City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Carlsbad, California
Known as “The Village by the Sea,” Carlsbad is famous for golfing, lagoons and beautiful beaches. The Southern California the city is located on the Pacific coast between Huntington Beach and San Diego. It’s an easy stop-over if you’re driving along Historic Highway 101 or anchored at a private boat slip rental along the coast.
Spend the day paddleboarding at Agua Hedionda, relaxing at Carlsbad State Beach or visiting Tamarack Surf Beach where you can walk/run along the 1.9-mile Carlsbad Sea Wall (a boardwalk of sorts), which stretches from Tamarack to the Carlsbad Village Rail Station.
In addition to the water-based fun, you’ll find an array of land activities and attractions to visit from private boat lifts for rent. Let’s check out some of them.
Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Photo: Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park (Facebook)
Set within a 27-acre canyon, Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park is a former working ranch previously owned by actor, conservationist and political cartoonist Leo Carrillo (most known for playing Pancho in the 1950s TV show The Cisco Kid). Designated a Historic National Landmark, it has a reflecting pool, windmills, adobe buildings and other historic structures as well as tropical plants like birds of paradise, bougainvillea and agave. There are even roaming peacocks. Come on, roaming peacocks! How cool is that?
LEGOland California
Photo: LEGOland California (Facebook)
LEGOland California, geared toward the 2 – 12 set (though, some grown-ups will find it equally fascinating), features life-size replicas of famous cities and landmarks (all done in LEGO bricks, of course), a Star Wars mini-land and lots of LEGO-themed rides. There’s even a LEGO Movie ride where you get to ride a triple-decker flying couch!
While you’re in the area, check out the LEGOland Water Park and its a 45-foot water slide, as well as the nearby SEA LIFE Aquarium, which features an array of marine creatures, habitats and bioluminescent tides.
Poinsettia Park
Photo: Visit Carlsbad (Facebook)
For a game of court sports or a tennis lesson, head to Poinsettia Park. The park sits within a public tennis complex and has picnic areas, a playground and grassy green space for the kids to run off some energy away from the private boat slip rental. There are 10 lighted courts and six lighted pickle ball courts, three lighted softball/baseball fields and a lighted basketball court.
The Flower Fields
Photo: The Flower Fields (Facebook)
Holland has tulips. France has fields of lavender. D.C. has a basin full of cherry blossoms. And Carlsbad has giant tecolote ranunculus. Nearly 50 acres, in fact. These spectacular displays of color are open to the public from early March through May at the Flower Fields.
Other activities and attractions go on throughout the seasons (depending on what’s growing that particular season). Along with the ranunculus fields, you can visit a Mediterranean garden, a butterfly garden, bird aviaries, a five-acre sunflower field, an American flag of flowers, an orchid greenhouse and much more. There’s also a seasonal U-pick blueberry field. Pick a few pints to enjoy later at a private boat dock for rent.
The Museum of Making Music
Photo: Museum of Making Music (Facebook)
Music lovers and instrument players will enjoy the Museum of Making Music. Filled with galleries of special exhibits and more than 500 musical instruments, it covers the history of music making from the 1890s to today. You can play instruments and learn how they were made. Enjoy presentations from guest speakers, films, workshops and live music events.
Are you ready to sail off to this charming SoCal region? Gotta say, we are too! The next time you’re in town or passing through via a private boat slip rental, check it out. Let us know what you find!
