Exploring the colorful flower fields in Carlsbad (and why they’re worth a visit)
Carlsbad’s flower fields produce breathtaking blooms every year, and this is how and when to see all their beauty.
On nearly fifty acres of land, Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers bathe the fields of Carlsbad, California, in vivid color each spring. An afternoon at The Flower Fields of Carlsbad is a great idea for families, couples, and even school outings. While the fields are not only beautiful, Carlsbad’s Flower Fields also provide travelers with educational opportunities to learn all about these magnificent flowers and their growers.
A brief history
In the early 1920s, a man named Luther Gage traveled to Southern California with special seeds in his pockets. These seeds, which would eventually be planted and develop into buttercup flowers, were the first of their kind in this part of the United States. The type of flower is officially called Tecolote’s Giant Buttercup (the Tecolote comes from a type of owl) and belongs to Asia Minor. The buttercup flower is a cousin of the ranunculus, known as the Asian buttercup or Persian buttercup.
For eighty-five years, Mr. Gage and his family cultivated these buttercup flowers until they bloom today, with thirteen beautiful and unique colors.
Flowering begins in March and continues until early May. What a charming way for nature to announce the arrival of spring!
Various activities to enjoy
The Carlsbad Flower Fields offers a variety of activities for adults and adults with children. Each year they update their website with information about the following spring.
The 2021 season for The Flower Fields in Carlsbad is over, but the 2022 season will begin soon. Check out the activity calendar on their website for the most recent information on adult events and activities!
School trips
Carlsbad’s Flower Fields offer many inspiring and educational activities for visitors of all ages. They also allow schools to plan field trips for elementary-age children each spring.
- Pre-K – 2nd year: Available from March 22 to April 28, 2022
Younger visitors can learn songs, create a piece of art to take home, and even make their way through the beautiful and fragrant “Sweet Pea Maze”. It’s a great opportunity for kids to interact and play outdoors!
- Price : $ 16 per student
- Days: Tuesday Thursday
- Duration: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- The program includes: Music, art projects, the sweet pea maze, how to plant a sunflower, ride in a tractor cart, students will discover “good and bad insects”, learn to compost with worms and the basics of recycling
- 3rd – 5th year: Available from March 22 to April 28, 2022
For slightly older children, this program extends over the younger program with additional educational activities. Kids will learn about pollination, see what the inside of a flower looks like, and learn all about how plants can benefit not only people, but the planet as well!
- Price : $ 16 per student
- Days: Available from Tuesday to Thursday
- Duration: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- The program includes: dissecting a flower, learning pollination, studying plants and their benefits, learning composting with worms and the basics of recycling, students will discover “good insects” and “bad ones insects ”, a ride in a tractor wagon
Admission for teachers and accompanying persons
- For groups arriving by bus (per class of 25 students) 1 teacher – Free, 2 accompanying persons – Free
- For groups arriving by car (by 3 students), 1 teacher – Free, 1 parent driver – Free
- A maximum of seven chaperones for a group of twenty-five people will be allowed with each group arriving by carpooling, and a maximum of two chaperones for a group of twenty-five people will be allowed with each group arriving by bus.
- If visitors wish to add two additional chaperones per class (the maximum), they must call The Flower Fields in advance to be approved. Any additional chaperones exceeding the limits will have to pay $ 20 for admission, and there is also a charge of $ 10 for any additional siblings who wish to be included.
Accommodation nearby
Holiday Inn Carlsbad
A four star hotel, the Holiday Inn is a good choice for visitors looking for a little more to do in their hotel. Just a nine-minute drive from the flower fields, this hotel is also close to the San Diego Botanical Garden and South Carlsbad State Beach.
- Price : Average $ 156 per night
- Approvals: Pool, hot tub, gift shop, fitness center, golf, tennis, free Wi-Fi
Best Western Carlsbad By The Sea
For those on a budget, the Best Western is also a great place to stay if visitors want to add more to their California itinerary (like Legoland, which is just a twenty-minute drive away).
- Price : Average $ 96 per night
- Approvals: Pool, Free Breakfast, Free WiFi
In conclusion, a trip to The Flower Fields in Carlsbad is a wonderful point to add to anyone’s California vacation. April is certainly the best time to see the flowers bloom, so it’s best to add that California highlight to a spring break or an Easter trip, either as a focal point or as a complement to a city break. Beach ! Be sure to check the website ahead of time for more information on activities and events to fully experience all that this colorful and vibrant destination has to offer!
