Big Blend Radio

Carlsbad is a Must-Visit Southern California Destination

This episode of Big Blend Radio’s “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA that features Kim Sidoriak, President & CEO of Visit Carlsbad. Located in North San Diego County in Southern California, Carlsbad is a coastal playground and the ultimate destination to unwind and enjoy an unforgettable escape.

Carlsbad offers abundant access to seven miles of pristine beaches and outdoor activities including surfing, golfing, biking, hiking trails and pickleball courts. A variety of luxury and budget friendly hotels are available for all visitors.

Attractions including LEGOLAND® California Resort, Museum of Making Music and the iconic Flower Fields, provide an ideal family experience.

Championship caliber golf courses, a vibrant culinary scene and brewery scene, relaxing spa experiences and much more awaits. Plan your Carlsbad experience here: https://visitcarlsbad.com/

For more about the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) visit https://www.ifwtwa.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:: 25m
Broadcast on:: 31 Dec 2024
Audio Format:: other

Welcome to Big Blend Radio's Food Wine and Travel Show, where we go across country and travel the world with members of the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association. Let's go. So very excited today on our Big Blend Radio Show with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association that we call Iftwa. So you can go to ifwtwa.org. We are going to Carlsbad in California, Southern California. Nancy and I, this is our Stomping Grounds. This is where we started Big Blend Magazines. It was the blend at the time. And this is one of those must-do destinations. There's highway, historic highway 101 that goes through it. There's beautiful beaches. There's golf. There are family-friendly attractions like Legoland. Shout out to Peter Norby that got Legoland to Carlsbad. But there is good food. Can I just talk about Lola's? Oh my gosh. I'm just going to Lola's. So there's just so much to experience the flower fields. And we've got Kim Sedoriak joining us as she is a CEO of Visit Carlsbad. So of course, you know where you need to go. Visit Carlsbad.com and then book a room and go. So welcome Kim, how are you? I'm great. I'm happy to be here today, Lisa. I'm glad to reconnect you with your old Stomping Grounds. Ah, yeah. This is, you know, you guys, it's just such a beautiful region. And the one thing I also want people to know is that there's the coastal side, but you also have like a countryside of Carlsbad too, right, for people to understand. Yeah. I think, you know, people's perceptions of Carlsbad is that it's a Southern California beach destination, but really Carlsbad over the years has grown a lot, especially kind of east of the five freeway. So there are golf courses and resorts and actually a lot of companies who've moved into Carlsbad because Lola's lifestyle is so great. So there's so much to explore beyond, I think, just kind of like the beach area. So yeah, talking about people moving there, right? That's really a sign of an amazing destination. People visit, then they go, you know, I kind of want to live there. And you know, I know that you've got the golf and we want to talk about that. You've got the beaches, you've got lagoons and nature areas of flower fields, which we're definitely going to talk about. You've got a historic village that is just a coastal charm. And then you've got like the upscale stores too, you know, so the boutiques and so much going on on that level. But what about the wellness? Is that part of the make up for people to move and visit Carlsbad? Because I hear that you've got really good water in Carlsbad. I was wondering if you were going to bring up the water yet. So Carlsbad, Carlsbad's history is based in the discovery of alkaline water, just a couple of blocks away from where I'm sitting in Carlsbad village. So this kind of natural alkaline water is really infused with the lifestyle in Carlsbad, obviously being a coastal town, coastal city, but then having three lagoons and then this sort of health and wellness and spa related history. So from its founding on that on the discovery of alkaline water to today, with spas like our Miraval spot, Parkaya Aviara and the spala casta, Omni La Pasta, resort and spa. And a number of other smaller boutique spas, this is a really great place to treat yourself to health and wellness activities. And then of course just being so close to nature and the city of Carlsbad and the residents have really prioritized preservation of the natural environment. So the open space and the natural areas and the bird habitats and the lagoons and the trails are really part of that wellness experience and that healthy lifestyle. Yeah, because it is really beautiful and the trails, like the lagoons, let's talk a little bit about the natural areas because you've got water birds out there, herons, I remember always going out and seeing herons and you know, that