site. A little further out (Somewhat Walkable) one can spend up to $4.25 million for a home on the Buena Vista Lagoon.

The 10 available attached homes range in price from $399,000 for a small condo (2 BR 2 BA, 925 SF) to $3.5 million for an ocean view (not frontage) townhome, all in the Very Walkable category.

If you would like more information about this area, or a customized list of properties meeting your criteria within walking distance to Carlsbad Village and/or the beaches, please let me know.

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If I can provide more information about Encinitas, Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits