The Flower Fields At Carlsbad Ranch

Picture yourself in a sea of vibrant spring flowers stretching as far as the eye can see. Carlsbad's famous flower fields, located on the coast of San Diego's North County, are in bloom from early March, through late April. The flowers cover about a mile of hillside along Interstate 5, north of Palomar Airport Road. The fields stretch out in alternating bands of red, yellow, orange and pink. Although most of the fields are planted in ranunculus, visitors can see other varieties of flowers such as gladiolus, watzonia, star of Bethlehem, oxalis, and spraxis. For over sixty years, Mother Nature has transformed the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields® at Carlsbad Ranch, in Carlsbad, California, are in a full bloom for approximately six to eight weeks each year - from early March through early May - literally bringing the famous fields back to life. This annual burst of color, which has become part of the area's local heritage, is also one of nature's official ways of announcing the arrival of spring here in Southern California. 2006 SPRING SEASON: Hours: 9am-5pm March 11th to April 1st 9am-6pm April 12th to May 7th Admission: Adults $8.00 per person Seniors (60+) $7.00 Children 3-10 $5.00 The Flower Fields® provides free parking , restroom facilities and is handicapped accessible. Information Hotline: 760-431-0352 Parking is free. There is also a picnic area open to the public with paid admission. Directions: Interstate 5 to the Palomar Airport Road exit, go east on Palomar Airport Road to the first stoplight at Paseo Del Norte and turn left. The entrance to visitor parking will be to the right. Located on site is the Armstrong Garden Center offering a variety of specialty items and fresh-cut ranunculus, bulbs and potted plants, Open cockpit biplane rides are also available over the flower fields in season and along Carlsbad's spectacular beaches year round. Visitors wishing to extend their stay will find Carlsbad's downtown Village area quite charming. The Village features a wide variety of restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, and hotel accommodations to fit any budget. The Carlsbad Convention & Visitors Bureau, located at 400 Carlsbad Village Drive, in the Old Santa Fe Train Depot building, can offer suggestions of things to see and do in the area.