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. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Let's Go to Paso!

    Paso Robles is a good idea in all seasons, but one season brings a special bounty: harvest season! Road-trip ready and teeming with fall colors and fun events, Paso Robles is the ultimate destination for unique autumn experiences.

    View
  3. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

    View
  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View