We are visiting Carlsbad, CA again to be near family.
Years ago the decision about what to do here was quite obvious: LegoLand!
But now the boys are too old for that place.
They are not too old for local playgrounds. Poinsettia Community Park has a very large parking lot and lots of room to run around, play soccer or frisbee, etc. The playground is delightful but designed for 5-12 year old kids, so the boys got tired of it after about twenty minutes. Olympus Park is smaller and has a tiny parking lot that makes it only appropriate for an early morning visit. It does have a unique play structure.
There are some really short hikes near the hotel. Hosp Grove Park is a little park with trails up the hill behind it, supposedly to nice views of the adjacent lagoon. But its tiny parking lot means this is either another early morning outing or we have to park at the nearby shopping center (which does dangerously have a Sees Candy.) There are three other tiny hiking trails near LegoLand.
Of course, the local beaches are great. South Carlsbad State Beach is easy to get to and usually easy parking, but mostly rocks so okay for kids playing and digging in the sandy spots but not ideal for long walks at sunset.
Gluten-free restaurants include Rim Talay Thai food and Nectarine Grove smoothie shop. But mostly we prepare food at the hotel suite, which is easy since we are across the street from Costco and within 15 minutes of three different Trader Joes!
For rainy days there is also Sky Zone trampoline park for two hours of bouncing and a respectable price, or K1 Go Carting for indoor racing that is a bit expensive for an extended family outing.