is kind of, and then even the beaches are pristine as well. So you can go, they still have, I remember the cliffs, I would go hang out on the cliffs and watch the, you know, the moon and, you know, sunsets, sunsets and Carlsbad are like amazing. Can we just say that? Absolutely. And it really doesn't matter the season, you know, the autumn sunsets are different from the summer sunsets, but it's all beautiful. Exactly. Well, it is different, right? So January is a little bit different, but that when you think about like winter, that's really when you could possibly see whales out in the ocean, you know. Yeah, I mean, there's just no shortage of discoveries, whether you're on a trail or, you know, riding your bike around or shopping in Carlsbad village, there's a lot to be discovered. There's a lot of surprises around every corner. Now what about the museums? Because I, you know, I remember a lot of museums, but then like the museum of making music to me was like this iconic, amazing, I want to go back and still there, right? It's still going? Still going. I'm actually recently completed a renovation. I'm really nice. You know, obviously Carlsbad being home to Legally in California Resort, you know, really is a driver of it being a family-friendly destination, but there's other great activities if you're traveling with a family. So the museum of making music is wonderful. We also have a Carlsbad food tour, which is great for all ages. Oh, I didn't know about that. Yeah, it infuses a lot of Carlsbad history with tasting your way through Carlsbad village. So great opportunities for families to bond and connect and then learn something too. Yeah, because I brought up Lola's. I mean, that was like the best Mexican food in San Diego. I'm just saying, I got to give her. I'm allowed to say that, you know, I miss Ophie and Connie and we'll miss them forever, you know, but tell everybody a little bit because there's ice cream shops. There are so many different styles and you've got Michelin star food too now, right? So what's going on? What can we eat? All right, in terms of food, you know, there's all types of cuisine here in Carlsbad. Our Michelin star restaurant is Genoa Jolie, but the partners in that restaurant are also opening up to new restaurants in the next few months, as well as campfire. So that group is really broadening their scope in Carlsbad, which is exciting. We have Ember and Rye from Chef Richard Blaze at our Park Hayadaw diara, and then just, you know, no shortage of ice cream shops, no shortage of coffee shops, and certainly tons of options for fish tacos. Oh, there you go. See, everyone, it is good food. Now let's talk about the flower fields because it's, you know, they come and then they go and we're like, come on, stay. I mean, how many Owlsens of Renuculas are planted? I mean, what I love about it is you've got the windmill from the old piece of Anderson, you've got views of the beach, but like all these flowers, and then there's other kinds of flowers too, and all kinds of events and activities for kids and families. Talk about more family friendly. When, when does this start? The flower fields are typically in bloom from March through May, and obviously I think people know that it's just a beautiful sight to see, and you can go through tractor rides through the fields and really immerse yourself in the fields themselves, but then we've really got to hand it to the folks at the flower fields for programming the whole experience. So down at the base of the flower fields, there's all sorts of educational activities. There's a pea maze, there's food trucks, ice cream, sculpture garden, so it really is something that you can spend a whole day exploring and enjoying, and then it's a beautiful special event venue when the blooms are not in season. And then the flower fields also programs yoga classes in the fields, wine tasting, picnics. So there's really a lot more than just seeing the blooms themselves that you can enjoy during the season. It's a good place to get hitched. It's supposed to celebrate the anniversary. Yeah, it's just, you know, how many people get engaged in the flower fields do you think every year? I mean, it's definitely one of our popular spots for proposals, obviously the beaches and the cliffs, which you mentioned, another great spot. I'm going in the lagoon too, like, but I'm not getting hitched, so that's not happening. But I'll go everywhere in Carlsbad. So, you know, you've got the flower fields, but you know, they're the spring thing, right? Everybody's like, spring in Carlsbad is second to none. It's amazing. And, you know, by the way, again, I have to bring up highway 101 in such an iconic highway that goes up the Pacific coast, you know, changes up to one and highway 101. I love that nostalgia. People just get in your car if you have, like, a vintage car too, right? A classic car that's cool to drive, you know, and do that vibe of coastal feel, you know, it's good. But the flower fields also have strawberries. And then what is new to me is that you