• If you’re traveling with kids (or kids at heart), LEGOland’s multiple theme parks are a must-see, featuring an aquarium, water park, and dozens of heart-pounding rides that the whole family can tackle.
• From March through May every year, the giant ranunculus flowers at the famed Carlsbad Flower Fields carpet 55 acres of gently rolling hills in brightly colored blossoms.=
• Open to the public for tours and tastings, sustainability-focused Carlsbad Aquafarm holds the title of Southern California’s only oyster farm. You’ll also find mussels and culinary seaweed growing here.
• While many beaches surround Carlsbad, Carlsbad State Beach should be your number-one destination for picnicking, sunbathing, and swimming.
• Lined with boutique stores and cafes, Carlsbad Village’s walkable downtown provides a perfect place to grab a bite to eat or simply sit back and people-watch. 
• Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park consists of a collection of historic structures — and a lovely, lush park — established by actor and conservationist Leo Carrillo.
• The village of Carlsbad owes its very existence to a series of mineral springs, discovered by merchant and farmer John Frazier in the 1880s and quickly marketed as a tourist destination. Visitors today can still benefit from the springs’ salubrious effects by booking a treatment or bath at Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa.

• Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie invites guests to take a seat on one of their plush, pink benches for multi-course, French-inspired meals and a-la-carte eats.
• The sister restaurant of Jeune et Jolie (and recipient of a well-deserved Bib Gourmand Michelin distinction), Campfire encourages gatherings over a diverse menu of California-inspired fare that includes coal-fired oysters, Oaxacan-spiced chicken, and, yes, s’mores for dessert.
• Southern California has no shortage of sushi restaurants, but Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi Bar stands out from the pack thanks to a sophisticated menu that spans both land and sea.
• Tucked inside the Four Seasons of North San Diego, Seasons Restaurant dishes up three meals a day (plus happy hours and weekend brunch) of modern American cuisine, using locally sourced and sustainable ingredients.
• San Diego’s only three-starred Michelin restaurant, Addison pairs New French cuisine with an extensive variety of wines — be sure to book your 10-course tasting well in advance.
• The elegant, art-deco-style dining room at Paon Restaurant & Bar will impress from the moment you step inside, but just wait until you taste the seared yellowfin tuna or the decadent duck confit.
• Also recently decorated with a Michelin star, Valle in Oceanside boasts a seasonal, eight-course menu rooted in the traditional foods of Baja California.
• Carlsbad French Pastry Cafè has served crêpes, coffee, and indulgent, melt-in-your-mouth confections for more than 20 years.
• Between creamy strawberry tiramisu and sweet, yet tart strawberry lemonade, Carlsbad’s Strawberry Shack puts California fruit to good use in just about any form you can imagine.

• Nestled in an estuary behind Carlsbad’s beaches, Batiquitos Lagoon is a peaceful area to spot wildlife and hike some short, but scenic trails.
• Golfers can set a tee time at one of several greens within Carlsbad, including Aviara Golf Course, Rancho Carlsbad Golf Course, and the Crossings at Carlsbad.
• Carlsbad Food Tours showcases the best of the region’s foods, wines, and beers over the course of three hours in the village’s walkable downtown.
• The Museum of Making Music hosts occasional live music performances and shares how dozens of different instruments have been created, used, and passed along over the centuries.
• Located on the shores of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, California Watersports rents out all the essentials for a day on the water.
• In nearby Solana Beach, the short trail to Annie’s Slot Canyon draws hikers and bird watchers.
• All that glitters is gold at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Museum, which puts on rotating exhibitions of gemwork and fine jewelry.
• Run by a mother-daughter duo, Carlsbad’s Candle Bar offers candle-making classes that allow visitors to dream up their very own custom creations.
• Open for different U-pick activities year-round, Carlsbad Strawberry Company has been owned and operated by the same local family since the 1950s.
• SoCal Surf Lessons teaches visitors how to hang ten with group, private, and kids’ classes. But if you want to tackle the waves on your own, don your wetsuit and dive in at Tamarack Beach, the area’s premier surfing destination.
• Visitors to Barrio Glassworks can watch mesmerizing glass-blowing demonstrations, purchase the stunning final products, and even take a hot glass class at this public studio.
• One of San Diego county’s oldest and best loved musical traditions, the annual concert series TGIF Concerts in the Parks takes place in four of the village’s municipal parks every summer. But that’s not the only live entertainment in town — both Carlsbad Community Theater and New Village Arts stage theatrical performances throughout the year.

• For a taste of Southern California’s colorful skate culture, browse Status Skateshop’s selection of everything wheeled, including longboards, surfskates, and one-wheels.
• At independent Spin Records, you can find new additions to your vinyl collection or score band pins and posters.
• If you happen to forget something at home, swing by the outdoor mall Carlsbad Premium Outlets to shop from the likes of Coach, Tory Burch, and Ferragamo.
• Sun Diego Boardshop celebrates the area’s rich surfing history, selling surf clothing, gear, and, of course, plenty of different boards for all types of waves.
• Earth’s Elements aims to help visitors seeking inner healing — or anyone hunting for some statement jewelry — by supplying everything from crystals and candles to aromatherapy necklaces and guided meditation books.
• Besides bottles of boutique wines, Witch Creek Winery sells one-of-a-kind antiques and drinks from Sleeping Tiger Coffees.
• Multimedia gallery North Coastal Art Gallery displays original works from various community artists. If you see a piece you like, don’t hesitate to snap it up — the exhibits rotate every month.
• Purchase farm-fresh produce and sip kombucha on tap at Carlsbad’s Farmers Market, which takes place Wednesday afternoons on State Street.

• In nearby south Oceanside, the Green Room Hotel pays homage to the best of Southern California culture with chic, Boho room designs and eco-friendly personal care items. Doubles start from around $152.
• Family-owned boutique hotel Beach Terrace Inn puts guests up close and personal with the Pacific via an oceanfront pool and sea-facing rooms. Doubles from around $243.
• Just a few blocks from the center of Carlsbad Village, Seashore on the Sand provides another relaxed beachside retreat, offering a variety of multi-bedroom suites ideal for large groups or families. Rooms from around $400.
• 4-star Omni La Costa Resort & Spa operates spacious suites, villas, and guest rooms out of a Spanish mission-style property within Carlsbad city limits. Rooms start at around $365.
• There’s plenty to talk about at Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, including the award-winning Ocean Crest Spa and a fitness center with Pacific views, but this Hilton resort also helps guests explore the area with complimentary beach pack rentals, borrowable bicycles, and free rides to village hotspots. Doubles from around $234.
• Hyatt locations in the area include breezy Mission Pacific Hotel, clifftop Alila Marea Beach Resort, and the 5-star Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, giving World of Hyatt members the pick of the litter. Prices vary by hotel.
• For family-friendly stays, book a room at The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort or the cushy Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa. Both offer special amenities (and excellent, central locations) for anyone traveling with kids.
• Short-term vacation rentals abound on Carlsbad Boulevard, which runs parallel to the village’s many sandy beaches.

You can ride Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner to Carlsbad, which will put you right in the middle of the walkable downtown. But your best bet for transportation — as in pretty much all of Southern California — will be a car. You’ll find free or low-cost public parking near most attractions, but factor in some extra travel time to account for California’s famous traffic.