Although Carlsbad is primarily known for wonderful beaches, there are also many other activities to entice you away from San Diego for a day or two. Carlsbad State Beach (aka Tamarack Beach) is great for families and you can enjoy just about any beach activity on this long stretch of golden sand.

You can try surfing, kayaking, scuba diving, and windsurfing or drop a line off the Carlsbad jetty to catch a big one.

Carlsbad is also home to three amazing lagoons that offer brilliant wildlife watching, hiking trails, and kayaking opportunities.

You can set off to explore over 50 miles of trails that vary from comfortable strolls to strenuous hikes and are mostly also suitable for biking. Families should set aside plenty of time for the kids to enjoy LEGOLAND. Carlsbad is about 1 hour 45 minutes from Los Angeles.