Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA
~ Beaches ~
There are plenty of reasons to love living in, or visiting, Carlsbad CA. That includes our beaches, the arts, dining, shopping, recreational opportunities, tourist stuff, housing, sports and our weather.
In this article the focus is on the Carlsbad beaches.
Carlsbad has about 7 miles of beach, from the Oceanside border at Point Malo and the mouth of the Buena Vista Lagoon to the north, and south along the Coast Road/Historic Route 101 to the Leucadia area of Encinitas.
There are lots of different beaches by name (e.g., Terramar, Warm Waters, Hole in the Fence, South Ponto, Frazee, Tamarack, Jetties, Carlsbad State Beach). However, it’s hard to tell where each one starts and ends, and perhaps it really doesn’t matter. It's one uninterrupted beach from north to south!
The Carlsbad Magazine has a map toward the back showing all the different beach names for reference. And some people refer to different beach areas by the numbered lifeguard shacks, from 20 to 38, or simply by landmarks.
THINGS TO DO AT THE CARLSBAD BEACHES
The beaches are a big draw in Carlsbad, and life on or near the beaches is pretty special. People certainly enjoy the beaches for different reasons: sitting on the sand or in a chair and taking in the views and sounds, stretched out on a towel for a nap, watching the sun set, and enjoying dining al fresco.
You’ll want to watch the ocean to see if you catch sight of the gray and blue whales that are migrating north and south at different times of the year. You’ll see dolphins, too, on occasion.
Do you enjoy photography? The beaches, ocean and sunsets are great opportunities for amateur and professional photographers. There are so many things to photograph – the bluffs, bird life, interesting patterns in the sand, the waves, the setting sun and so much more.
Some people prefer to be more active at the beach – walking or running, surfing, boogie boarding, stand-up paddle boarding, playing beach volley ball, kite flying, wind surfing, kayaking, or tossing a frisbee back and forth. Perhaps you like to build sand castles!
There are yoga classes on the beach, or you can attend surfing school if you’re just getting started!
ACCESS TO THE BEACHES AND PARKING
Public access to the beaches is good overall. In some areas you can park and walk on to the beach (just south of the Village by Tamarack). However, be aware there are places further north beyond South Carlsbad State Beach where you will need to take stairs, in some cases significant ones (e.g., Terramar Beach south of Cannon Road).
Most of the parking along the coast road, where it’s available, is free. But there are some pay parking lots at the North and South State Beaches.
You’ll also find some free parking in the residential areas across the road from the beach, even in the Village, although it may be limited. Watch the signage in case parking time is limited as it does get monitored.
Does the parking by the beaches get crowded? You bet, especially on weekends, holidays, and especially during the summer. But walking from your car to the beach is worth it, plus it's good exercise for you.
If you have any questions about the beaches, or things happening in Carlsbad, please let me know.
If you are interested in buying a home in Carlsbad start your home search using the link below to see the complete current inventory.
I can also set up a custom search for you based on your criteria including your budget. Just reach out to me directly or via text to (760) 840-1360.
SEARCH FOR CARLSBAD HOMES FOR SALE
In case you missed the earlier posts on the Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad, here are some links to prior articles.
Part 1 The Arts – Theater, Film and Outdoor Movies
Part 3 The Arts - Wall Murals, Sculpture, Galleries and Art Fairs
Comments (13)Subscribe to CommentsComment