Southern California Road Trip

Family road trips of yesteryear meant piling everyone – and everything – in the ole station wagon and driving cross-country for two weeks. And with no air conditioning!

That’s so passé!

Just come stay at one of the top-notch resorts and spas in Carlsbad, California, and you can forget about thousands of miles of hopping from motel to motel. Everything you want to enjoy is nearby!

Carlsbad’s location makes it the perfect vacation hub-city for daily, short road trips to some of the best vacation spots in Southern California – San Diego, Temecula and Los Angeles. Of course we can’t list all the awesome things you can do in these popular SoCal cities, but here are some top choices to help you narrow it down.

Carlsbad
Start out your stay with buying a park hopper pass and saving on entrances to LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGOLAND Water Park. Right now, you can buy 1 day and get 4 free! You don’t have to worry about wearing yourself out by trying to enjoy all of the rides, ocean adventures and splash zones in one short day – now you’ll have five for the same price.

Five gorgeous beaches, each with its own unique appeal, are just a few minutes’ drive from California’s best choices for theme parks and amusement parks in Carlsbad. Whatever you’re looking for – relaxation, swimming, SCUBA, surf, fishing – you’re sure to find a beach or two that meets your needs. As a bonus, a number of hotels are easily within walking distance.

Los Angeles
So much to see in the LA area – and all within an hour or two from Carlsbad. You can start with Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim. If that’s not your cup of tea, take the day to roam Rodeo Drive for some of California’s best shopping, or people watch in Venice Beach or Hollywood – you never know when you might run into your favorite star!

Or check out the theatre, music and museums all around LA. If you’re a foodie, experience dineL.A. Restaurant Week July 13 – 26. They have so many delectable choices, their ‘week’ is lengthened to 14 days!

No matter what you enjoy throughout the day, you’ll still have time to make it back to Carlsbad by bedtime to get all rested up for the next day!

San Diego
Just a 45-minute drive away is America’s Finest City – San Diego. You can enjoy the world-famous San Diego Zoo, Safari Park and Balboa Park – all definite must-sees. San Diego is quickly becoming a food mecca so be sure to sample the delicious local cuisine. Of course, San Diego is lined by some of the most gorgeous beaches that you can experience either by swimming, kayaking, windsurfing or by boat tour.

Having one of the largest concentrations of military in the nation, you can tour the historic USS Midway or awe-inspiring Fort Rosecrans – the Arlington of the West.

No matter what time you leave San Diego, you’ll still be back to Carlsbad to crawl into bed – amazed by everything you experienced that day.

Temecula
Less than an hour away are Southern California’s popular vineyards and wineries in Temecula. Many offer guided tours – including transportation – while you sip and sample your way through wine country.

For more family-friendly activities, Temecula has dozens of options for outdoor fun – horseback riding or biking. You can also get a bird’s eye view of the area by lifting up in a hot air balloon and checking out the sights from 5,000 feet.

There is so much to see and to experience in Southern California, but it’s always comforting to return to Carlsbad at the end of a long day. And if you time it right, you can catch the sun before it dips into the Pacific. Nothing is more calming than watching the sunset beachside, from your hotel room.

Nothing’s better, except for dreaming up what you’ll do the next day, touring around Southern California with an amazing vacation hub like Carlsbad, California!