Why I Like Living in Carlsbad California
Noah Seidenberg challenged us to write about our community in his Love Where You Live contest for August. Get yours in by August 31!
What a perfect time to do this as it’s my favorite season in Carlsbad! This really isn’t a challenge at all. It’s not perfect here – what community is – but the pros far outweigh the cons. I moved here in April 2005 after a year of exploring a number of coastal communities after making the decision to relocate from Boston.
So here are my top reasons why I love living in Carlsbad CA:
CARLSBAD WEATHER
San Diegans claim we live in paradise. I can’t argue with that, with average high temperatures in Carlsbad ranging from 64 to 75 degrees (average for the year 68.5), and average lows from 51 to 64. It can get colder at night in the winter, and during the summer or fall heat waves can hit the 80s or even 90 when the Santa Ana winds blow. Carlsbadians occasionally complain about the humidity but it does not compare to New England, or Washington DC, or the South! I know, I’ve lived there.
As everyone knows, rain is kinda rare here, and we are often in a drought, but when it does rain it can be pretty significant, and cause some flooding and landslides in some part of SoCal. We can go for months without rain!
What’s really nice about Carlsbad weather is you essentially can enjoy an outdoor lifestyle here year-round. I go barefoot almost all the time (except of course with clients and when out in public places other than the beach!).
You may or may not know about our marine layer – we call it May Gray and June Gloom, although it can happen at various times of the year. It’s more common near the coast, and while it can linger, some days when it occurs it burns off very quickly. Sometimes it’s just gray skies but we get ground fog, too.
THE ARTS IN CARLSBAD
One of the particular things I love about Carlsbad, as an art collector and former art gallery owner, is the breadth and depth of performing and visual arts. Carlsbad has a good rep as an arts community, which includes a variety of public art including statues, sculpture, and wall murals.
Carlsbad created their Art in Public Places Program in 1985, which was the first program of its kind in San Diego County. Check out Carlsbad’s public art interactive map of almost 3 dozen public works (not to mention the painted utility boxes and fire hydrants in the Village). One of the newer sculptures is at a recently built roundabout on the north end of the Village on the 101.
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 for residents and kids. The Carlsbad Sculpture Garden by the library is another wonderful addition to outdoor Carlsbad art. And don't forget the Carlsbad Art Wall, with several new wall murals each year!
We have a variety of galleries, multiple arts and crafts fairs (some are the largest 1-day outdoor fairs in the country), and the famous ArtSplash that has occurred annually September for many years (sadly, this event will not take place in 2016 and the future is unclear). The TGIF Concerts in the Parks are very popular, with 9 free concerts in the summer at 4 of Carlsbad’s prettiest parks during June, July and August. And the New Village Arts Theater in Carlsbad Village offers regular stage performances throughout the year – Rogers and Hammerstein’s famous “Oklahoma” runs mid-August to mid-September 2016.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN CARLSBAD
I often get asked about the things to see and do, and it’s been fun discovering all about Carlsbad in the last 11 years. You will never run out of things to do, although of course you can just sit on the beach and do nothing…does that count? Here’s a “short” list of some things to do – see the next section about the Carlsbad beaches for even more things you can enjoy. And check out my 365 Things to Do in Carlsbad Facebook page.
Golf (The Crossings, Rancho Carlsbad, the Aviara Golf Club, Omni La Costa)
World-famous Legoland
The Flower Fields (open March to mid-May annually)
Hiking Trails (about 50 miles)
3 Lagoons (Batiquitos, Agua Hedionda, Buena Vista – the 1st 2 have visitors centers)
2 Libraries (1 in La Costa, 1 near the Village)
Leo Carrillo Historic Ranch Park (Rancho Carrillo area off Melrose)
Movie Theatres (Regal, up north at The Shops at Carlsbad; the upscale Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in the La Costa area)
Outdoor Movies (summer – Flicks at the Fountain in the Village)
The Carlsbad Music Festival
The San Diego Jazz Festival (yes, in Carlsbad)
The La Costa Film Festival
Tennis and Golf Tournaments at the Omni La Costa Resort
Beach and Lagoon Cleanups
Water sports at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon (jet-skis, standup paddle boarding)
Shopping (I’m not a big shopper, but I know a little – The Forum, the Carlsbad Premium Outlets Mall, The Shops at Carlsbad, and numerous retailers, especially in Carlsbad Village, e.g., at The Village Faire)
The Carlsbad Triathlon, The Carlsbad Marathon and other similar athletic events
Spas – not just the famous Omni la Costa Resort and Spa but many day spas
CARLSBAD BEACHES
We are one continuous beach, 7 miles long, from the Oceanside border at Point Malo and the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon, south along the Coast Road/Historic Route 101 (photos, information and a video tour) to Encinitas.
There are lots of different beaches, by name, but it’s hard to tell where they start and end…and who cares anyway (e.g., Terramar, Warm Waters, Hole in the Fence, South Ponto, Frazee, Tamarack, Jetties, Carlsbad State Beach)? Some people refer to different beach areas by the numbered life guard shacks (20 to 38).
Our Carlsbad beaches are pretty special, whether you just like to sit on the sand and vegetate, watch the sun set, take walks, and enjoy dining al fresco, or be more active with surfing, boogie boarding, stand-up paddle boarding, beach volley ball, wind surfing, running, kayaking, and more. We have yoga classes on the beach, or you can attend surfing school if you’re just getting started!
Public access to the beaches is pretty good, although there are some places further north past South Carlsbad State Beach where you will need to take stairs.
While there are some pay parking lots at the state beaches (north and south end of Carlsbad), the majority of the parking is free. In some places you can park your car along the Coast Road and walk onto the beach, but in others you will need to hike down the stairs or even the bluff paths (that is, however, strongly discouraged for safety issues, and because it contributes to erosion problems).
Lots of people park in the residential areas across from the beach. 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 for you, right? Especially if you are just going to dup on the beach.
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 (as of this writing) ranging from $100,000 for a manufactured home near the beach to $11,000,000 for a gorgeous oceanfront estate (here’s the July Carlsbad market report).
We have gated and ungated communities, million dollar tract homes, new construction, affordable housing (for purchase or for rent), plus varied housing communities for seniors only (rentals, purchases, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care).
Whether you want a primary home, a vacation home, or an investment property, you will likely find it here in Carlsbad. Prices are 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.
Have questions about life here in Carlsbad, lur Village by the Sea?
Give me a call (760-840-1360) or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com. I'm happy to answer your questions and tell you more about the #CarlsbadLifestyle and being #AtHomeInCarlsbad!
Here’s a Snapshot of What Life is Like in Carlsbad!!
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