High Tide in the Old Town

Oceanside Hike in Carlsbad

High tide or low tide, Mom will always be by your side. This Mother’s Day, show her love as wide as the ocean with a walk alongside it. Feel the sand between your toes, search for birds at two lagoons, and explore a charming waterfront village on a 3.5-mile trek in Carlsbad.

Park or disembark at Carlsbad Village Station and head to the corner of State Street and Grand Avenue. The Village is a picturesque downtown where it’s tempting to linger, but for now, grab a snack at Yoshino, a Japanese deli known for fantastically fresh poke bowls (we like the ahi and spicy tuna combo), sushi rolls, and a variety of sides; try the tako (octopus) salad. Call the friendly owners ahead of time and you can pick up your goodies for a beach picnic. Head west on Grand until you reach stairs that lead you straight to a classic SoCal beach. Stroll south along the sand for a mile, watching the sandpipers scurry along the waves and brown pelicans soaring overhead. You will reach the end of Tamarack State Beach and a set of stairs leading you up to Carlsbad Blvd.

Cross the street at the dolphin statue and head south two blocks to find the Agua Hedionda Lagoon trailhead. The dirt path hugs the blooming iceplant, sea lavender, and brittlebush that cover the bluffs along the 400-acre coastal wetland that is home to plentiful marine life and nesting birds, such as herons, egrets, and elegant terns. The trail passes a marine hatchery and leads you under the railway bridge where you can watch stand-up paddleboarders and kayakers float across the lagoon, but head back to the first trail junction and up the hill when done exploring. Take Garfield Avenue a few blocks to Tamarack Avenue and turn right—at the next block, just across the tracks and on the left, will be the Coastal Rail Trail (CRT). While on this pristine 0.7-mile trek, wave at speeding trains and slow down to inspect the cone blooms of the pride of madeira. The trail ends at Oak Avenue in Carlsbad Village, where you have many treat options to complete your Mother’s Day adventure.

BONUS TREAT: Directly to the right of the terminus of the CRT, Succulent Cafe has coffee and snacks and seating amid a gorgeous display of water-retaining plants. Or, for sweet-tooth mamas, Carlsbad Chocolate Bar is nearby. Also nearby is historic Carlsbad Alkaline Water. Whether or not you believe in the health effects of the alkaline water, it does taste refreshing after a long hike and the spot even has a mineral spa for Mom’s final indulgence of the day.

To get to Carlsbad Village train station and parking lot, take the I-5 to Carlsbad Village Dr. and exit west. After 0.4 mile, turn right onto State St. Yoshino will be on your left at the end of the block. Parking here is convenient, but metered. Turn left at the next block (Grand Ave.) and right at Washington to find the train station and lot. There is also free parking on Grand Ave. next to the beach entrance. No dogs on the beach.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View