Well since you barely know me, I’ll let you in on the fact that I like to keep busy and that I don’t easily tire out (friends have called me the Energizer Bunny), I’m big on making plans and even bigger on keeping them.
As for the months of May and June 2014 I will basically be home.
But that only means that I didn’t plan any “vacations”
not to say that I don’t have any trips, or getaways planned…
With that in mind, this is not one of them, this was a Sunday on a stay-cation weekend.
As for the months of May and June 2014 I will basically be home.
But that only means that I didn’t plan any “vacations”
not to say that I don’t have any trips, or getaways planned…
With that in mind, this is not one of them, this was a Sunday on a stay-cation weekend.
Once a year in the beach city of Carlsbad, CA (home to Legoland) they have an absolutely wonderful event called the Flower Fields, it runs from March until Early May and I highly recommended you going for a visit!
It’s such a beautiful sight to delight in and can be fun for the entire family.
With 50 acres filled of gorgeous Tecolate Giant Ranunculus blooming in the amazing colors of the rainbow, the bluebird sky, a view of the Pacific in the background and a pleasant ocean breeze, it’ll be a day you won’t soon forget…I kinda think you’re gonna want to make a habit of it and come back again next year!
Just be sure to bring your camera, wear comfortable shoes, don a pair of sunglasses and protect yourself with some sunscreen!
The event is hosted by Armstrong Gardens and they offer several attractions, which include: Antique Tractor Wagon Rides, Sweet Pea Maze, Santa’s Playground, Carlsbad Mining Company, and much more!
It’s such a beautiful sight to delight in and can be fun for the entire family.
With 50 acres filled of gorgeous Tecolate Giant Ranunculus blooming in the amazing colors of the rainbow, the bluebird sky, a view of the Pacific in the background and a pleasant ocean breeze, it’ll be a day you won’t soon forget…I kinda think you’re gonna want to make a habit of it and come back again next year!
Just be sure to bring your camera, wear comfortable shoes, don a pair of sunglasses and protect yourself with some sunscreen!
The event is hosted by Armstrong Gardens and they offer several attractions, which include: Antique Tractor Wagon Rides, Sweet Pea Maze, Santa’s Playground, Carlsbad Mining Company, and much more!
The Fields are located directly beneath the Grand Pacific Palisades Hotel, and next to the Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
There is an admission of $12 per adult, $11 for seniors, $6 for children ages 3-10, and parking is FREE!
*They offer military as well as AAA discounts.
Starting out in Anaheim Hills (where we live); and just as soon as all 4 bikes were loaded (and Dave had already broken into a sweat) we were on our way to have breakfast at Mother’s Market and Kitchen in Laguna Hills.
After reviewing a menu that we are all very familiar with, 3 of us decided to try the breakfast special which was Breakfast Tacos filled with your choice of either cage free scrambled eggs or scrambled tofu, melted cheese (both dairy and vegan options are available), then topped with avocado slices, and fresh cilantro, served with a side of breakfast potatoes and a ramekin of salsa. Dominic (my 15 year old) ordered a breakfast burrito served with his choice of side, either breakfast potatoes or Mexican style rice and filled (STUFFED) with again either your choice of eggs or tofu, your choice of black or pinto beans, cheese, Mexican style rice, and then there are optional add ins - one was soyrizo (a vegan version of chorizo) which is what Dominic chose. Let me tell you - this boy can EAT!
Mother’s also has a great juice bar, Dave and I both ordered fresh pressed Watermelon juice - so so good! Cosette (my 12 year old) had Wheatgrass juice - we were ALL surprised by that! And Dominic wanted his Workout Smoothie to take on the road..
Everything ordered was quite good, and since we are all members of the clean plate club it’s needless to say that every last thing on our plates was consumed.
Once we got up from our table, we took a stroll through the market to pick up some snacks and waters for our afternoon bike ride.
Now it was time to hit the road and Scramarama!
Jammin’ to some music on our way down to San Diego county and belting out some tunes (a favorite pastime for D & C…but also one of which I like to jump in on and participate every now and again!) Jsyk - By this time of the drive I had to pee pretty badly, and then before we knew it we were there. Actually we were past “there”, Dave had missed our exit (Palomar Airport Road) and we needed to turn around and head back. Soon enough we were really there, parked, and heading in.
No sooner had I already taken my camera out of the bag and started snapping away…deciding that taking these pictures (of flowers, the “moving targets” that they are LOL) took waaay more priority than going to use the restroom to finally relive myself!
Eventually we did make our way to the restrooms, and then we were all comfortably ready to be off and to explore all the Fields of Flowers!
After reviewing a menu that we are all very familiar with, 3 of us decided to try the breakfast special which was Breakfast Tacos filled with your choice of either cage free scrambled eggs or scrambled tofu, melted cheese (both dairy and vegan options are available), then topped with avocado slices, and fresh cilantro, served with a side of breakfast potatoes and a ramekin of salsa. Dominic (my 15 year old) ordered a breakfast burrito served with his choice of side, either breakfast potatoes or Mexican style rice and filled (STUFFED) with again either your choice of eggs or tofu, your choice of black or pinto beans, cheese, Mexican style rice, and then there are optional add ins - one was soyrizo (a vegan version of chorizo) which is what Dominic chose. Let me tell you - this boy can EAT!
