Los Angeles is a vacation destination for millions of people from around the world – do you ever wonder where people who live there go for their getaways?
One of those places is Carlsbad, California, just a short drive down the freeway, south toward San Diego. It is a small beachside town, with a perfect climate and loads of fun things to do for everyone in the family. In the last few years, Carlsbad has become one of our favorite getaway places!
So, last weekend, we headed down to visit the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, about 100 miles from home, but a world away in relaxation.
The Omni La Costa Resort consists of more than 600 units (rooms, suites, and villas), about 50 meeting rooms and event centers, a renowned health spa, restaurants, stores, swimming pools, tennis courts, and two championship golf courses, sprawling over what was a large ranch just inland from the Pacific Ocean. As you can see from our pictures, it is a really beautiful property, built in the California Mission style. You can see that style in the white walls and red tile roofs all across the resort – with the meticulous landscaping, it is all so beautiful! It is such a significant resort that it is a member of the Historic Hotels of America, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The resort was developed in the mid-1960’s, and became a favorite getaway for entertainers, sports stars, and other celebrities. Omni Hotels and Resorts bought the property in 2013, and has continued its first-rate operation and accommodations.
Our suite was spacious, and its long balcony overlooked swimming pools and a golf course behind them. I really enjoyed that view. The weather was so pleasant, we slept with the windows open, and the sounds of birds woke us in the morning.
I have to say a good word about the staff at the Omni La Costa – everyone was pleasant and helpful, from the valet we met when we first drove up to people at the reception desk and the restaurant staff.
WHERE WE DINED
One of my reasons for visiting Carlsbad this weekend was to attend a wine-tasting at The Flower Fields nearby (more about that in a minute), and we went there immediately after checking in at the Omni La Costa.
But after the wine-tasting, our family went to Bob’s Steak and Chop House right next to the registration building.
Bob’s definitely has the feel of a traditional steak house, with comfortable and cozy booths and dim lighting. Naturally, the menu features meat dishes, but there were plenty of good vegetable sides for my vegan husband and son. As for me, I went for a delicious rib-eye steak, and it was just what I wanted, and perfectly cooked. I enjoyed a glass of good Pinot Noir wine with it, as well as mushrooms, spinach, and broccoli – my husband “stole” the giant baked potato that came with my meal, and he loved it. My men also enjoyed mashed potatoes, creamed corn (I tasted it – delicious!), and the very fresh bread that came with dinner. It was a thoroughly satisfying dinner, and a great end to the day.
Next morning, we tried another one of the dining spots in the resort, with breakfast at the Spa Café, on a patio overlooking the spa. Besides the food and the view, there was a wonderful musician playing Spanish guitar during the meal – so pleasant to hear.
Clara Coastal
Carlsbad Village is very walkable shopping area, full of fun boutiques and restaurants, right near the ocean. It is just a few miles north of Omni La Costa Resort – Carlsbad is a pretty compact town. We ended up there at lunch time, and tried a restaurant called Clara Coastal, up on the second floor of a small shopping center called Carlsbad Village Faire. The day was so gorgeous, we decided to eat outside again. Our server was Haley, and she was so fun and helpful! I tried their roasted mussels and jalapeño margarita, while Red Bear and my husband shared a flatbread pizza and a veggie platter with hummus and several kinds of vegetables. The food was great and fresh, and for a bonus treat, we could watch a pair of birds building a nest from our vantage point.
Casero Taqueria
A friend recommended we try Casero Taqueria if we had a chance, and for one dinner, we took that recommendation – and we are so glad we did! It is a trendy little restaurant in a business center in the Bressi Ranch section of Carlsbad, a little bit hard for us to find, but worth it. It was about 7:00 on Saturday evening when we arrived, and were told there would be a longer wait than we like (they do not take reservations there). But we got seated outside (again) in less than 10 minutes, and we were pretty happy about that.
The menu features all kinds of variations on Mexican food, and we ordered quite a variety, something for everyone in the family. We all tried their roasted “street corn,” veggie burritos, rice and beans, and churros, and I enjoyed the grilled shrimp burrito.
The portions were generous (the burritos, rice, and beans alone were enough for two meals), and the flavors were exceptionally good. In fact, our family consensus was that the food at Casero Taqueria was the best Mexican food we have had.
WHAT I DID
We have had getaways to Carlsbad several times; it is one of our favorite places for a short trip. And there are many fun things to do in Carlsbad – it is the home to Legoland, for one, but it also has beautiful beaches, interesting shopping, myriad restaurants, wonderful activities in nature, and it is adjacent to San Diego, home to many “big city” entertainment attractions. In fact, some of Red Bear’s kickboxing teammates were competing there during our visit.
Wine-tasting at The Flower Fields:
But one of my personal reasons to visit Carlsbad was to return to The Flower Fields – not only to enjoy the famous flowers, but to attend a wine-tasting and music event there. In fact, as soon as we arrived at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, I checked into our suite, changed clothes, and headed right to the wine-tasting.
It was an informal but elegant event at The Flower Fields, just during the sunset hour, organized by a company called The Wine Militia. We guests were served several different wines, with a sommelier explaining something about each selection as it was served. Of course, crackers and breads, cheeses and fruits, accompanied the wine. So did wonderful live music, interesting and easy on the ear. I loved it all!
Truth be told, The Flower Fields is a unique and beautiful place to visit, including for special events such as this wine-tasting.
Morning Yoga at The Flower Fields:
After a sound night sleep in our suite at La Costa, I actually rose early and headed back to The Flower Fields for an 8 a.m. yoga class. I enjoy exercise and/or yoga almost every day, and this class was very special, being held in such a beautiful setting near the ocean. I think 40 or so of us had our mats spread out there, and our yoga instructor was a very good one named Jackie. I am actually a certified yoga instructor in China, and the class was pretty intense, even for me. In other words, I loved it.
OUR LEXUS TEST DRIVE
I had a chance to test-drive a new Lexus LC 500 coupe, and I combined it with this trip to Carlsbad. The LC 500 is a gorgeous car, as you can see from the pictures. It is a 2-door car with lots of power, every modern convenience, and a very comfortable ride. And it turns heads, too, with lots of admiring looks!
One might think a coupe would not be spacious enough for our family of three on a trip, but it was actually comfortable for all of us – I mostly rode in the back, and had good legroom and a very comfortable seat. We were able to place all of our clothes, enough for 3 people for 2 nights (and, you know, I pack more outfits than the average girl!), in the trunk.
The ride was smooth and the LC 500 was very responsive – my husband called it a “grand touring car.” We all were impressed with the looks and comfort and performance of the Lexus LC 500.
CONCLUSION
If you need a wonderful place to visit near Los Angeles, Carlsbad is hard to beat – lots to do and see, and it has one of the best climates on Earth – never too hot, never too cold, and always blessed with clean ocean air.
We all really enjoyed the beauty and luxury of the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa – I can really appreciate why it has been one of the world’s best resorts for so many decades.
In short, it was a great escape for us.
Thanks so much to Visit Carlsbad for working with us on this story.
