This vibrant beach city is emerging as California’s best spring getaway

Share the article

If you could name California’s top destination, at first glance you might guess it’s some variation of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Well, two things can be true at the same time…

While some may consider SF and LA to be among America’s most iconic cities, it is true one destination in San Diego County that has been on the rise in recent years.

Not to toot our own horn, but we at Travel Off Path were the first travel publication to report that the province was opening a second commercial airportmaking this lesser-known beach town a holiday hotspot in its own right.

Travel + LeisureAmong others has since followed suit, even naming it the top destination for 2026, and it now tops the list of spring’s best getaways.

With new flights, a new hype and the reopening of major attractions this spring, the beautiful city Carlsbad surpasses our favorite household names as California’s #1 vacation destination.

The West Coast’s most family-friendly destination

Carlsbad suits all types of travelers, but especially families looking for a safe, quiet spring break getaway.

Although Disneyland is the obvious choice, Carlsbad has made a name for itself Legolandthe popular Premium Outlet shopping center and lifeguard-patrolled beaches, while the kids run free and build sand castles and shout “6-7!” out of blurbs, whatever that means.

Nearby Orange County is safe, but LA has seen an undeniable rise in crime. As such, travelers have visited other SoCal coastal havens to make up for the dimming of Hollywood’s bright lights.

Carlsbad is the perfect alternative. It’s the laid-back “soccer mom” town of San Diego.

You will find hospitable residents and plenty of outdoor activities Water sports in Californiaand everything from mid-sized chains to luxury brand resorts – and yes, you can even stay in Legoland.

The surprising foodie destination in California: ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’?

Dear Paul and Ringo, don’t sue us. We’re just borrowing a text to portray one of California’s most beautiful attractions, which is still under-hyped for many San Diego tourists.

While most visit the world famous zoo and the actual beaches of San Diego, Carlsbad is about 35 – 45 minutes off the typical tourist trail.

If you want to witness one of the most eye-catching destinations imaginable, you must visit both Carlsbad’s strawberry fields And flower fields (full reopening in March).

The latter is the most striking with its array of kaleidoscopic colors, perfect for photos of spring blooms that don’t require a filter.

At the strawberry fields you can wander between rows and rows of fresh strawberries (never more than a day old) and pick and fill your own basket.

But it’s not just fresh berries that make Carlsbad a foodie hotspot; the food scene is the main reason why Travel + Leisure crowned Carlsbad #1 destination in the world for 2026.

Featuring ‘kind of steakhouses’ run by celebrity chefs Cinder & RyeHole-in-the-wall taco shops that transport your taste buds south of the border and boast a Michelin star Liloarrive hungry and you’ll leave happy.

New flights will start this spring (despite locals’ lawsuit)

As mentioned, we reported on American Airlines’ groundbreaking route to reopen Carlsbad’s McClellan-Palomar Airport for commercial use, rather than a playground for retired grandpas’ vintage props and Cessnas.

This decision was met with local opposition due to a host of concerns, although San Diegans like me are sure that multi-million dollar homeowners don’t want noisy jets passing by late at night and early morning that could potentially devalue their homes.

This is why there is a hard limit on aircraft takeoffs and landings at San Diego International Airport.

That said, United is the top American in March with even more routes, which has sparked a controversy court case filed by a group of locals who would rather not see Carlsbad turn from a soccer mom community into a vacation hotspot, which sounds like it’s “too little, too late.”

United still plans to launch the following routes this spring:

• Carlsbad (CLD) → Denver (DEN) — March 30
• Carlsbad (CLD) → San Francisco (SFO) — March 30

However you get here, spring is one of the best times to visit, as the boisterous spring breakers have yet to discover Carlsbad, despite its obvious rise to fame.

The weather fluctuates between the high 60s and low 70s through June, making for blissful beach days by the shiny blue Pacific Ocean.

Sam Sears

See also  4 reasons why this Jamaica beach town will be one of the trendiest Caribbean hotspots this winter

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.