Hubby and I high-tailed it out of our 115 degree netherworld and made straight for Carlsbad, California for the Labor Day Weekend. By 3pm on Friday afternoon we were sipping fresh Pineapple Mojitos at Las Olas in Carlsbad and couldn't be cooler. The weather was a perfect 72 degrees when we pulled into town and we smiled for three days straight. Las Olas (www.lasolasmex.com) was a great little gem of a place right on Carlsbad Boulevard, just north of the Carlsbad Village intersection. Chips and salsa, tempting little chilitos, fresh sopa del mar with shrimp and scallops and veggies, char-grilled chicken chile rellenos, and we were set. If you are stopping through Carlsbad, don't miss this place with friendly service and open air views of people strolling by. There's an ice-cream place right next door that was hopping!
We made reservations at the Carlsbad Inn because our friends own a time-share on this property. (www.carlsbadinn.com) The room was nicely appointed with marble counters in the bathroom, a glass-enclosed walk-in shower, comfy bed, and a little balcony with an ocean view. Ah, the smell of the ocean and the setting sun after those pineapple mojitos about did me in. Slept with the door open all night long and couldn't have been happier! We are not time-share people because we want to go everywhere and can't think of one place we want to visit year after year... but.... if you are into time-shares check this place out. They had some great deals for late September and October and the resort rooms are quite nice. There are lots of activities for kids and adults with cook-outs, live music, day trips, swimming pool, fully equipped gym, and bike rentals. Carlsbad is a stone's throw from Legoland for the little ones and a bit longer drive into San Diego for Sea World and the World Famous San Diego Zoo. The Coaster is within walking distance of the resort if you want to take the train into downtown San Diego.
Carlsbad Village has some nifty little shops like the Carlsbad Chocolate Bar (yum) and the Humble Hippie. There were dress shops, t-shirt shops, book stores, and delightful little food places too. We snacked at Pizza Port and sampled some very VERY tasty brews at the bar next door. You can get your pizza on a wheat/beer crust and it's quite nice. Check them out at www.pizzaport.com and enjoy yourself. There was a farmer's market from 1pm to 5pm with fresh fruit and veggies, and a variety of other goodies like fudge and fresh kettle korn. We do love to eat. But seriously, California produce is second to none. Fresh strawberries, sweet white corn, huge yellow and red tomatoes, and giant zucchini.
Saturday and Sunday morning had us up and walking along the beach admiring the waves and watching the surfers. The beach was crowded on this last big bash weekend of the summer but we didn't mind. There's a super-crowded Starbucks in town, a great little donut place owned by a older Cambodian man who luckily escaped his homeland during the '70's, and a great local place called Elsye's. We had the blueberry pancakes and dark hot chocolate here. What a nice treat, just sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and fresh air and a tasty breakfast. I can't find a website for them, but they are a local hang-out where neighborhood friends were sipping their coffees after walking their dogs. I LOVE a dog-friendly place. If you're traveling with your pooch, Carlsbad will welcome you with open arms. I saw dogs in and out of all the shops and patio restaurants. I also loved seeing all the old VW bugs and busses. Made me think ... hummm... We'll see about that somewhere down the road.
Sunday was a banner day for us as we were invited aboard a friend's yacht. Oh my lordy - what a gorgeous piece of machinery this was. It was my first time aboard a vessel of this size, and what a charmed existence. It was like a mini-cruise to be sure. We sailed all through San Diego Harbor and into Coronado Bay for a truly wonderful afternoon. Sunshine, water, a bit of wind, and a bottle of beer. It just don't get any better than this.
Sadly, our dinner on Sunday night was not that tasty. We stopped into KoKo Beach (www.kokobeach.com) for dinner and were disappointed. The sodas were not primed correctly and tasted bitter, the bread was cold, salad dressings were tasteless, and the prime rib was ruddy. I did enjoy the clam chowder though, so if you must go here you can have the soup! There are tons of other places nearby, so skip this one altogether.
You can find plenty of information regarding Carlsbad at www.visitcarlsbad.com. I saw lots of other lodging ranging from the Super 8 Motel and a Best Western to the higher end waterfront places. Dining was a mixed bag as well so you can certainly find something in every price range. Excellent weekend for sure.
Next up... the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas baby!!
Hugs,
Deb
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