Monday, April 14, 2014

Carlsbad, CA... our Spring Break Staycation!

Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, ranunculus
Carlsbad Flower Fields
Ahhh... Spring Break!!  Magical words to over-worked students and parents alike.  After months of homework, dance rehearsals, trips to Orlando for Dance Team Nationals (they came in 2nd!) in addition to a Broadcasting Competition (they got 3rd!!), college preparations for the boy child (He'll be attending UCSB in the fall!) and A/P testing, I was exhausted simply doing the driving.

Our Spring Break last week flew by, but we enjoyed every minute of our Staycation here in Carlsbad, CA.  From the brilliance of the Carlsbad Flower Fields to the shores of our sunny beaches, we're rested and ready to get back to work.  Here we bring a photo essay highlighting some of our Carlsbad Staycation Spring Break!

White Ranunculus, Carlsbad Flower Fields

The Carlsbad Flower Fields bloomed brilliantly and I took full advantage of the opportunity on a morning date with my camera.  Carlsbad, California provides its own color show at the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch devoting 50 acres to the cultivation of the Tecolote® Giant Ranunculus.  Springtime brings ribbons of spectacular colors stretching behind the Carlsbad Outlet Mall just off of I-5.

From mid-March through early May the beautiful Ranunculus transform the otherwise dry coastal hills into fields of coordinated color.  A working farm, the flowers themselves are harvested for market, while the plants work to produce additional bulbs which will also be harvested and some replanted.  See our prior Flower Field Post for more detailed information on the fields (and an Oatmeal Strawberry Bar recipe!).


Carlsbad Flower Fields
White Ranunculus, Carlsbad Flower Fields


Pink Ranunculus, Carlsbad Flower Fields

Yellow Ranunculus, Carlsbad Flower Fields

Yellow Ranunculus and farm workers, Carlsbad Flower Fields

Ranunculus and farm workers, Carlsbad Flower Fields
A working farm, the ranunculus are picked and sent to market.

tractor ride at Carlsbad Flower Fields
Old fashioned tractor rides are available around the fields.  The friendly drivers always bring big smiles and waves!

Areas of the fields are set aside for family photos

Pink Ranunculus, Carlsbad Flower Fields

Carlsbad Beaches, Birds and a Sunset
Carlsbad Beach - warm waters
Golden Hour just past Warm Waters

Carlsbad Beach - warm waters
Sunset by the jetty...

Carlsbad Dance Girls... beach day photo shoot!



We love spring break!
Carlsbad Beach - warm waters

And now... back to work.  Hope your Spring Break brought rest and relaxation too!

5 comments:

  1. Way behind on my reading. Absolutely beautiful photos. Spring break has come and gone which means summer is not far off.

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    1. Thanks Debra!! I can't begin to tell you how much we are looking forward to summer!!

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  2. Love the photos and those pictures of the dancing girls are amazing. Sounds like a great staycation!

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    1. It was indeed!! I so wish it could have gone on longer. School just gets in the way!! ;)

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  3. What a fun spring break you've had! Love the photos and those girls are absolutely AMAZING!!!

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