Mother’s also has a great juice bar, Dave and I both ordered fresh pressed Watermelon juice - so so good! Cosette (my 12 year old) had Wheatgrass juice - we were ALL surprised by that! And Dominic wanted his Workout Smoothie to take on the road..
Everything ordered was quite good, and since we are all members of the clean plate club it’s needless to say that every last thing on our plates was consumed.
Once we got up from our table, we took a stroll through the market to pick up some snacks and waters for our afternoon bike ride.
Now it was time to hit the road and Scramarama!
Jammin’ to some music on our way down to San Diego county and belting out some tunes (a favorite pastime for D & C…but also one of which I like to jump in on and participate every now and again!) Jsyk - By this time of the drive I had to pee pretty badly, and then before we knew it we were there. Actually we were past “there”, Dave had missed our exit (Palomar Airport Road) and we needed to turn around and head back. Soon enough we were really there, parked, and heading in.
No sooner had I already taken my camera out of the bag and started snapping away…deciding that taking these pictures (of flowers, the “moving targets” that they are LOL) took waaay more priority than going to use the restroom to finally relive myself!
Eventually we did make our way to the restrooms, and then we were all comfortably ready to be off and to explore all the Fields of Flowers!
After having a great time walking around, we were ready to go venture off on our bike ride!
So off we headed to go find a trail. My thoughts were simple…”how difficult can it be find the beach, find a boardwalk, go for a ride”…sooo not the case here in Carlsbad - I guess because there are too many cliffs, and biking right next to them really wouldn’t be such a grand idea?!
So we drove and we drove and I started getting quite frustrated (although I think I hid it well), but adding to my frustration was that I forgot my pocketbook along with my usb cable back at home - which could’ve been ok (had I charged my phone last night - but of course I didn’t) and my battery was getting quite low, so searching online via the amazing mobile web was gonna come to a screeching halt very soon! And after wandering around for about an hour and a half searching for some type of a beach ride; I decided a river ride would be just PERFECT!
(Just to clarify that this “river” was dry and that there is usually no water in the riverbeds in SoCal for most of the year! Weird I know!)
With the trailhead located right next to the picturesque Oceanside Harbor. We parked, unloaded the bikes, and we were off! The scenery was quite lovely with rolling hills in the background, the weather was perfect, and the trail fairly flat with the exception of the few places where the trail dips below the roadway and you must either peddle or hike your bike back up the other side - not whatsoever difficult - if Cosette can do it then so can you!
So off we headed to go find a trail. My thoughts were simple…”how difficult can it be find the beach, find a boardwalk, go for a ride”…sooo not the case here in Carlsbad - I guess because there are too many cliffs, and biking right next to them really wouldn’t be such a grand idea?!
So we drove and we drove and I started getting quite frustrated (although I think I hid it well), but adding to my frustration was that I forgot my pocketbook along with my usb cable back at home - which could’ve been ok (had I charged my phone last night - but of course I didn’t) and my battery was getting quite low, so searching online via the amazing mobile web was gonna come to a screeching halt very soon! And after wandering around for about an hour and a half searching for some type of a beach ride; I decided a river ride would be just PERFECT!
(Just to clarify that this “river” was dry and that there is usually no water in the riverbeds in SoCal for most of the year! Weird I know!)
With the trailhead located right next to the picturesque Oceanside Harbor. We parked, unloaded the bikes, and we were off! The scenery was quite lovely with rolling hills in the background, the weather was perfect, and the trail fairly flat with the exception of the few places where the trail dips below the roadway and you must either peddle or hike your bike back up the other side - not whatsoever difficult - if Cosette can do it then so can you!
When my dear Cosette started getting tired, we turned around and headed back,
we had only rode out for 6 miles (this is a 7.2 mile trail), and this was her first actual bike ride that wasn’t just riding on our block. She had done a great job and she was pretty happy when we were done, but the poor kid could barely even stand up when she got off of her bike :(
Lastly we stopped at Jimbo’s Naturally, which offers a wide array of vegan/vegetarian/gluten free/and also options for the meat eaters of this world.
We grabbed a bite for the road and we finally headed home.
It was no big shock that both kids were sound asleep on the drive and that they collapsed for the night almost as soon as we walked through our front door!
Live, Laugh, Learn and Love :)
Tanya
For your further interest:
www.mothersmarket.com
www.theflowerfields.com
www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/ns/parks/amenities/trails.asp
www.jimbos.com
we had only rode out for 6 miles (this is a 7.2 mile trail), and this was her first actual bike ride that wasn’t just riding on our block. She had done a great job and she was pretty happy when we were done, but the poor kid could barely even stand up when she got off of her bike :(
Lastly we stopped at Jimbo’s Naturally, which offers a wide array of vegan/vegetarian/gluten free/and also options for the meat eaters of this world.
We grabbed a bite for the road and we finally headed home.
It was no big shock that both kids were sound asleep on the drive and that they collapsed for the night almost as soon as we walked through our front door!
Live, Laugh, Learn and Love :)
Tanya
For your further interest:
www.mothersmarket.com
www.theflowerfields.com
www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/ns/parks/amenities/trails.asp
www.jimbos.com
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