With spring just around the corner here in Southern California and the weather warming up, what better way to experience it than a quick trip to The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California. Whether this is a stop along your visit to San Diego or a half-day adventure, there is plenty to do to make your trip worthwhile! I took my boys, along with my mom and sister, for a fun little outing to explore the beauty of spring!
In this post, you'll find:
What is The Flower Fields
The Flower Fields is a beautiful flower garden, growing specifically the Giant Tecolote Ranunculus on almost 50 acres of the Carlsbad Ranch. There are other flowers, gardens, and attractions inside, so there is plenty to keep you interested and even a cute little playground for the kids. A win-win in my opinion!
Where is it Located
It is located about 1-2 hours south of major Los Angeles cities and even closer for the Orange County cities and San Diego area. The parking is located directly in front of the entrance and is free, however, the parking lot can fill up fast. I arrived just before 10am and the lot was full, but I ended up finding a spot towards the left of the main entrance by the Carlsbad Outlet fairly quickly and had no issues parking there during my visit.
The Flower Fields
5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Best Time to Visit
The Flower Fields are open for visitors from March 1 through Mother's Day, from 9am to 6pm. You must purchase tickets online in advance for a specific timed entry, so make sure you arrive within your designated time slot! The last entry time slot is 4:30-5pm. The weekends and holidays, such as Easter and Mother's Day, are particularly busy, so the best time to visit would be a weekday, earlier in the morning if possible. If you're there for photography and trying to get the right lighting, I suggest coming later in the day when the sun isn't directly above you and so harsh. I ended up going on a Friday in early April, arriving around 10am. Even so, the place was pretty busy with lots of visitors, but because the area is huge, it didn't feel crowded.
What to Do There
So what is there to do at the Flower Fields with the family?
1. Take pictures, obviously! There are so many photo opportunities here and different areas to explore, so take your time to absorb it all. You can't step into the actual fields where the rows of flowers grow, so please be respectful and stay within the roped sections. The facility does a good job with providing areas where you can get a good shot of the blooms behind you. Just get in line and try the different ones to get different angles and perspectives!
2. Take the kids on a Tractor Wagon ride. Nothing like being on a farm and riding a tractor to really connect the experience. Note: there is an additional fee to do this activity.
3. Go blueberry picking. It's not always available and they'll have a signage at the entrance to let you know if you can do it on the day of your visit. Note: there is an additional fee to do this activity.
4. Get lost in the Sweet Pea Maze. I have to admit, it was a lot of fun, mainly because it was actually challenging to find the exit! And the fact that the maze is lined by colorful sweet pea blooms makes it even cuter.
5. Sit and enjoy the views. There are benches scattered throughout the area for you to just sit, relax, and rest your feet a bit. It's the perfect chance for the kids to have a snack! The facility also has a pizza stall, ice cream, and even a strawberry stand. You can even watch workers harvest and package ranunculus right from the field from some of these benches.
6. See beautiful cymbidium orchids in the greenhouse. If you're a flower lover, you should definitely check it out. There were so many beautiful varieties!
7. When you think you've had enough of the gardens, there are MORE gardens. Grab a map and you'll be able to visit them all if your heart so desires! The boys had their fill so I opted to skip some of these. When out doing activities with kids, you have to go at their pace and take their cues, and this mama did not want to set myself up for dealing with a meltdown.
8. Let the kids run around Santa's Playground. After taking so many photos and walking the perimeter of the flower fields, my boys were pretty done with flowers (haha). On our way out towards the main entrance, the boys made a mad dash into this cute little playground. All of a sudden they had energy again, go figure!
9. The Flower Fields also has tons of other activities and workshops on their calendar so check out their website and see what unique offerings they have for the day of your visit.
10. Bring home some freshly harvested ranunculus flowers on your way out.
Surrounding Area
You can include this trip with Legoland, San Diego Safari Park (not to be confused with San Diego Zoo), or as a stop on your way down to the San Diego area. On my visit, I paired it with a visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano (which is on the way back up to LA and OC). However, it's still a perfect half-day activity if this is your only thing planned.
Tips for a Wonderful Trip
As with any outing with my kids, I like to be prepared, so here are some tips for you to make it a successful and fun day!
Wear sunblock and bring a hat.
Wear appropriate footwear.
Bring water and snacks.
Be patient.
Bring only approved equipment.
Check the bloom status before coming.
The Flower Fields are definitely a sight to see and I hope you can plan a trip this spring with your kids to enjoy the beautiful blooms!
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