The Carlsbad Flower Fields
One of the best parts about working on your own schedule is being able to take the day off—whenever you feel like it. I mean, of course, there’s a lot of other factors that play into why I choose to work for myself, but taking random days off in the middle of the week is definitely a nice bonus.
A few weeks ago I got to live out one of my lifestyle blogger fantasies and frolic around a field of flowers. (Try saying that three times fast). It’s been something I’ve wanted to do from the very moment I saw it pop up on my Instagram feed more than a year ago. Between working a full-time office job, the 2-hour trip from Los Angeles and the short season when the flowers are actually in bloom, planning a trip last year was not ideal. But this year — a spontaneous trip to Carlsbad in the middle of the week? Why not?
For a little background, the Flower Fields are 50 acres of bright and beautiful flowers. But the absolute showstopper is the Giant Tecolote Ranunculus, which turns the entire hillside into a vibrant rainbow of color. According to the Flower Fields website, the Ranunculus is a member of the buttercup family. Originally, the flowers were only single petal and ranged between shades of red and yellow. Whereas today, there are thirteen colors, including picotee (a mixture of variegated colors), which were products of selection over the years as natural variations occurred within the flowers. Pretty cool, right?
If you can’t tell from the photos, the flowers are completely stunning and the sheer number of them is unreal. Before you even arrive, you can see the rainbow fields from the distance, which makes you feel like a little kid driving through the gates of Disney World. Within the field’s 50 acres, you’ll also get to enjoy rose gardens, orchids, and a greenhouse full of different poinsettias.
Once you’re finished you’re walking around, I highly recommend stopping by Carlsbad Gourmet for a sweet treat. The fresh strawberry shortcake or hibiscus sundae is a perfect addition to the day. Although the property is quite large, it does tend to get very busy during weekends. We went on a Tuesday, and there were still quite a few people there. If you plan on making the trip, try to go on a weekday morning. You’ll still have the perfect lighting for photos, without the masses of people in the background. Acres of beautiful flowers against a clear blue, California sky—it doesn’t get much better than that.
