So you & your family are traveling to Carlsbad this summer for a family vacation and need some ideas for activities. Keep reading for a guide on local activities, restaurants/bars, family musts during your upcoming summer vacation!
The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort was designed with families in mind! Our resort is situated in the heart of Carlsbad Village; easily walkable to the beautiful sand beaches of Carlsbad State beach or numerous restaurants, bars and coffee shops in Carlsbad Village. Once you arrive to the resort you can park in our underground parking structure and forget about driving for the rest of your vacation- unless you have plan on traveling around San Diego county. Our sublime location along the San Diego coast line is just the beginning of what makes our resort so ideal for families on vacation though. The amenities provided here at the resort really help us stand out from the crowd; an outdoor heated pool, family & Adults-only Jacuzzi, ocean view courtyard, fire pits, barbeques, ping-pong & foosball tables are just a few. Check out our Amenities page here for a full list! In addition to the amenities, we have an in-house Activities Team that offers family-friendly activities throughout the week- most are complimentary but a few do charge a small fee. You may find yourself just hanging around the resort for your vacation instead of exploring San Diego- wouldn’t be the first time we’ve heard that!
Just outside the resort perimeter you’ll find the sandy coastline of Carlsbad State Beach. Accessing the beach from the resort is easy via a public access stairwell (approximately 30 stairs) or a public access ramp just south of the resort. Surfing, beach volleyball and swimming are just a few of the activities you’ll observe while laying out on the pristine beach. Don’t forget that while you’re a registered guest you can also check out complimentary beach equipment (chairs, towels. boogie boards, umbrellas etc.) from our Activities Team to make your beach day more enjoyable. Depending on the season you will check out this equipment at the Activities/gym department on property or the cabana during the summer season. We guarantee memories will be made with family & friends and please do remember to share- we always love hearing about these stories!
If you’re in need of a break from the beach then exploring Carlsbad Village will certainly keep you occupied! We are lucky to be located in the heart of Carlsbad Village at the cross streets of Carlsbad Village Dr. and Carlsbad Boulevard (Pacific Coast Highway). You can park in the underground parking garage and then walk from our resort to restaurants or bars, coffee shops, boutique clothing stores or breweries & wineries- talk about convenience! Throughout the summer Carlsbad Village offers seasonal activities like Flicks At The Fountain- family movie night from July through early-August on Thursday nights. Carlsbad Farmer’s Market is every Wednesday from 2:30pm to 7pm featuring local vendors including breads, fruit & vegetables, hot meals and deserts- perfect for anyone in search of meals or snacks to bring back to the resort!
Besides these weekly activities you can easily spend hours just browsing shops & restaurants in the Village. For breakfast we recommend Daily News Cafe just right outside the resort- insider tip; make sure to mention you are a Carlsbad Inn guest for 10% off your bill. Cafe Elysa right across the street is also a favorite with their pastry & desert counter and breakfast sandwiches. For lunch you have numerous options of different cuisines. We like Board n Brew right across the street serving great sandwiches and salads. Park 101 is a great family-friendly spot with yard games serving BBQ options or Wicked Maine Lobster for a great lobster roll. Pizza Port is a local favorite for their delicious pizzas or craft beer. Dinner options are numerous and vary in cuisines too. For casual nights we like Jay’s Gourmet just north of the property offering Italian cuisine options. Norte’s Mexican offers a full bar & dinner right next door which is a resort favorite among our staff. Blue Water Grill is a great seafood restaurant a block east of the resort so easily walkable and perfect for larger parties. Other dinner options including sushi, pizza, Italian and French can be found in Carlsbad Village too! You can check out a more comprehensive guide here on the Carlsbad Village Association webpage.
If you ever fully explore all that is to offer in Carlsbad Village and you’re interested in traveling more of San Diego county than you should first try our neighboring city Oceanside. Just north of us, Oceanside offers a lively downtown area featuring the pier and Oceanside Harbor. Accessing these areas is simple with a vehicle or you can even cruise a e-bike or bicycle down Coast Highway. If you do venture North to explore Oceanside don’t forget to snap a pic of the famous Topgun house right next to the pier for social media!
Heading south to San Diego you will find similar beach towns like Leucadia/Encinitas, Del Mar, Cardiff by the sea and La Jolla. Del Mar hosts the San Diego County Fair every summer from early June to early July and the horse races in July/August. Definitely something to keep in mind if you’re looking for day trip ideas. La Jolla is a quaint beach town featuring tidal pools and snorkeling with seals and sea lions if you’re feeling adventurous- you never know what you might see! If swimming up close with sea creatures isn’t your thing you can always check out Sea World or the San Diego Zoo to keep your distance.
We hope this helps get some ideas started for your next summer vacation with us at the Carlsbad Inn! As you can tell there is a lot offered at the resort or whatever we don’t provide can be easily attained in Carlsbad Village or surrounding areas. If you ever have any other questions or looking for recommendations please feel free to call us at 760-434-7020 and we are happy to assist. Sea you soon!