A Weekend Trip to Carlsbad

By: Amanda Huntsman

As a mom of two active, high-energy kids, I always try to think of fun places to take them outside of our usual picks. It had been quite some time since we visited Legoland, so I thought this would be the perfect surprise weekend getaway. Moms, this is an easy and doable solo mission. Carlsbad is just a short 45-minute drive down the coast. There is something for everyone: amusement parks, quintessential shopping, top-rated eateries, sleepy beach towns, quaint village, and luxurious hotels. This is a fun getaway with or without kids.  

 DAY ONE 

Aware that our check-in time at our hotel is 3 pm, I first decided to surprise my kids with a day at Legoland California. Although the park doesn't open until 10am, we arrived at 9 am to ensure we nabbed a great parking spot. I noticed a lot of people unloading their cars and heading to the gate, so we did the same. To our surprise, they let us right in. We shuffled in with everyone else and beelined right to Ninjago, not wanting to question our incredible luck. Ninjago is a crowd-pleaser for all ages. It's A state-of-the-art ride where you can blast animated fireballs, lightning, and more at a sinister gallery of villains. We were also able to walk to Coasteraurus, Coast Cruise, and Fairytale Brook, all before 10 am. Insider Tip: Arrive early to avoid the lines for these three rides at the front of the park. Note, these are the only rides they give access to before 10am. My other tip is to then head to the back of the park. Most people stop at the first rides they see. By going to the back of the park, we could walk on to the submarine ride. We had a short 5-minute wait for many others, including Driving School, Sky Patrol, and The Lost Kingdom Adventure. We covered a lot of ground by lunchtime. We finished our day with the Royal Joust ride and Dune Raiders Super Slide. As we were leaving Legoland, I unveiled my next surprise to my kids; a weekend stay at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa. 

A short 12-minute drive from Legoland, we headed over to the hotel. The resort is reminiscent of something you would find in Santa Barbara, with white mission-like Spanish colonial architecture and vibrant hot pink bougainvillea flowers everywhere. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is known for its welcoming family atmosphere. Families gravitate toward the resort's casual nature and a trove of kid-centric activities, including one of San Diego's most robust hotel kids' clubs. Also on this expansive 400-acre property are two 18-hole championship golf courses, an award-winning spa, eight pools, 17 tennis courts, and athletic center. We were welcomed with guava water for the kids and a glass of champagne for myself during check-in. We took a short golf cart ride to our room on the first floor with access to the greenbelt from the patio. The room was outfitted with plush bedding, a custom-built desk, an entertainment center with a flat-screen TV, a coffeemaker with premium coffee, and a fully stocked mini-fridge. Also included were an in-room safe, iron/ironing board, hairdryer, two cozy robes, and an iPod docking station. High-speed Wi-Fi, cable, and on-demand movies are also available.

I polled a few friends who live in the area for recommendations on unique and local eateries. At the top of the list were Herb & Sea and The Waverly. On our first night, we went to Herb and Sea, an 11-minute drive from the hotel to the beachside town of Encinitas. The restaurant has quickly become one of the most sought-out in town, with a menu that celebrates simple, clean, and bright flavors. Some of you may recognize the name of founder Brian Malarky; Brian has been a contestant on Bravo's Top Chef All-Stars and a past Top Chef finalist. He has also appeared in Guy's Grocery Games, the Today Show, and Good Morning America.

 There was a mix of couples, professionals, foodies, and families. The restaurant has a "cool" California vibe with its ocean aesthetic and open layout. Our friendly server, Francisco, recommended the Tomato & Burrata and Gem salad for starters; for our mains, the Plancha Fired Branzino and Shrimp Linguini (the pasta is made from scratch) with Roasted Baby Carrots, Wood-Grilled King Trumpet Mushrooms, and Crispy Boardwalk Potatoes. Then for dessert, he suggested the Lava Cake and Butterscotch Budino. We had an open view of the kitchen, which was exciting. The general manager was kind enough to check in with us. All I could say was WOW, just WOW, the flavors lived up to their reputation! The linguini was light and buttery, the shrimp perfectly prepared, and the branzino was the best I have ever had. Dessert was presented beautifully; my son particularly enjoyed watching the sauces poured elegantly onto the warm moist lava cake. We just LOVED the place. The food was excellent and creatively prepared. You can tell everyone loves working here. A highlight of the evening was meeting Chef Francisco. We were able to thank him personally for a spectacular meal.

