5 Reasons Why I Like Living in Carlsbad California

5 Reasons Why I Like Living in Carlsbad California

This is the sort of blogging challenge that is not a challenge at all. I have really liked living in Carlsbad, since moving here in April of 2005, so it’s easy to be enthusiastic about all the great reasons to enjoy life in this Village by the Sea.

Here are my top 5 reasons why I like living in Carlsbad:

CARLSBAD WEATHER

We all say we live in paradise.

Overall, it’s hard to say anything bad about our weather except that it’s great – not too hot and not too cold. Yes, it will get into the 40s at night in the winter, or even down into the 30s on occasion, but you will get days of temps in the 60s and occasionally even the 70s.

And in the summer it’s rare to be over 80 except when the Santa Ana winds blow. Sometimes people complain about the humidity but these are folks who have never lived in New England, or Washington DC, or the South in the summer. The worst of our humidity does not even compare, IMO.

We do have our heat waves from time to time where temps can reach into the 90s, but they are usually short lived. If you like rain you are in for a bit of a disappointment – we don’t get a lot of it, as our 4-year drought demonstrates. We do have a rainy season, and we can get some pretty heavy rain at times, but for the most part rain is just not very common. We get May Gray and June Gloom, too, but it's only temporary.

THE BEACHES

There are about 7 miles of beaches, indeed one continuous one, from the Oceanside border at Point Malo and the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon, to Encinitas. And they have names, even though it’s pretty hard to say when one ends and another begins (e.g., Terramar, Warm Waters, Hole in the Fence, South Ponto, Frazee, Tamarack, Jetties).

The edge of the US continent is a pretty special place, whether you just like to sit on the sand and vegetate, take walks, or be more active with surfing (it may be the state sport!), boogie boarding, stand-up paddle boarding, beach volley ball, wind surfing and more. You can take yoga classes on the beach and attend surfing school, too!

One of the wonderful things about our beaches is public access and parking. While there are some pay parking lots at the state beaches (north and south end of Carlsbad), most everything else is free.

Park your car and walk onto the beach, or in some cases hike down the stairs or even the bluff paths (that is, however, strongly discouraged for safety issues, and because it contributes to erosion problems). You can park in the residential streets across the coast road, too. Does parking get crowded? You bet, especially on weekends and during the summer. But walking a little ways from your car to the beach is worth it, and good exercise.

CARLSBAD ARTS

One of the special features of Carlsbad is the performing and visual arts. We have developed quite a nice reputation as an art community, including having a wide range of public art (statues, sculpture, wall murals). Indeed Carlsbad’s Art in Public Places Program, created in 1985, was the first program of its kind in San Diego County. There’s even a public art interactive map of the several dozen works in Carlsbad, and it’s growing.

The city-owned Cannon Art Gallery is a true treasure with multiple exhibits throughout the year (all free) with opening-night receptions and open studios. The Carlsbad Sculpture Garden by the library is another wonderful addition to Carlsbad art.

We have a variety of galleries, multiple arts and crafts fairs, and the famous ArtSplash in September. The TGIF Concerts in the Parks offer 9 free concerts in the summer for music lovers. And the New Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad Village offers regular stage performances throughout the year.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

Everyone who is moving here asks me about the things to see and do. And there is quite a list. You won’t run out of things to do and see in Carlsbad. We’ve already covered the beaches and things you can enjoy at the beach - surfing, boogie boarding, kite flying, swimming, sunning yourself and al fresco dining. But here’s a short list of more to do:

Multiple arts and crafts fairs

Golf – The Crossings, Rancho Carlsbad, the Aviara Golf Club, Omni La Costa

World-famous Legoland

The Flower Fields (March to May each year)

The Museum of Making Music

2 terrific libraries

The Carlsbad Music Festival

The San Diego Jazz Festival (yes it’s held in Carlsbad)

The La Costa Film Festival

Tennis and Golf Tournaments

Beach Cleanups

Cannon Art Gallery - multiple exhibits throughout the year

TGIF Concerts in the Parks 9-concert series in the summer

Shopping – The Forum, the Carlsbad Premium Outlets Mall, Westfield Mall and numerous retailers, especially in Carlsbad Village

The Carlsbad Triathlon, The Carlsbad Marathon and other similar running events

Spas – not just the famous Omni la Costa Resort and Spa but many others

CARLSBAD HOUSING

Carlsbad has a wide range of housing styles and prices, to suit just about every taste and budget, from bungalows to condos to oceanfront estates, with prices ranging from about $120,000 for a manufactured home near the beach to an $11,000,000 gorgeous oceanfront home.

We have a wide selection of apartments, affordable homes and rentals, and a range of housing options for seniors from assisted living to skilled nursing.

Whether you want a primary home, a vacation home, or a rental property, you are likely to be able to find it here in Carlsbad, our paradise by the sea in Southern California. Yes prices may seem high relative to other parts of the country, but for coastal living in the San Diego area, Carlsbad homes represent terrific value compared to our neighbors to the south.

Here’s What Life is Like in Carlsbad!!