Where to Stay and Play in Carlsbad California

Our favorite place to stay in Carlsbad, California is the luxurious Four Seasons Residence Club, Aviara just north of San Diego. We visit several times a year, if possible. The grounds are lush with beautifully manicured plants and colorful flowers everywhere and the location is conveniently close to the beach. The two-bedroom residence club units can be purchased as a timeshare ownership interest, or the studio and one-bedroom units can be rented like a regular (but very spacious) hotel room. For this stay, we reserved a one bedroom villa.

Our unit was spacious and comfortable with a large master bedroom, master bath with a soaking tub, full kitchen, dining room, living room with a gas fireplace, laundry closet with a washer and dryer, and a second full bathroom.

This size unit could easily fit a family with two small children who are willing to share the pull out sofa in the living room.  Shared between just my husband and me, it was an abundant amount of space.

The living room had a gas fireplace which was great for chilly mornings and romantic evenings.

The kitchen was fully stocked with dishes, utensils, pots and pans, small appliances including blender and coffee maker, serving bowls and platters, placemats and plastic storage containers. Really, it was as well stocked as most home kitchens, making it possible to cook a full meal if that is something you like to do while traveling.  Another option is in-villa dining. The menu closely resembles the menu at the on-property restaurant, Seasons, and your meal will be delivered to your room and set up in your dining room (which has a full-size table with seating for six). Ordering in-villa dining is a nice relaxing way to enjoy a delicious meal if you are feeling tired or just don’t feel like going out; you don’t have to cook and you don’t need to leave your room. We usually order the in-villa dining at least once during a week-long stay.

The bedding was extremely comfortable, as you can custom select the firmness of your mattress topper choosing between plush, regular, and firm.

There was a full-size stackable washer and dryer in the unit, and the laundry supplies are replenished with daily housekeeping. I had requested unscented laundry detergent instead of the usual Tide and Bounce so our room was stocked with All Free and Clear. Although these are time-share residences there is daily, full-service housekeeping.

There were two patios, a small one off the master bedroom and a larger one off the living room. The large patio had a table and chairs for four, plus a chair and ottoman. The small patio had one chair and ottoman.

The patio was the perfect place for morning coffee or an evening glass of wine.

Depending on the room location, the patios may overlook one of the pools, the Batiquitos Lagoon, the canyon, or the tennis courts of the nearby Park Hyatt Aviara Hotel.

What to Do?  Relax by the Pool

The time we spent at Aviara was very relaxing, with warm and sunny daytime weather all week. When you approach the lounge chairs in the pool area, a friendly pool attendant will offer to set up chairs for you.  They will fully cover the chair with a fresh terrycloth cover, bring you plush towels and set you up with ice water and a menu.  

The pace of our days was very relaxed, in the morning I would head to the pool to get a shady spot in a poolside cabana. I would read my book and lounge by the pool.  The cool breezes and warm sunshine were very restorative. 

 

When you get hungry you can order lunch and drinks from the servers. A personal favorite was an Arugula Quinoa Bowl prepared with roasted broccolini, beets, sunflower seeds and a delicious tahini vinaigrette. It was the perfect poolside lunch.

Evening happy hour at the patio is a tranquil way to end a day, there is live music Wednesday evenings.

 

Don’t Miss Activity: S’mores Night

There are planned activities throughout the week, but one of our favorites is always s’mores night.  Sunday evenings they fire up the fire pit and set up for s’mores. They have long sticks pre-set with marshmallows, you roast your own then go over to the “s’more butler,” who builds your s’more with graham crackers and your choice of dark, milk, or cookies and cream chocolate. Delicious and hard to stop at just one!  There is no additional fee for the s’mores night.

What else to do? Go For a Walk or Go to the Gym

Wander around the property and appreciate the beautifully landscaped grounds. The greenery by the pool was very nicely done. Lush and colorful would be the best description. If you want to get your heart beating, take a quick walk up the hill to the Summits area. It is a short walk but the elevation gain is a quick 135 ft, according to my activity tracker. 

Many varieties of flowers are everywhere you look. These are the plants and flowers we passed on our walk around the property.

If you are looking for other healthy activities, there are two fitness centers on the property as well as scheduled morning yoga classes (reservations required).

Next Day: Visit the Beach

The beach at the Pacific Ocean is a short 15-minute drive away. Parking is free along the road or on the side streets. The resort has beach chairs and towels you can check out to use at the beach. If you have small children with you, you can check out a bucket of sand toys for the kids too. 

Feeling Adventurous?  Go for a Hike

In addition to sunset walks along the beach, another fun activity in the area is an interesting 3.1-mile hike at Annie’s Canyon Trail in the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve near Solana Beach. The drive to the trailhead is about 20 minutes without traffic, with parking available on a side street in a residential section of Solana Beach.  

About ¾ of a mile in, you will come to a sign with two options.

Go left for the viewpoint and a trail designated as moderate, or go right for the one-way loop (which is classified as strenuous). I am not a hiker but we chose the one-way loop, which is where the fun comes in. The challenging section of the trail is hiking up into the canyon.

The narrow sandstone walls tower above you with little space on either side and at one point it is necessary to climb up a small ladder.

This was a very fun and a unique hike. It was not until we had finished and we were leaving the trail that I noticed the signs warning about mountain lions and rattlesnakes in the preserve!  I am glad I did not see that before we started.  Fortunately, we did not encounter any dangerous wildlife and I was able to enjoy the hike. 

As an added bonus I would consider this hike an urban hike, as you are right near the town of Solana Beach, and when you are finished you can head over to any of the great restaurants nearby for a refreshing drink and meal. After you grab a bite to eat, walk over and enjoy the view of the Pacific Ocean.  

A trip to the Four Seasons Aviara always refreshes me.  It is definitely a place that brings joy to our lives. Now that my husband is retiring I hope we will be able to visit more often.

Do you prefer accommodations with a full kitchen?  Do you cook meals when you are on vacation?

 

 

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