The San Diego area is one of my family’s favorite places to vacation. The great thing about the area is that there are so many beautiful beach cities to explore. One of our personal favorites is Carlsbad. Just about 20 minutes north of San Diego, this quaint, little village is home to Legoland, my son’s favorite, and
the spectacular Carlsbad Flower Fields, my favorite. Visit in the spring to view the vivid colors of fifty acres of giant Ranunculus in full bloom. Carlsbad is also close to favorite attractions like the Temecula Wine Country and San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park.
Carlsbad boasts some of the best beaches in San Diego County. On my last visit, I noticed that the beaches were looking even more beautiful! They were recently widened and refreshed by the addition of 140,000 cubic yards of high, quality sand. All thanks to efforts by a regional project to preserve its coastlines.
Where to stay? I’ve chosen three popular Carlsbad resorts to help you make a decision. I’ve stayed at all three. They are family-friendly and provide all that you’ll need for your “home away from home.” All offer one and two-bedroom condos with private balcony and/or patio, fully equipped kitchens, living rooms,
and many amenities. I’ve listed what I think are the top three highlights of each resort.
Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort
1. Location:
If your family is like my family, we always want to stay right on the beach, or as close as possible. Carlsbad Inn fills the bill. We could just step out the door of our condo onto a beautiful beach. It made it really easy to transport all the beach paraphernalia that we usually lug with us! And, just think… if you forget anything, you only have to walk a few steps back to the condo to get it!
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| Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort – steps from the beach |
2. Walking Distance to the Village of Carlsbad:
Something to consider if you vacation without a car, or have a car, but want to save gas and get in some exercise too, the Village of Carlsbad is only a short walk away. It offers shopping, dining, and outdoor activities ranging from hot air balloon rides to water sports. I like to shop! The last time we stayed at the Inn, I did a lot of my Christmas shopping in many of the unique, locally owned shops. Friendly owners were more than willing to guide me to just the right gift!
3. Special Activities for Guests:
The resort often sponsors activities, special events, and excursions for guests to enjoy. There’s no better way to observe the surrounding country than by horseback! We took advantage of a “Buck Up Ride,” arranged by the resort. We loved the trail ride through the scenic coastal valleys of Lake Calaveras. Had we
not stayed at the resort, we probably wouldn’t have known about it, and it truly was a highlight of our stay!
One and two bedroom by-owner rentals at Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort currently start at just $121/night USD.
Grand Pacific Palisades Resort
1. Location:
Grand Pacific Palisades sits on a ridge overlooking the Carlsbad Flower Fields and offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Our stay here was influenced by the fact that the resort is right next door to Legoland and its Sea Life Aquarium. As we were celebrating my son’s birthday, we let him choose the spot. It was an awesome experience for the whole family!
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| Grand Pacific Palisades and the spring flower fields! |
2. Fitness Activities:
The resort’s Olympic-sized pool is great for swimming laps and staying in shape on vacation. As is the resort’s fully equipped fitness center with its three Jacuzzis. My husband and I had no excuse for not keeping up our fitness routines! The Children’s Water Park provided hours of fun for our son.
3. On Site Restaurant:
We don’t always feel like cooking in the condo (Hey, we’re on vacation right?), but if we’re worn out from all our activities, we don’t want to drive too far to eat. No problem at Grand Pacific Palisades! There’s a Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant on the property serving great food and many types of beer. Did you know that San Diego County has moved into first place in the micro brewery “competition”?
One, two, and three bedroom by-owner rentals at Grand Pacific Palisades currently start at $128/night USD.
Carlsbad Seapointe Resort
1. Location:
Carlsbad Seapointe Resort overlooks some of the most beautiful beaches in the area. The spectacular ocean vistas and sunset views from our condo balcony provided the perfect ending to our perfect days. The resort is also a short drive to all the area attractions. Secure underground parking is available for your car.
2. Ocean Pearl Spa:
I stayed at Carlsbad Seapointe on girls’ weekend. One of the selling points for my friends and me was the fabulous Ocean Pearl Spa. Carlsbad Seapointe offers a free shuttle to the spa located nearby. I enjoyed the Pearl’s luxurious signature massage with warm, herbal scented oil. Facials and pedicures followed. It was a
perfect start to our girls’ weekend!
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| Carlsbad Seapointe – perfect place to end your day. |
3.Tennis and Golf:
Of the three, the resort was the only one to have tennis courts. This was another plus for us as we all play tennis. The lighted courts let us continue some competitive games even after the sun went down. Not a tennis player? No problem. The world-famous Torrey Pines Golf Course is only minutes away, and there are many other beautiful courses in the area.
One and two-bedroom condo rentals at Carlsbad Seapointe currently available from $200/night USD.
Whatever you decide, you won’t be disappointed in your Carlsbad stay. All of these resorts exemplify the great value of a timeshare vacation.
Try these web sites for more information about the area:
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
San Diego’s North County Coastal Communities
By-Owner Timeshare Rentals in Carlsbad
Happy vacationing!