guys have fall, y'all, as well. Yeah, so the strawberry fields is in season for picking February through June, but then also the strawberry fields kind of changes over as fall emerges and becomes a pumpkin patch, corn maze. There's even a speakeasy during the corn maze, so it's a really fun place to enjoy during fall too, when the strawberries aren't available for picking. So they kind of do both seasons pretty well. So the speakeasy, I'm just like, are they having corn liquor in there or what? You know, but that's, you know, it's so interesting to hear this rise up of speakeasies across the country, right? It's fun. What about libation stations in Carlsbad? Because I remember little pubs and, you know, just really, you know, restaurants that you could watch, you watch the view of the ocean as the sun setting and have a cocktail and dinner. So what is that kind of scene light in regards to taking a sip and calling it a day, having fun? I mean, in terms of ocean view cocktails, there's Chandler's, which is up the Cape Ray Carlsbad Beach Hotel. And then we have a couple of great new rooftop bars, look at it in Carlsbad Village, up at the Spring Hill Suites, it's just right on Carlsbad Boulevard and it's the rooftop bar that completely overlooks the ocean. So beautiful views up at that rooftop. And then 264 fresco also has a rooftop about a block away from the ocean. And then of course Carlsbad Village because it's so walkable and there's so many individually owned restaurants and bars. So you can kind of start your night at a rooftop bar with the sunset and then work your way throughout multiple bars in Carlsbad Village. You know, this is the thing too, like now that you have like a food tour, that just shows when food tours happen in a city, which it doesn't feel like a city at all, it just that just tells you that there's good food to be had and there's a lot of it. So when there's a need for a tour, that tells you something. And then it's huge enough kind of eating your way through Carlsbad's history makes it a really fun experience. Because it is multicultural as a destination. And so that's a cool thing too. I mean, is there still a bakery there? Is the bakery still there? The Danish bakeries? That's still happening? I don't know. I don't know. Are there bakeries? I want baked goods or coffee and there's definitely tons of bakeries. And you know, we have a weekly farmer's market with amazing baked goods. And so and then we've got some great local breweries, obviously being part of San Diego County. The craft beer scene is is strong and that continues. That's important. Yeah. Yeah, we want pretzels and beer together. Yeah. Yeah, we want that. Now golf, that's because you know, we need to do something to kind of work it off, right? Well, golf is, you know, it's a good brain game too. Carlsbad from what I've always known, like Callaway golf, you know, all of that. I just always think about Carlsbad as golf. And it's very interesting to see how golf and golf courses and resorts have evolved with other activities as well that are all connected. So has Carlsbad stayed like it's 100% how golf has always been or has it moved into other, you know, ways like, I think it's disc golf and I don't know anything about sports, right? Football for whatever, but it looks like fun. Tell us a little bit about that whole, you know, experience for people. Yeah, I mean, there's a number of golf brands and golf related companies that are based in Carlsbad. And the reason being is because the weather and the lifestyle are amazing. So you have golf brands who want to be here. And then we have multiple golf courses located in Carlsbad. So Omni Lecosta has two golf courses. One of them was just recently renovated and now is the home to the NCAA Division One Men's and Women's Championships. Just had the first tournament here in 2024 and will be doing, I think, three or four more years of that tournament. And then Perkite Aviara has a golf course. I have crossings. And so, golf really has a strong history here in Carlsbad, but also after COVID, you know, golf really became a hobby of choice for a lot of people. So the golf business here in Carlsbad is really strong and, you know, attracting a lot more attention with that NCAA Division One Men's and Women's Championships being at Omni Lecosta. So that's going on through 2026, right? That's like a nonstop thing. That's awesome. It's through 2028. Oh, 2028. Oh, wow. Okay. Wow. Okay. That is big. That is big. So do you have that disc golf or no? Do they do that? But Pickleball obviously is gaining. Oh, wow. Yeah. Omni Lecosta's got Pickleball chords, Perkia, and also kind of converting other commercial spaces into Pickleball cards because Carlsbad residents love Pickleball and our visitors love Pickleball too. Yeah, because it's just seems so. It's a multi-generational destination. That's what I think about Carlsbad. I've always felt that. And everywhere you go, it's like it doesn't matter. It's a two-year-old with an 80-year-old. They're going to have fun. And between, you know, so yeah. Oh, you're making me like homesick, you know? I am. I'm feeling a little, you know, well, where we had the beaches. So beach life. Some of us want to wake up at the beach. We don't necessarily need to sleep. Well, actually you have state beaches and stuff like that, right? So what are the lodging experiences for the beach lover? Okay, so beach lovers would love beach terrace. Beach terrace is literally located on the sand. And right on the water, most of the rooms are ocean view. Boutique Hotel, really, you know, really focused on guest experiences and unique, you know, unique decor. And then we have state beach campgrounds. So if you really want to be, you know, waking up on the beach, the state beach campground is a great option. And then we also have Cape Ray Carlsbad Beach and Hilton Garden Inn, which are just across the street from the water. So you can just cross over to get to the beach. But obviously, a number of rooms with ocean views there too. That is awesome. Now, do you have a lot of vacation rentals or is it mostly hotels and resorts? Most of our overnight rooms are hotel-based, but we do have short-term rentals in Carlsbad as well, many of which are located close to the ocean. So that's a great option as well. And resorts too are also on the countryside and the golf side and the area where it's like, you're going to come and do yoga and chill. So you've got both sides of it, which is cool. Yeah. And listen, I do want to touch on Lego land because I remember when Lego land was being built. I mean, that was such a huge draw, not just for Carlsbad, but for all of San Diego. And I'm going to say Southern California. I mean, even, you know, you've got to think of, you know, the northern part of Southern California, Orange County, LA County, they're all like, oh, we've got even more like when someone wants to do a theme park. So does that happen for you where families come like, we're doing all of them, you know, we're doing the theme park experience. Definitely. And you know, Lego land just turned 25 years old in Carlsbad. So happy birthday to the Lego land. Big birthday here. They unveiled a new dino land. So they did customer research and overwhelmingly heard from their customers that kids want dinosaurs. So unveiled dinosaurs earlier this year. And yeah, you know, I think with Carlsbad having so many hotels and hotel rooms, you have over 5000 hotel rooms. So you're going to have those high end families that want to stay at the sprawling resort. But there's a number of hotels that are located close to grow to Lego land California resort, more on the affordable side of things. So really all price points, depending on the type of family traveler you are, you can do the high end experience. You can do the, you know, really, really affordable experience. So yeah, nice, nice. Now, what about sustainability? Because Carlsbad is a special place and especially being on the ocean and everything. You know, I think most destinations are really looking at how do we partner with our visitors coming in our guests and having to say like, Hey, this is how we do things, please be responsible. And then lodgings and you know, we see it as we travel the country, everyone is looking at becoming more sustainable. And I know, I personally know that you've got residents that are in the world of charging stations and stuff like that because they put on our podcast. So tell us a little bit about this that you guys are like working on the sustainable mode too for travelers and for your community really, right? Yeah, and you know, for us at visit Carlsbad, we, we earned a green business certification this year. And this is, you know, a big part of our values as an organization. So we really live that out. And then we, we try to promote, you know, what our, what our local businesses are doing. We partner with local nonprofit organizations like the Agua Hadianda Lagoon Foundation, which really focuses on educating children about not just preserving the lagoon, but really about how they can make more sustainable choices. So, you know, that's a really big focus for us as a tourism board, but then obviously from the city of Carlsbad's perspective, and the resident's perspective, you know, preservation of the natural environment, keeping open spaces. But when you are a coastal destination, and when you do have a lot of open and green space, you are more connected to the nature that you want to preserve. And so it really is an ethos for us as an organization and for the community. And so it is really a thread that is throughout what we do, how we, how we work with our partners and how we promote Carlsbad as a destination and really showcase the businesses who have become green certified. And, and if their tours are related, well, really showcasing that. So it doesn't go into your restaurants too, is in farm to table, looking at organics, that kind of thing too. Absolutely. And, you know, we're today's Wednesday, so weekly farmer's market day. We have a lot of restaurants that, you know, choose