Carlsbad Information

This beach resort was named for the popular 19th-century Karlsbad spa in Bohemia. The city's European background can be seen in the Old World architecture of some of its buildings. Information about several scenic beach walks and tours that start from Carlsbad Village downtown is available from the visitors bureau. Guided hikes along a nature trail are available. Just off I-5 and US 101 is Batiquitos Lagoon, a wetlands area surrounding a freshwater lake that opens into the ocean.

North of Del Mar and a 45-minute drive from downtown San Diego, the pretty communities of Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Carlsbad provide many reasons to linger on the California coast: good swimming and surfing beaches, small-town atmosphere, an abundance of antiques and gift shops, and a seasonal display of the region's most beautiful flowers.

Carlsbad is also a noted commercial-flower-growing region, along with its neighbor Encinitas. A colorful display can be seen at Carlsbad Ranch (tel. 760/431-0352) each spring, when 45 acres of solid ranunculus fields bloom into a breathtaking rainbow visible even from the freeway. In December the nurseries are alive with holiday poinsettias.

Getting There -- It's a snap: Del Mar is only 18 miles north of downtown San Diego, Carlsbad about 33 miles, and Oceanside approximately 36 miles. If you're driving, follow I-5 north; Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside all have freeway exits. The northernmost point, Oceanside, will take about 45 minutes. The other choice by car is to wander up the old coast road, known along the way as Camino del Mar, the "PCH" (Pacific Coast Highway), Old Highway 101, and County Highway S21.

From San Diego, the Coaster commuter train provides service to Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside, and Amtrak stops in Solana Beach -- just a few minutes north of Del Mar -- and Oceanside. The Coaster makes the trip almost hourly on weekdays, four times on Saturday; Amtrak passes through 11 times daily each way. Call tel. 619/685-4900 for transit information or check with Amtrak at tel. 800/USA-RAIL or www.amtrak.com. United Express and America West Express fly into the McClellan Palomar Airport, 3 miles east of I-5 in Carlsbad.

Visitor Information-- The Solana Beach Visitor Center is near the train station at 103 N. Cedros (tel. 858/350-6006; www.solanabeachchamber.com). The Encinitas Visitors Center is located in a nondescript shopping mall immediately west of the I-5, at 138 Encinitas Blvd. (tel. 800/953-6041 or 760/753-6041; www.encinitaschamber.com). The Carlsbad Visitor Information Center, 400 Carlsbad Village Dr. (in the old Santa Fe Depot; tel. 800/227-5722 or 760/434-6093; www.carlsbadca.org), has information on flower fields and nursery touring.