Carlsbad Village
Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad Village is the downtown area at the heart—and waterfront—of Carlsbad, a fun-loving Southern California beach town. On a visit to Carlsbad, you’re likely to spend most of your time in the village. It’s where you’ll find the shops, restaurants, music venues, galleries, and hotels, including the famous Carlsbad Inn: a Bavarian-style hotel steps from Carlsbad State Beach.
With its central location and concentration of shops and restaurants, the village is sometimes a stop on Carlsbad food tours and a few day trips from Los Angeles and San Diego. In addition to shopping and window browsing, the main draws are the beaches and boardwalk, which seem to stretch for miles to the north and south along the coast. Tamarack Beach and Carlsbad State Beach are centrally located and ideal for walking, surfing, sunbathing, and biking, with rentals available from downtown.
The Carlsbad Village Farmers’ Market is held weekly on Wednesday afternoons from March through November.
There's plenty of public parking in the Village, with public lots on Roosevelt Street and State Street and at the Carlsbad Coaster rail station.
Check the Carlsbad Village Association website for music and community events, such as summer outdoor movie screenings.
Carlsbad Village is in the center of Carlsbad, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of San Diego on the Southern California coast. Driving is convenient in this part of California, where low-key beach towns line the coast up to Los Angeles, but you can also travel on the Coaster, a commuter rail running from San Diego through Carlsbad to Oceanside. Within the village, the flat roads, warm weather, and ample parking make biking ideal for getting around.
With mild coastal weather and balmy sea breezes, Carlsbad serves up quintessential SoCal year-round. The beach season heats up in the heart of summer, but spring and late fall bring fewer crowds. Consider visiting during the weekly farmers' market or a local festival—Carlsbad Oktoberfest is in early October, while the Village Street Faire is in early November.
Tamarack Beach and Carlsbad State Beach are closest to Carlsbad Village, but you’d be remiss not to visit other beaches along this marvelous stretch of SoCal coast. Terramar Beach is a somewhat protected beach south of town that's popular among surfers, while South Ponto Beach nearby lies next to the Batiquitos Lagoon and has public restrooms and showers. Still more beautiful beaches, such as Oceanside Harbor Beach and Onofre State Beach, lie to the north.
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