 DAY TWO 

I enjoy working out, so I looked into local fitness classes. Wanting to share unique experiences with you, I came across VibeFlow yoga studio located in Del Mar, CA. Founder Billy Borja launched the flagship studio in the summer of 2019. VibeFlow is unique because it incorporates whole-body vibration technology and audio immersion into its classes. VibeFlow currently offers three classes: VibeFlow Vinyasa, which is an all-level flow; VibeFlow RESTORE, which is a restorative/yin style class; and VibeFlow SHRED, which is their version of yoga sculpt, incorporating lightweight and bands.

 What you get at VibeFlow is not just a yoga or fitness class. You get an experience that elevates your practice, intensifies your workout, eliminates distraction, and allows you to truly escape. I tried their Vinyasa class. I was a little nervous about the vibrating plates, but I am glad I went outside my comfort zone. The instructor Cidney Corpuz was very engaging; he mentioned he is credited in the yoga communities with bringing showmanship to instruction. His class was very centering and challenging; even the most straightforward moves like warrior poses were complex. I felt every muscle engaged as I tried to keep my balance on the vibrating plates. I felt immediately energized and enjoyed a great night's sleep. I cannot recommend this studio enough! 

 After yoga, I was ready to do some shopping. I have followed Del Mar's Van de Vort boutique for several years and have purchased clothes online. However, this was my first visit to their flagship store in Flower Hill Promenade. Van De Vort is the dream of fashion maven Andrea Van De Vort. The fast popularity of the boutique took Van De Vort in other directions, including ShopVanDeVort.com and her line, VDV The Label. Over five years into it, Van De Vort has recently opened its second location at the highly anticipated Carmel Valley development, One Paseo. Upon arriving, quickly stylists introduced themselves, and my shopping experience began. Wanting to find resort wear to showcase on my travels was easy. I mentioned that I love color and was open to anything. They quickly put together three outfits that complimented my body and skin coloring. These women are highly talented and their styling service is free. They have a large selection of on-trend pieces varying in price. I highly recommend visiting in person; the experience is worth the drive. 

 After shopping, we checked out Parakeet Cafe a few storefronts down. We had their Iced Matcha Latte With A Twist and their signature acai bowl. We learned they are opening a new location here in Newport Coast any day now.

 Back at the Omni La Costa, we headed to the pool. My toddler enjoyed the splash landing and more miniature waterslide for little guests. My son had a blast sliding down the 100 ft waterslide available to guests 48 inches or taller. We finished our afternoon with a quick run through the arcade before dinner on-site at VUE, a lively and contemporary restaurant with an outdoor dining patio, magnificent "VUEs" of the golf course, and lush green rolling hills. I enjoyed the local halibut with a pistachio crust and tomato fennel relish. For sides, we tried their smashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. The kids ordered cheeseburgers off the kid's menu. 

 DAY THREE

Before checking out, I took a quick spa tour. The spa is world-class and was named "favorite resort spa nationwide" by American Spa. You can experience a variety of amenities, including a dry sauna, indoor whirlpool, steam room, relaxation room, and co-ed lounge. The Spa Courtyard offers a serene environment for spa guests to enjoy a private pool, whirlpool, and Roman showers. Spa amenities are accessible on the day of your scheduled spa treatment. Reservations are recommended. Also offered is dining alfresco at the casual Spa Café.

 On our way home, we had one final stop to make; brunch at the highly recommended Waverly located in Cardiff by The Sea. The all-star team at Waverly includes Michelin Bib Gourmand Award winner (Kettner Exchange) and Chef Brian Redzikowski. Designed by Encinitas-based sibling design duo the Sisters of Design 4 Corners, Waverly embraces the laid-back vibe of Cardiff. It is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking and a lawn area for the kids to play on. This was by far the most kid-friendly establishment we visited. Our server, Bianca, said on weekends, a regular group of moms brunch while their littles play on the lawn. We enjoyed the funfetti pancakes, breakfast rice bowl, avocado toast, Baja rice bowl, caesar salad, and grilled selva shrimp. In addition to the aesthetic of the restaurant, the food was AMAZING! Waverly lived up to the hype from the personable staff, refreshingly cool space, and incredible food. 

 All in all, we had an incredible stay in North County, San Diego. There is so much to do as a family or as adults on a weekend getaway. I hope you are inspired to head down south for a visit and check out some of the places we visited. For more information or additional coverage from our stay, please visit our Instagram @NewportBeachLivingMagazine.