20210329_094758Carlsbad Flower Fields (March 2021)

Last spring, I spent my birthday weekend out in Carlsbad, a small city in San Diego County. It was a fortuitous, extended weekend, as I had that Monday off from work, and it gave me three days to relax, eat good food, and explore another part of California. Considering that COVID-19 vaccine doses were just becoming accessible to the general public (and me having gotten my first jab that same weekend), it offered a better opportunity to go out and travel a little bit.

Carlsbad is about 35 miles/56 km north of San Diego. It’s a coastal city that is primarily a tourist hotspot, as it draws out-of-towners to entertain themselves with golf courses, spas, and theme parks, including Legoland. I loved Legoland as a kid, and I went several times in my younger years to have a blast on the rides and enjoy the intricately-built replicas of famous cities at the gardens. For little me, Legoland was everything fun and fulfilling.

Sadly, I’m too old to go to Legoland anymore, so that wasn’t why I went to Carlsbad recently. Instead, it was for the Carlsbad Flower Fields, a gardening event that occurs every year from March 1 until Mother’s Day (in May, in the US). Located on the privately-owned Carlsbad Ranch, it is 55 acres of teeming and colorful flowers, specifically the “Tecolote Giant Ranunculus” (the generic name for “buttercup”). The fields are, quite literally, a sea of rainbow to feast your eyes on, as well as capture through a multitude of photos.

Besides strolling the rows of ranunculi, you can also enjoy a train ride through the fields. Especially for those who have limited physical mobility, the train ride is the alternative to walking, all the while admiring the flower fields through a comfortable and relaxing position. There are also a few, smaller gardens that include birds and butterflies to learn about, as well as live bands that play later in the day on the gazebo. You can also check out the gift shop to buy ranunculus seeds to cultivate your own mini Carlsbad Flower Fields at home, or purchase already-cut ranunculi as a gift for loved ones.

Considering that I visited the Flower Fields during the pandemic, I had to purchase my admission tickets online, as I needed a timed ticket to get in. Prior to that, you could get tickets right at the door, but as the timed ticket system is meant to control the crowds, it was a smart thing to do. Tickets cost $20 per adult, so for two people, it wasn’t too bad– I believe it also included the train ride, if you wanted to. I timed our tickets for the first time of the day– 9:00– as we wanted to go early to avoid crowds.

Upon arriving early at 8:30, we hung around the parking lot before lining up close to opening time. There were also a good handful of others who’d bought the 9:00 tickets to enter, but it wasn’t crowded yet. That said, we had a tranquil stroll through each row of ranunculi, without the hassle of fighting others for photo opportunities.

While strolling each row, it is important to note that parts of it are chained off (i.e. between each part of the flowers), so you can’t actually step into the flowers themselves. In other words, you can only take a photo of yourself right at the entrance of each of the smaller rows, so it’s not like you can get up close and touch the flowers. And of course, do not pick the flowers!

20210329_093325You cannot walk the rows between the flowers– it’s fenced off

The fields were pretty expansive, and parts of them were situated on a slight incline, so besides seeing the colorful array of ranunculi, you could also see a strip of the Pacific Ocean! Views were lovely, and as lovely as the rainbow of colors– purple, yellow, green, red, orange, white– that the flowers had to offer.

20210329_091237Close-up of the ranunculi

Crowds started piling in within an hour of opening, so we decided to quickly circle the fields one more time before dipping out. It was a short, but beautiful time outdoors, especially since I hadn’t gotten the chance to go anywhere on my previous birthday, when lockdown began. I was particularly glad to get out of Los Angeles, in general, and check out another part of my home state. I think the Carlsbad Flower Fields are worth visiting, as they are beautiful and a relaxing way of spending the day in. Perfect for kids and adults, the fields are a great way to welcome the spring season!

— Rebecca

Unknown's avatar

Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

53 thoughts on “Destination: Carlsbad Flower Fields, California”

    1. Oh, I bet! IG influencers give visitors a bad rep, but there are also your usual, run-of-the-mill tourist who would disrespect the boundaries. The Flower Fields tourism board was wise to fence the fields off, all the while still allowing people to enjoy the colors!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. What an incredibly beautiful network of fields. Good thing that the flowers themselves are fenced off because, you know, people are idiots. Some lovely shots here, this looks to be the kind of place that could lift even the lowest of spirits. A great choice for a birthday weekend.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Yes, there are tourists who are inconsiderate of the boundaries of certain sites (not helped by the explosion of IG influencers and their wannabes in the past decade). So it was wise for the Carlsbad Flower Fields’ tourism board to fence the fields off!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. Beautiful! I just mapped it and that would be right on the way to Huntington/Newport Beach that we’ll be heading to from San Diego this summer. However, I’m guessing by then it’ll be out of season and there will be no more blooms?

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  16. Oh my gosh those FLOWERS!! Those are too stunning! I don’t think I’ve been to Carlsbad in any recent years, but last year I did make it down to San Diego and visited Olde Town and Coronado. Looks like I’ll need to make a trip back there!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  18. Wow, such beautiful and colourful photos and flowers, Rebecca! I am glad to hear you were able to go on a mini Birthday trip. It’s also nice to see that it is not possible to walk the rows between the flowers – sometimes people can be so eager to take a photo and in the process destroy delicate flowers. Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend 🙂 Aiva xx

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. Absolutely! While one might not be able to actually go into the fields to take the photos, even just admiring it from the fenced part can be just as beautiful! Thanks for stopping by; have a good weekend, too!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  22. I used to live right in that neighborhood. True about Legoland, so underrated. And the flowers are beautiful. Nice post that would really be good for people wanting to check it out. I have to say, Carlsbad beaches are really nice and peaceful too. I love North County.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I haven’t seen as much of Carlsbad as I would’ve liked, but that said, it gives me a reason to revisit someday! I’m very much in the camp that I prefer Legoland to Disneyland, and I have great memories in the latter. Hope to check out Carlsbad’s beaches one day!

      Like

      Reply

  23. Looks like it was a lovely place for a birthday trip! I always saw signs for Carlsbad on the road or on the news when I would visit my family in SD, but now I know what’s there thanks to your post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment