La Costa Resort & Spa – Carlsbad, CA

Well, we came back out to San Diego to the little easy living town of Carlsbad, CA.  This time I brought the wifey along.  We stayed a week in this resort, La Costa Resort & Spa, which is located just down the street from the Park Hyatt Aviara where I stayed just a couple weeks before.  The resorts are literally within walking distance of each other.  We had a great time here.  Ashley was on vacation while I worked.  She spent days by the pool reading while I worked.  We did manage to finish up early almost every night so we could catch a ride to dinner.  Carlsbad has some great local food.  I wanted to try a few different places since I already enjoyed the local hotspots two weeks ago.  We went to Vigilucci’s Cucina Italian the first night where I had some of the best Carbonara I have ever had.  It was cooked 100% authentic.  The way Carbonara should be cooked.  The oils in this place are amazing.  If you ever want great Italian in Carlsbad, go here.

We decided to rent a car on this trip, because we were so far from the airport the fare would be the same cost as a 24 hour rental.  So Ashley lined us up a car and we headed down the Pacific Coast Highway.  The is a famous stretch of road that runs alongside the coast line and has some of the most amazing views of the pacific ocean and bluffs.  I’m into this kinda thing and could ride it for hours.  Ashley not so much. She doesnt do well with motion sickness.  We stopped a few times to take in the scenery.

The Car

The View

The Resort

Mexican food in San Diego is like no other.  The quality of the food is much better than any mexican food you have ever had back east.  The first Mexican we had was from a place called Casa De Bandini just outside our resort walls.  This place was amazing and we almost went back there again before our trip was out but decided against it.  Close to some of the best Mexican food, I have ever had until we experienced downtown San Diego on our last night of the trip.  Like I said, we rented a car and I had to take Ashley to the airport so we left a little early to go exploring.  We saw Padre Stadium, one of the many ballparks added to the list of visited, and explored downtown.  We found the food district and it was amazing.  Any kind of food you can think of all within about 5 blocks.  The locals call it the Gaslamp Quarter.  Just around the corner from Horton’s Plaza you can take a short walk and experience any kind of food you want.  After a lot of thought, we decided on Mexican again.   Los Panchos De Charley Mexican Grill & Cantina.  Best fajitas ever hands down.  I wish we had this place in my town. 

I’d say the best night out we had the whole trip was to the Blue Fire Grill that is located on the property.  This place was pricey but it was amazing.  We saved the perdiem all week for this one.  The calamari is was fresh and delicious.  I had the Flat Iron Prime which isnt something i normally do, but this was so tender.  Its worth trying.

The meeting went well.  This was my biggest meeting as a Project Manager and by far the coolest client.  They always have a big production.  We look forward to this one every year. 

After work, is was time to relax.  This was my very own Scarface Tub.  Thats one big Jacuzzi.

We explored Carlsbad and San Diego and drove into the little surfer town of Encinitas.  This is a lazy surfer dude town.  Everybody here doesnt really seem to be in career mode.  Its a bunch of laid back surfers and retirees.  We got some advice from a local to go check out the Self-Realization Meditation Gardens. 

So that we did, and to our surprise it was quite relaxing.  I got a kick out of all the little people meditating around us.  It was like a meditation safari walk.  Round a corner, and BAM, theres a meditator.  So we decided to give it a try…

Very relaxing.  Then we just took in the sights for the rest of the afternoon.  Drove some more, and took in more sights.  We visited the beach in Mission Bay, which was very cool.  I wish I could see it in the middle of the summer.  The boardwalk was cool.  We walked it for a ways until dark and then carried on.  A few shots from the rest of the trip…

And then back home to RDU.