There’s a lot to Fall in Love With in This Coastal City
Tucked along the San Diego coastline, the city of Carlsbad offers everything from pristine beaches and charming restaurants to stellar shopping destinations and an abundance of scenic spaces to explore. Whether it’s a family trip, a weekender with the girls or a couple’s getaway, this San Diego city has everything you need for a SoCal fall escape. Here’s our guide to spending an idyllic fall weekend in Carlsbad.
Friday
4 p.m.
Cozy Up at The Cassara Carlsbad
Start your fall weekend by checking into one of The Cassara Carlsbad’s coastal-chic guest rooms or suites. This stunning hotel near the coast offers guests a serene, amenity-packed escape with proximity to some of North County’s best seasonal attractions. Guests can lounge by the pool, soak in views of the ocean, indulge in marine-inspired wellness offerings at the neighboring Ocean Pearl Spa and enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant. But before you book, be sure to check out The Cassara Carlsbad’s enticing fall deals! The Stay S’more Package includes a s’mores kit, overnight luxury accommodations and waived nightly parking. Booking this package is the perfect way to kick back and spend a cozy evening with your family.
If you’re looking for a bit of adventure, the Fall Family Fun Package includes complimentary tickets (for up to four people) to the local pumpkin patch at The Carlsbad Strawberry Company, overnight luxury accommodations, waived nightly parking and a $50 food and beverage credit for Cassara Kitchen + Bar. Plus, The Cassara offers a complimentary hotel shuttle service to and from the pumpkin patch! Once you’re settled in, cruise over to the restaurant for fall-inspired cocktails and bites and toast the start of a festive weekend.
6 p.m.
Dinner at the Cassara Kitchen + Bar
Vaulted ceilings, Mediterranean tilework and expansive windows make this coastal restaurant a must-dine when staying at The Cassara Carlsbad. And this fall, diners can indulge in specialty seasonal cocktails and a tasty fall dish. Start your evening with a Fall Fashioned crafted with bourbon, cinnamon-maple syrup, bitters and an orange peel and cinnamon stick garnish. If apple, spice and everything nice is more your jam, the Autumn Rum and the Apple of My Rye—both made with an apple cider reduction—are sure to hit the spot. After you’ve sipped, savor butternut squash potstickers with citrus ponzu sauce (a fall special!) and other tasty dishes like buffalo chicken flatbread, harissa honey carrots and steak and frites.
Saturday
10 a.m.
Grab a Latte From Lofty Coffee
Start your Saturday morning with a cup of joe from Lofty Coffee. This charming cafe on State Street serves up a menu of cozy espresso drinks perfect for a fall morning. Try the Turkish latte with cardamom and raw sugar, or opt for the Cloudy With a Chance of Cold Brew shaken with cold brew, housemade vanilla and heavy cream. They also offer a selection of tasty breakfast bites and fresh pastries, which include the Harvest Muffin, Matcha Donut and more. Stay tuned for their official fall menu!
11/16
11:30 a.m.
Walk or Bike Batiquitos Lagoon Trail
Just because So Cal doesn’t display the same stunning fall foliage as the East Coast doesn’t mean locals can’t throw on a cute fall fit and embrace the sweater weather season. Press play on your favorite podcast, slip on a hoodie and hit the Batiquitos Lagoon Trail—a scenic 3.5-mile trail that skirts the border of Batiquitos Lagoon. This 561-acre estuary is home to an abundance of native wildlife, and the trail leads wayfarers on a scenic journey through patches of coastal salt marsh and groves of willow trees.
2 p.m.
Pick Out a Pumpkin
During the autumn months, the Carlsbad Strawberry Company transforms into a festive pumpkin patch where visitors can enjoy everything from tractor rides to haunted corn mazes! All ages can enjoy the patch, which is open Sept. 20 through Nov. 3. from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Put on your fall best and gear up for some seriously festive photo ops! And aside from picking out the perfect pumpkin, visitors can enjoy attractions and activities like petting farm animals, shopping from local vendors and strolling through fields of marigolds.
5 p.m.
Dinner + Catch a Football Game at Park 101
Cozy vibes are the house specialty at Park 101—well, that and the lobster rolls from The Trap Shack. This outdoor dining and entertainment hub is a cornerstone of the Carlsbad community and is a great place to catch an NFL or college football game. Between the lava rock fire pits and rooftop Tamarack Deck, it’s a local favorite for sipping, savoring and getting your game face on. Trade your hotel room flat screen for the LED jumbotron, situated front and center in their beer garden, and cheer on your favorite football team over dinner—think seasonal bucket beer specials, chicken tendies and burgers with monikers like Chicky Chicky Boom Boom and California Love.
12/2
Sunday
11:30 a.m.
Class at Barrio Glassworks
Tap into your creative side this season and watch the kindling flames transform your custom creation into a delicate masterpiece at Barrio Glassworks. Backed by the support of the Carlsbad community, this family-owned glassblowing studio has remained a neighborhood gem for almost four years. While the shop has opened its doors to local glassblowing artists, the crew also offers courses for curious customers with an eye for design. After mastering the art of glass hearts and paperweights in their introductory class, clients can enroll in advanced courses to perfect the craft of bowls, cups, vases and more.
1:30 p.m.
Shopping at The Forum Carlsbad
After a busy weekend of hiking, pumpkin picking and watching football, it’s time to treat yourself to a bit of shopping at The Forum Carlsbad. Revamp your fall wardrobe or get a headstart on holiday shopping, then have lunch at one of the many restaurants, like Casa de Bandini, Buca di Beppo or Parakeet Café. This premier outdoor shopping center also hosts festive events, such as the upcoming Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 26!
5 p.m.
Dinner and Drinks at Campfire
Foodies and adventurers will thoroughly savor the live-fire cooking and attention to ingredients and quality at Campfire, a 2021 Michelin Bib Gourmand award-winner. Campfire boasts a full menu of wood-fired, charred and hearty delights, plus a vegetarian menu, cocktails, wine, spirits and desserts. Try the Old Timber, which is made with bourbon, amaro meletti, carrot falernum and bitters. This is the perfect spot to round out the end of a gourd weekend!
7 p.m.
Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND
Did someone say brick or treat!? LEGOLAND is kicking off spooky season with a boo-tacular event, calling all trick-or-treaters to their annual Brick-or-Treat event. Launching Sept. 14, the entire park will transform into a spooky scare zone featuring live shows, monster meet-and-greets, costume contests and limited-time attractions, like the Candy Cauldron Trail. Don’t miss out on this epic fall event in San Diego!