their produce from what's available at the farmer's markets and really are focused on reducing waste. And so, you know, we really want to focus on how can we help partner with them to promote their efforts and make sure that visitors who are coming here are supporting those businesses who are doing right by the community and right by the environment. That's awesome. That is awesome to hear about that. And I think that also goes with you being a wellness destination too, you know, and all the flowers in the nature, you want to protect all that because it is about keeping your integrity, you know. Exactly. And I think that's a powerful destination. The best way to keep it that way is to, you know, enable sustainable practices, promote sustainable businesses, and sustainable things to do. You're a biker friendly, like a bicycle friendly. I know motorcycles go up and down that highway all the time on 101. You've got five as well, but as I recall, you're a cyclist, like for cyclists. Oh, I mean, again, with all that open space and beautiful natural environment, it is a, you know, great place to ride your bike, you know, go out with your cycling folks. And there's a number of great places to rent bikes in Carlsbad Village. A lot of the hotels have bikes that folks can take out for rent. And, you know, Highway 1 is another great place to get out on a bike. I love that highway. I've done it from top to bottom. I love it. I love it. I think I'm missing a few chunks of it, just like the Pacific Crest Trail, right? You want to do all of these these routes. But this is amazing. So 2025, looking at that, yeah, where do most of your visitors come in and come in from? Are a lot of them still like California? And I know Arizona loves you in the summer. That's for sure. Yeah, Arizona's all happening still, right? Yeah, it's still happening. A lot of our visitors come from California. So they're, you know, Los Angeles, Orange County. We're, you know, trying to focus on driving more folks from Northern California, but then absolutely Arizona. They love us. There's some new flights launching in February of 2025 direct from Phoenix to Carlsbad Airport from an airline. So folks don't want to do the drive. They can get on a shorter flight. And then we're also focusing on promoting Carlsbad to markets like Texas, Las Vegas, again, you know, places where, you know, folks want to escape the heat, if it's a little too hot in that late summer, early full time frame. Guys, well, I didn't know that about the airport side of things. Yeah, that is because a lot of people will think it has to go to San Diego or up into Orange County. So that is cool. Yeah. Directing to Carlsbad Airport, which is, you know, really, you know, small convenience. Small. Yep. I love small airports, don't we? We want that experience. Well, that is awesome. And you got Amtrak too, right? That goes through. Definitely. So whether you're coming from- That's another big deal. Yeah. From Los Angeles or from San Diego Airport, you could even take, if you flow into San Diego Airport, you could take take the train up into Carlsbad. We have a couple of stations. So for folks who want to go car-free, there is that option. Awesome. Awesome. Thank you so much for joining us. Very excited. You guys are part of our 2025 feature of must-dos. 25 travel must-dos in 2025 and Nancy and I can vouch 100% that you've got to go to Carlsbad. Don't just visit, stay for a while, have a good time, get in those flower fields, eat some strawberries, have some ice cream, some really good Mexican food, right? Go shopping, do whatever you need to do with golf. I don't know what it is, but like I've tried to do that and apparently I am terrible. So, but I still want to go and keep trying. That's a thing. Oh, it's fun to just drive around a golf cart. I do that with a buddy, Mary. But then you're told that you're not allowed to make a noise, you know. Someone's actually got that swing, but it's okay. I know how to behave. I kind of do. Well, thank you so much, Kim. Everyone, visit Carlsbad.com and the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association. Thank you for reconnecting Nancy and I too, our happy land. So, keep up with them at ifwtwa.org. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for listening to Big Blend Radio's Food Wine and Travel Show featuring members of the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association. We encourage you to visit their website. We say iftwa, which is ifwtwa.org. You can also follow us at bigblendradio.com. Happy travels, everyone.

Attractions including LEGOLAND® California Resort, Museum of Making Music and the iconic Flower Fields, provide an ideal family experience.

Championship caliber golf courses, a vibrant culinary scene and brewery scene, relaxing spa experiences and much more awaits. Plan your Carlsbad experience here: https://visitcarlsbad.com/

For more about the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) visit https://www.ifwtwa.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.