Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [281]
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
Take a thrilling open-cockpit ride in a 1920s biplane with Barnstorming Adventures ( 760-438-7680, 800-759-5667; www.barnstorming.com; 2016 Palomar Airport Rd; flights from $199).
On the ground, K1 Speed (Map; 760-929-2225; www.k1speed.com; 14-lap race $20; 11am-7pm Sun, 11am-9pm Mon, 11am-10pm Tue-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri, 10am-11pm Sat) fills your need for speed with indoor karting (electric drag racing). They supply all equipment including helmet and ‘head socks’. It’s in an office park east of I-5; call for directions.
Slow down with alternative-health guru Deepak Chopra, who leads seminars on mind-body medicine, complemented by specialized spa treatments, at the Chopra Center (Map; 760-494-1600, 888-424-6772; www.chopra.com) at La Costa Resort & Spa (below).
The Museum of Making Music (Map; 760-438-5996, 877-551-9776; www.museumofmakingmusic.com; 5790 Armada Dr; adult/child $5/3; 10am-5pm Tue-Sun) has historical exhibits and listening stations of 450 instruments; call for directions.
Carlsbad’s long, sandy beaches are great for walking and searching for seashells. Good access is from Carlsbad Blvd, two blocks south of Carlsbad Village Dr, where there’s a boardwalk, rest rooms and free parking.
Carlsbad is an important center for golf; some major equipment manufacturers are based here including Titleist and Taylor Made. The Four Seasons Aviara and La Costa resorts (below) both have landmark golf courses. A new municipal course has also recently opened, the 6850-yard Crossings at Carlsbad ( 760-444-1800; www.thecrossingsatcarlsbad.com; 5800 the Crossings Dr).
Sleeping
South Carlsbad State Park Campground (Map; 760-438-3143, reservations 800-444-7275; RV & campsites $35; ) Three miles south of town, this campground has over 200 tent and RV sites.
Motel 6 (Map; 760-434-7135; www.motel6.com; 1006 Carlsbad Village Dr; r $60; ) Cheap, no-frills lodging on the outer reaches of Carlsbad Village (a rarity). It’s pet-friendly, and local calls are free.
Best Western Beach View Lodge (Map; 760-729-1151; www.beachviewlodge.com; 3180 Carlsbad Blvd; s/d incl breakfast $165/180; wi-fi) Many of the 41 motel-style rooms at this U-shaped property around a small pool and hot-tub have balconies with partial ocean views. Spacious suites (from $210) have sleep sofas. Our favorite part, though, is the Craftsman-style, ocean-view breakfast room.
Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort (Map; 760-434-7020, 800-235-3939; www.carlsbadinn.com; 3075 Carlsbad Blvd; r $205-290; ) A faux-Tudor upper-end-tourist-class hotel and time-share property on the beachfront, this inn has oodles of activities for kids, from ceramics to ping-pong tourneys.
La Costa Resort & Spa ( 760-438-9111, 800-729-4772; www.lacosta.com; Costa Del Mar Rd; r from $285; wi-fi) A splurge-worthy luxury resort, La Costa offers a sprawling, whitewashed 800-room campus overlooking Batiquitos Lagoon. It’s got two PGA golf courses, excellent children’s programs including pools with multiple slides, nursery and educational programming, venues for grownups including the stunning spa and Chopra Center (left), lovely restaurants and a touch of Hollywood history. Check out their discounted packages.
Four Seasons Aviara Map; 760-603-6800, 800-332-3442; www.fourseasons.com/aviara; 7100 Four Seasons Point; r from $395; wi-fi) From the fresh-cut orchid in your bathroom to the attendant who brings around cups of water at the gym, this tippy-top resort offers superb service and top-flight amenities, golf, tennis and more. The Argyle steakhouse is worth a trip by itself. Aviara looks out over Batiqiutos Lagoon and offers discounted packages. Parking costs $28.
Eating
Fidel’s Norte ( 760-729-0903; 3003 Carlsbad Blvd; mains $6-15; lunch & dinner; ) Heavy wood booths inside and wrought-iron patio furniture are the backdrop for Carlsbad