Suggestions for Carlsbad, CA?
 

Taking the family to Carlsbad this week. Any suggestions on places local to Carlsbad worth visiting?
Thanks

Visit Carlsbad - Where to go for fun!

I am a big fan of the free concerts in the park (see link above). We have them here and for local flavor they are hard to beat.

When I lived in Coronado the Sunday concerts in the park were the deal.

Will you have a rental car?

San Diego is just down the freeway and there is more than a few things to do:cool:

Have fun!

Have kids with you? Legoland is right there. If you buy the tickets on line, they give you a discount and a two days for the price of one deal, parking is $15.

We are staying at LEGOLAND for the first two days. Kids are very excited.
We have a rental car. I am certain we will go to San Diego.

I haven't lived in San Diego for a long time, but when I visit on business I try and take in a Padres game and then dinner downtown. The area is great.

Now, if your kids are willing (wife as well) a pretty easy day trip would be a drive to Julian (Julian Tourism: 30 Things to Do in Julian, CA | TripAdvisor) then over to Anza Borrego State Park. The views are spectacular and if your kids haven't been to the desert, they may enjoy it. Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California (DesertUSA)

They also have jeep tours in the late afternoon.

Just something a bit different:D

If you head to San Diego, take the coast, U.S. 101. Not only will you view the ocean, but you'll pass through several beach towns that you can stop and enjoy--towns that haven't changed too much in the past 50 years--Leucadia, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar. Del Mar is home to the famous Del Mar race track and there is now the Del Mar Fair, in progress, where you may choose to spend a day.

Really lots of things to do within range of Carlsbad.

Pizza Port is a good pizza place in downtown Carlsbad. Good pizza, lots of beers on tap, and full of locals on a weekend evening.

If your kids are into Lego mini figures, they can bring them along to the hotel & park and trade with any of the employees (employees have little mini figures on their name badges). My kids had a blast running around doing that for 2 days.

San Diego is close enough that you can do anything there, too. The Zoo, the Safari Park, beaches, aviation museum, Old Town, Sea World, etc.

Wow, where to begin. If you like good beer, Stone brewery and bistro is in Escondido and well worth it. Lots of good beaches, Lego Land, San Diego waterfront is fun. Balboa park, zoo, etc...

Maybe too much for kids, but the USS Midway, retired aircraft carrier is way cool.

Plenty to do but try and not stay in the Lego Hotel. Quality is on par with a Best Western, but at 400+ per night with Lego theme. We did because the kids are really into Legos, so we gave in, but never again. Del Mar is a beautiful place just to hang out and have a meal. There's the wild animal park where you drive through and see the animals in the wild. I think you can pay extra to feel the lions from a truck. I think that was the place. Old age is catching up with me, so my memory is slipping away.

The SD area has a little bit of everything. Kid stuff like the Zoo and Sea World, rent boogie boards and hit the beach in the morning, rent a power or sailboat for an afternoon harbor cruise on Mission Bay, Great tacos and early history in Old Town, quaint mountain towns and the Palomar Observatory, Air museum, Anza Borrego might be a little tough in June at 110F though.

It's a great family destination for a full week of outdoor activities.

I will second both Pizza Port (I've only been to the one in Solana Beach, but it was great), and Stone Brewing.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I appreciate it. Lots of great ideas.

Anza Borrego will be wicked hot. Julia would be better. If kids, then LogoLand.

Be prepared for the water park, river sandals and bathing suit. Wear sunglasses in the Chima Wave Pool, sunshine was dazzling when I was there. They do have lockers that you rent for the day in that area too.

The San Diego Zoo is really something. I think there are some tide pools near Carlsbad, kids love that sort of stuff.

Oooo, just thought of another idea. Kayak La Jolla cove and visit the Scripps Birch aquarium. This is an excellent day trip.

Love this idea!

Oh man if i were going to Carlsbad I'd be up for it, those caverns are awesome!

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(I know, I know).


serial, Donovan's in La jolla makes a pretty darned good steak.

Donovan's Steak & Chop House
World Famous For A Reason
Donovan's La Jolla
(858) 450-6666
4340 La Jolla Village Drive

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Depending on where you decide to go, you might look into day passes that would be good for the Coaster and Trolley. The Coaster is the commuter train that runs along the coast from Oceanside to downtown and the San Diego Trolley is the light rail system that goes around the city.

And to throw out something else to see, they're building a replica of Juan Cabrillo's ship on the bay front that is kind of interesting if you're into that sort of thing. Cabrillo was the first European to explore the west coast.


San Salvador San Diego Build-site - Maritime Museum of San Diego

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The people ferry over to Coronado is a fun afternoon trip with maybe lunch at the Hotel del Coronado.

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Big +1 on that. I figured to kill a couple of hours checking it out, and wound up spending the entire day aboard. Quite fascinating.