Carlsbad, CA :

One look at the cloudless blue sky, a deep breath of the morning's Pacific air and voila! Just like the Beach Boys' classic song, I became a "California girl". Come along with me and I'll give you the skinny on where the heavy hitters land their private jets to do business with Callaway Golf and where they tee it up too. Bring you favorite surfboard because you'll be hanging ten right in front of your hotel.

Carlsbad Hilton Garden Inn
Our stay at the Carlsbad Hilton Garden Inn was a five star service experience. Think Ritz Carlton customer service at a “family friendly” price point. The comfortable rooms feature self-adjusting “Garden Sleep System” beds and Herman Miller office chairs. It’s no wonder that guests return here time and again.

The hotel is located across the street from Carlsbad State Beach. Businessmen actually choose the hotel so they can get a few point breaks in on their long boards before they call on Callaway Golf or Taylor Made. If you’re bringing the family along, Carlsbad is a perfect fit for the kids too. From Legoland to the San Diego Zoo, there are countless family activities to do.

In spring of 2012, the Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa will open on Pacific Coast Highway. Along with the full service spa and luxury suites, the new property will boast tropical swimming pools and waterfalls and a fine dining restaurant offering panoramic ocean views. Don’t miss it!

Rates:

$199 for a room with 2 queen beds
$289 for ocean view suites
Phone: 760-476-0800
www.hiltoncarlsbad.com

Above & Beyond… Palomar Airport
The airport is located five miles from the Hilton Garden Inn. The hotel has become the first choice for many pilots and crew members that land at the airport. Can you guess why? They love the service as well.

NetJets has a FBO here and if you’re lucky you’ll spot championship professional golfer Phil Mikelson’s private jet. He hangers his plane at the airport. United Express offers fourteen daily nonstop flights to Los Angeles LAX.

Phone: 760- 431-4646
www.palomarairportassociation.com

In n’ Out
After a six hour flight, we were super hungry and in need of an “In n’ Out Burger” fix. Thanks to Luis our trusty hotel shuttle driver, we patiently waited in line at the drive through, placed our order and gobbled down fresh and tasty cheeseburgers right there in the van.

The Town of Carlsbad
The surf was up on Saturday morning. We strolled along the beach, sipping coffee and watching the surfers catch the waves while porpoises, in formation like fighter jets, body surfed in between them effortlessly. We couldn't figure out who was having more fun!

Californians take their exercise seriously. The adjacent bike path was brimming with cyclists and joggers who all seemed trim, tanned and toned. How do they do that? It didn't seem fair.

We wound up at the Daily News Cafe, which is a delightful little breakfast and coffee house. You can grab your favorite newspaper and a cup of Joe and watch all the early morning risers get their hundred in on their hand made Italian bicycles.

Open daily from 6:30am -4:00pm
Breakfast served all day
Phone: 760-729-1023
www.dailynewscafe.com

Carlsbad Flower Fields
People have been flocking to the Carlsbad Flower Fields for over 50 years. The fields bloom with vibrant Tecolote Ranunculus in eye-catching pinks, oranges and yellows splashing a vast band of color on the hillside. Be sure to enjoy a wagon ride pulled by tractors from the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum and let the kids pan for semi-precious treasures at the Carlsbad Mining Company sluice-mining station. There’s freshly squeezed lemonade for sale at a charming little lemon stand and gigantic fresh strawberries to snack on. Do stop to smell the roses! There are dozens of varieties showcased in the Flower Fields' garden.

Open March through early May

Adult Admission: $10 
Child Admission: $ 5
Phone: 760-431-0352
www.theflowerfields.com

Shopping Arts Fair
Shoppers, start your engines. It's time for Carlsbad's massive, twice-a-year street fair. With about 900 booths, and an anticipated crowd of some 100,000 shoppers, the Carlsbad Village Street Faire is so huge that it forces the all-day closure of several downtown streets. Not to worry as there is free shuttle service available to large off-site parking lots ---- one at the western end of the Plaza Camino Real Shopping Mall at 2525 El Camino Real, and one at the Poinsettia Coaster Station, 6511 Avenida Encinas.

There's a beer garden, and the fair is right in the center of downtown Carlsbad so if you’d rather eat lunch in a restaurant instead of eating messy fair food, there are plenty that are open to serve the crowds on this day! As for the actual contents of booths, I think you’ll find that there is something for everyone in the family here - young, ....