Welcome to Carlsbad
This sun-soaked beach paradise is known for its natural beauty, fun atmosphere, and stunning homes
Located on the northern coast of San Diego County, Carlsbad is known for its many gorgeous beaches, its fabulous weather, and its laid-back luxury. Expect beach cruiser bicycles, skateboards, and smiles. Carlsbad’s residents enjoy excellent restaurants and boutique shopping at The Village, an inviting, walkable area located in downtown Carlsbad. Offering golf, surfing, sailing, hiking, and so many more outdoor activities, Carlsbad is an ideal place for both families and retirees. Lively community events include a weekly Farmers’ Market, a free summer concert series staged in Carlsbad’s parks, and the incredibly popular biannual Carlsbad Village Faire.
Consisting predominantly of single-family homes, Carlsbad’s architecture includes bungalows and cottages from the fifties, sixties-style ranches, and spectacular mansions and villas perched on coastal bluffs. Carlsbad also boasts an impressive selection of highly-ranked private and public schools.
What to Love
Local Lifestyle
The chic, beachy ambiance of Carlsbad offers a laid-back, outdoorsy lifestyle. The many parks, beaches, and public amenities give Carlsbad’s sunny community a vibrant, youthful atmosphere. Carlsbad is divided into four quadrants, each with a unique environment. The downtown is in the northwest, Old Carlsbad. It contains generous homes set back from wide, palm-lined streets. Hugging the Pacific coast, the southwest is characterized by its sumptuous beach homes. Residential options in the southeast primarily comprise exclusive estate communities. The northeast offers a mix of older and more modern single-family homes.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Carlsbad’s charming and walkable downtown area, known as The Village, is a shopping and dining paradise. The Village is home to hundreds of boutique stores, art galleries and studios, music venues, theaters, and restaurants. Dine out at the elegant Ember & Rye steakhouse or experience a local twist on French cuisine at Jeune et Jolie. At Campfire, you will find California fusion fare cooked over a live fire. Enjoy relaxed shopping at The Forum, a gorgeous complex boasting over fifty stores and restaurants, and find designer clothing at Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
Things to Do
Every spring, visit the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch to stroll among a breathtaking landscape of bright blooms, get lost in a sweet pea maze, and enjoy live entertainment at the gorgeous outdoor stage. Boasting five golf courses within the city itself, Carlsbad is a golfer’s dream. Explore local history at the archives of the Carlsbad Historical Society, housed in a late nineteenth-century craftsman, or take a walking tour at the Leo Carrillo Ranch, where you can find beautifully-preserved adobe houses, free-roaming peacocks, and travel back in time to experience a slice of Old Hollywood. For a delightful day out with the whole family, visit the hands-on Museum of Making Music or Legoland, a popular amusement park housing the Sea Life Aquarium. The weekly Farmers’ Market offers local produce and delicious artisan foods. The Carlsbad Village Faire is a biannual one-day street fair that attracts visitors from across the state, and hosts hundreds of vendors who offer unique arts, crafts, antiques, and more.
Schools
Carlsbad is served by the Carlsbad Unified School District, which comprises nine elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. Carlsbad is home to three private high schools and seven private elementary schools.
- Pacific Rim, grades K–5, ranked in Top 10 Public Elementary Schools in California, 2021.
- Sage Creek High School, grades 9–12, ranked as a 2021 California Distinguished School.
- Pacific Ridge School, grades 6–12, ranked in San Diego County’s Top 5 private schools.
- Army and Navy Academy, grades 7–12, all boys, ranked in Top 5 Boarding Schools in California and San Diego County’s Top 20 private schools. Its JROTC program is noted as an Honor Unit with Distinction.
- Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary, grades K–6, is served by the neighboring Encinitas School District.
