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If you could name California's top destination, at first glance, you might suspect it's some variation of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Well, 2 things can be true at once…

While some view SF and LA as a pair of America's most iconic cities, there's one San Diego County destination that's been on the rise the past few years.

Not to toot our own horn, but we at Travel Off Path were the first travel publication to report the county was opening a second commercial airport, making this lesser-known beach city a full-fledged vacation hotspot.

Travel + Leisure, among others, has since followed suit, even naming it the top destination for 2026, and it now heads the list of spring's best getaways.

With new flights, new hype, and major attractions reopening this spring, the beautiful city of Carlsbad is surpassing our favorite household names as California's #1 place to vacation.

The West Coast's Most Family-Friendly Destination

Carlsbad fits the bill for all types of travelers, but especially families looking for a safe, low-key getaway for spring break.

While Disneyland is the obvious choice, Carlsbad has made a name for itself with Legoland, the popular Premium Outlet mall, and lifeguard-patrolled beaches, while the kiddos run free and build sandcastles and blurt out “6-7!”, whatever that means.

Nearby Orange County is safe, but LA has seen an undeniable rise in crime. As such, travelers have scoped out other SoCal coastal havens to make up for Hollywood's bright lights dimming.

Carlsbad is the perfect alternative. It's San Diego's laid-back “soccer mom” town.

You'll find welcoming locals, plentiful outdoor activities at California Watersports, and anything from mid-tier chains to luxe name-brand resorts — and yes, you can even stay at Legoland.

California's Surprising Foodie Destination: 'Strawberry Fields Forever'?

Dear Paul and Ringo, don't sue us. We're just borrowing a lyric to portray one of California's most beautiful attractions that goes under-hyped for many San Diego tourists.

While most scope out the world-famous zoo and San Diego proper beaches, Carlsbad is located roughly 35 - 45 minutes away off the typical tourist path.

If you want to witness one of the most eye-popping destinations imaginable, you have to visit both Carlsbad's strawberry fields and flower fields (fully reopening in March).

The latter of which is the most eye-catching with its array of kaleidoscopic colors, perfect for springtime bloom photos that don’t need a filter.

At the strawberry fields, you can meander through rows and rows of fresh strawberries (never more than a day old) and pick and fill your own basket.

But it's not just fresh berries that make Carlsbad a foodie hotspot; the food scene is the key reason why Travel + Leisure crowned Carlsbad as the #1 destination in the world for 2026.

With celebrity chef-run 'steakhouses of sorts' like Ember & Rye, hole-in-the-wall taco shops that transport your taste buds south of the border, and Michelin-starred Lilo, arrive hungry and you'll leave happy.

New Flights Take Off This Spring (Despite Locals' Lawsuit)

As stated, we reported on American Airlines' game-changing route to reopen Carlsbad's McClellan-Palomar Airport for commercial use, rather than a playground for retired grandpas' vintage props and Cessnas.

This decision was met with local pushback due to a myriad of concerns, though San Diegans like me know for a fact that million-dollar homeowners don't want loud jets zooming by late nights and early mornings that could potentially devalue their mansions.

This is why there's a hard cap on when planes can take off and land at San Diego International Airport.

That said, United is one-upping American this March with even more routes, which has resulted in a controversial lawsuit filed by a group of locals, who prefer not to see Carlsbad transform from a soccer mom community into a vacation hotspot, which sounds like it's 'too little, too late'.

United is still slated to launch the following routes this spring:

• Carlsbad (CLD) → Denver (DEN) — March 30
• Carlsbad (CLD) → San Francisco (SFO) — March 30

No matter how you get here, spring is one of the best times to visit as rowdy spring break crowds have yet to discover Carlsbad despite it's clear rise to stardom.

Weather hovers in the high 60s to low 70s 'til June, making for blissful beach days spent along the gleaming blue Pacific.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.