Carlsbad - The Flower Fields

We stayed on a timeshare sales presentation promotion. We were given one night free and the second night for $69.00 including taxes. We also received two nights’ hotel accommodation at a choice of 20 locations, an adult ticket to Legoland and tickets to The Flower Fields.

The resort has hotel through three-bedroom condos. There are mountain and ocean view. The ocean view are also Flower Field view during the season - see freeform review. The room was well-appointed though noisy due to kids running the halls (request a top floor if this is an issue for you). We had a patio that opened to a grassed area and the ocean was visible after the fog rolled back. There are two pools - one with lane ropes and for adults only. There are the usual club rooms, game rooms and such you would expect from a new-ish Gold Crown resort.

There is a restaurant on site that provides room service until 11pm. The resort staff were very friendly. We were greeted warmly and respectfully.

Just below the Flower Fields are the Carlsbad outlet stores. They have the regular stores from Gap to Crate and Barrel. There are lots of fast food outlets and chain restaurants such as Marie Callender’s nearby.

The main attraction is Legoland. It is just across the street and 500 yards from our hotel room. It is a huge hit with the kids.

Carlsbad Village is a great place to wander, and the coastal towns south give you a great feel of the historic 101 and the surfing craze of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

San Marcos, a town about 4 miles inland, has a stadium 18 cineplex and a food court for a nice, economical night out with the family.

The Armenian Cafe is located in the center of Carlsbad Village run by Eddy and inspired by his heritage. It has a small dining room – about 50 people and double that outside on a large protected and heated patio. The restaurant is very much cafe style. It’s a little run down, but boasts an A grade from the San Diego Dept. of Health (all restaurants must display their rating).

They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with live entertainment, including belly dancers on Friday and Saturday nights. Hours: Tues - Fri 8am – 9pm and Sat - Sun 7am – 9pm, closed Mondays.

The menu is very complete. The name of each dish is in Armenian and Greek/Arabic with a good description in English. The region is heavily into lamb and the menu represents this.

We were there for breakfast. We had the choice of a huge menu. There are eggs as you like them, omelets and scrambletts - with traditional Armenian/Mediterranean and American fillings as well as lamb kebabs, souvlaki and pita bread. I had a three-egg meal with scrambled eggs, lamb kebab, cottage potatoes and pita bread. My wife ate the omelet with spinach and feta cheese. They were both excellent. The coffee was great and the service was wonderful. The tab came to $28 for this high-end, delicious breakfast. Wholly and highly recommended.

The Flower Fields of Carlsbad are awesome. Each year from mid-March until mid-May, the Giant Ranunculus bloom on the 50 acres of land sloping from the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort down to the Carlsbad Company Stores.

With pink, yellow, white, red and orange stripes of giant Ranunculus blooms, Carlsbad’s world-famous Flower Fields attract over 150,000 visitors every year during this two-month peak season, many of whom return year after year to meander the fields. I have to use all my restraint to stop my wife breaking out in Sound of Music songs.

The flower is also known as the Persian Buttercup or Ranunculus Asiatic. They primarily grow the flowers to harvest the bulbs. The ranch harvests about 6-8 million bulbs per year.

The Flower Fields are owned by the Paul Ecke Jr. family and its affiliates, the same people that own the Paul Ecke Ranch, world-famous Poinsettia growers, in neighboring Encinitas. There is some uproar in the area at the moment as Mr Paul Ecke III is attempting to convert half of his ranch in Encinitas into medium-density housing. If the housing boom continues in the area, it will only be a matter of time before the Flower Fields too are replaced by zero-lot tract homes.

The Flower Fields are open to the public seven days a week March 13 - May 9 this year during the hours of 9am to 5pm. Guests are provided with free parking, restroom facilities, and handicapped accessibility. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children. For more information call 760/431-0352 or visit www.theflowerfields.com.