Carlsbad’s seemingly endless coastline and year-round temperate climate is a hook for meeting planners looking to hold executive retreats or conferences. It is a quaint beach town that showcases an approachable elegance unique to the Southern California shoreline, and it offers the charm of a European town with the conveniences of a large city. The town’s dramatic beauty is complemented by a distinct variety of year-round signature events, as well as boundless ocean experiences along seven miles of golden coast, beautiful flower gardens, and a range of accommodations, world-class shopping experiences, local breweries, golf, and spa and wellness centers. Many entertainment venues in Carlsbad double as meeting venues, including LEGOLAND California, the Sea Life Aquarium, and The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.

Carlsbad is straight up the coast from downtown San Diego and the San Diego International Airport. It’s about a 35-minute drive, and transportation from the airport starts at $33. Carlsbad does include two stops on the Coaster, a train that serves all of San Diego County and starts at the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego. For anyone flying in on a charter flight or corporate or private jets, McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad is a gateway to and from San Diego’s North County. It serves the general aviation community, corporate aircraft, and commercial services. Major corporations and world-class resorts are just minutes away.

Carlsbad boasts diverse hotels and meeting facilities, ranging from boutique to luxury options that account for 4,400 hotel rooms and more than 300,000 total square feet of event space. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, the largest hotel in Carlsbad with 607 rooms and over 100,000 square feet of event space, unveiled a head-to-toe renovation of its conference center in 2011. The casually elegant Park Hyatt Aviara Resort (formerly the Four Seasons Resort Aviara) has 78,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space, and its technological capabilities make it a good pick for multi-media presentations. Several other hotel options include Cape Rey, a Hilton Resort, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, Carlsbad by the Sea Resort, and the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel.

Dining venues in Carlsbad include the award winning Land & Water Co Restaurant, which is 100% sustainable and traceable, located in the historic Twin Inns. Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen from Food Network’s Family Style offers contemporary California comfort food. Appreciate one of the best ocean views in San Diego County while enjoying brunch, lunch, or dinner at Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse. In addition, visitors can quench their thirst at one of the many local breweries.

Outdoor recreational and leisure activities abound on the shore of San Diego’s North County. Play the greens of the championship courses at Aviara and La Costa or The Crossings, which is recognized by Golf Magazine. Take advantage of the coastal setting on a scenic bi-plane ride, kayaking the lagoon, walking the beach, or going on an off-shore excursion. To appease the child in all of us, spend a day at LEGOLAND California and SeaLife Aquarium.