Beyond Legoland: Outdoor family fun in Carlsbad, California

Ask any parent and they will tell you; Carlsbad, California is synonymous with uber-kid destination, Legoland, but if that’s all you see while you’re there, then you’re missing out on a ton of awesome outdoor fun. Known as the “Village by the Sea”, Carlsbad offers 7 miles of pristine Pacific beaches, a year-round summer climate, and nearly 50 miles of well-kept hiking and biking trails.

Situated 87 miles south of Los Angeles, and 35 miles north of San Diego, Carlsbad is the perfect weekend family getaway destination offering world class golfing, inspiring cultural arts events, and inventive cuisine. So, when our family had the opportunity to visit this little gem of a seaside city, we threw our bathing suits in a bag and hit the road.

Two hours and fifteen minutes later we had arrived, the kid was itching to get out and the adults were in need of a leg stretch, so we broke out the phone in search of a large green space. Technology led us to Hosp Grove Park, a sprawling 53-acre city park that invites its guests to bike, hike, or picnic under the shade of thousands of beautiful, towering Eucalyptus trees.

Separated into an East Grove and a West Grove, there’s plenty to explore on any one of its five well-maintained, unpaved trails. The West Grove three-mile loop ushered us up and down kid-friendly slopes, through eucalyptus-scented groves, and rewarded us kindly with a beautiful scenic overlook of the Buena Vista Lagoon.

Piled back in the car with tired feet, we headed to our home for the next two nights, the Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach and arrived just in time to catch their happy hour at Bistro Bar and devour a delicious steak dinner at the hotel’s Carlsbad Beach Bistro Restaurant. With satisfied tummies, we walked out the hotel’s front doors, strolled across the street, and were treated with a breathtaking sunset; the perfect end to a perfect day.

The Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach is situated 400 feet from the rugged cliffs of Carlsbad Beach offering up outrageous Pacific views and tons of family-friendly amenities. All of their 161 deluxe rooms include a microwave, refrigerator, coffee/tea maker, complimentary WiFi, outdoor heated pool and whirlpool, complimentary shuttle service within five miles, and evening ping pong tournaments in their outdoor gazebo.

The next morning we awoke rested and ready for another day full of outdoor adventure, but not before we zipped downstairs to fuel up on mouth-watering omelets prepared by Executive Chef Ricardo Vargas, signature waffles, pancakes, fresh fruit, and a gallon of dark roast coffee. Then, we slathered on the sunscreen, filled up the gas tank, and set out in search of more scenic Carlsbad satisfaction.

First up on our agenda was a morning tryst through the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, boasting over 50 acres of land dedicated to growing the radiantly charming Ranunculus flower, a member of the buttercup family, all of which were in full bloom. The Flower Fields Foundation provides further discovery opportunities for kids of all ages by providing hands-on sustainability, musical, and artistic educational programs for children.

Fully inspired by the vibrant hues of mother nature’s blooms, we pointed our compasses towards the wide open waters of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. A delicate and crucial 500-acre watershed in the heart of a booming north San Diego county metropolitan area, this vulnerable coastal wetland is home to a wide array of wildlife including juvenile fish, crabs, hundreds of species of marine life and waterfowl, including an array of threatened and endangered species.

We used the Carlsbad Lagoon to outfit our family with life jackets and kayaks primarily due to its convenient central location on the lagoon, and launched our vessels westward inland. Coasting past sand dune full of native flora and hidden beaches inviting us to stop for a rest, we charged on, delighted by graceful pelicans gliding across the water’s surface ready to catch an unlucky striped mullet in mid-leap.

Admittedly, our family had been to Carlsbad before, to visit said aforementioned amusement park because of our only offspring’s desperation for waiting around in lines all day to ride rides that made her squeal with excitement. But, I sure am glad we were able to come back to discover a whole other side of Carlsbad; the Big Outside.