When you think about Carlsbad, the flower fields, beaches, and Legoland come to mind, and that reputation is well earned. But there's a whole other side of this city that shows up less in the guidebooks and more in a local's routine. We're kicking off Around Town with Colucci & Co., a new series covering a different local city in San Diego each month, and Carlsbad felt like the right place to start.
Sip and Savor
State Street in Carlsbad Village has quietly become one of the best short walks in North County, especially if you're a foodie and enjoy solid beverages. Start at Pure Project, a sustainably minded craft brewery with a taproom that never feels stuffy, just a good rotating lineup on tap and people hanging on the sun-filled patio. Also, your pup is always invited. Try the beer slushie for a refreshing treat. A few doors down is Wildland, one of the newer additions to the Village, a restaurant and bakery combo doing Italian-leaning food that's become a fast favorite with. It's an amazing farm-to-table experience with elevated service. The food is thoughtfully curated, and they have an amazing cocktail program as well.
For something with more caffeine, Revolution Roasters on Roosevelt Street roasts its own beans and pours one of the better cups of coffee in the 92008. If gluten free is on your radar, they have pastries for you. Enjoy the patio and take in the community feeling. And if wine is more your speed, Carruth Cellars is an urban winery and tasting room right in the Village, good wine, good people watching, zero pretension. Come for a flight and a cheese board. Perfect for any day of the week!
Get Outside
If your idea of a good afternoon involves getting your heart rate up, Lake Calavera and the Calavera Hills Preserve has a network of mountain bike and hiking trails that somehow stays under the radar even though it's minutes from most Carlsbad neighborhoods. It's a favorite with the San Diego Mountain Biking Association for a reason. You won't believe that you're only minutes from town.
Prefer the water? Skip the ocean for a minute and head to Agua Hedionda Lagoon, where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards right on the lagoon. It's calmer than open water, easier for beginners, and honestly a great excuse for an early evening paddle when the light gets good. It's serene and peaceful. Look for the jumping fish.
Shop Local: A Woman-Owned Favorite
We always love pointing out local businesses built by people in our own community, and The Drydown is a great one. It's a woman-owned (just like us!) niche fragrance boutique on Grand Avenue, billed as San Diego's first of its kind, carrying around 45 independent perfume houses you won't find at the mall. Everything is organized by scent family instead of by brand, so you're shopping for how something actually smells rather than guessing off a label. You spray testers yourself and jot notes on cards as you go, and the staff is superb at steering you toward the right scent based on whatever you describe, whether that's "smells like a campfire" or "my grandmother's garden." If you want to go a step further than shopping, they also run hands-on perfume-making workshops. If you've never been fragrance shopping somewhere this specific, it's worth the stop just for the experience.
Mark Your Calendar
If you're looking for a reason to get out this month, ArtWalk Carlsbad takes over Armada Drive on September 19 and 20, with around 150 artists, live music, and plenty of family-friendly energy. It's free to attend and one of the better excuses to spend a day wandering with no real plan. Saturday runs 11am to 6pm and Sunday wraps a little earlier at 10am to 5pm, with a dedicated KidsWalk area for families and food trucks scattered around if you need a snack between booths. This is always a crowd pleaser.
Worth the Detour
None of these spots need a special occasion. Next time you're in Carlsbad Village, skip the usual loop and build an afternoon around a few of these instead. And if wandering around a city like this has you thinking more seriously about calling it home, that's a conversation we'd love to have.
