Travel Feature - A picture perfect getaway for Las Vegans

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California Dreaming

A picture perfect getaway for Las Vegans

Story by Heidi Chackel

Photography provided by Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa and The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course

The city of Carlsbad, just north of San Diego, has the perfect location for your next getaway. From Las Vegas, the area is just a five-hour drive, taking you from the desert of Nevada to the sandy beaches of Southern California. There you will find the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa—a resort teeming with amazing views, recreation, family activities, and much more. With beautiful contemporary Mediterranean architecture, rolling lawns, flowering shrubs, and nearby pristine beaches, this Carlsbad resort offers a beautiful setting sure to inspire guests of every kind.

“We are literally one mile away from the coast,” says Wes Lavendar, general manager of Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa. “Having the ocean nearby makes each experience special and enables people from all walks of life to create wonderful memories.” To be able to look at the bluest of oceans and to sun in the unchanging daily 70s temperatures and cool nightly breezes make for a romantic setting, not to mention a fun day at the beach for kids!

“We have an amazing mix of guests at this resort,” Lavendar adds. “We have something for everyone! With our own entrance to LEGOLAND® we host quite a few families to our resort. And our 35,000 square feet of meeting space attract many corporate events, weddings, and celebrations. Of course the beautiful weather is perfect for golf, and with The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course next door, a great golf game is just around the corner! We do it all. The whole spectrum.”

Our four-day stay was loaded with activities enjoyed by our entire family, including two high school boys and our grade school daughter. While it’s pretty tough to please all of us, this resort eagerly met the challenge. From LEGOLAND to an amazing pool to golf to a full-service spa to fine dining—everyone in our family was thrilled to enjoy a stay at Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa.

Since spending a full day at a theme park is not something we enjoy, we started our trip off by purchasing an extended pass to LEGOLAND and visited the park for a few hours each day, with one day completely dedicated to the waterpark area. That might seem physically taxing, thinking of driving, parking, and hauling everyone into the park, but not with Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa’s private entrance into LEGOLAND. Just a quick five-minute walk and a private entrance with no line, we found ourselves inside the park in no time.

Each of our afternoons was spent at Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa’s fantastic pool. Our boys never seem to get enough of playing catch with the football, and our daughter thinks of water as her second home. With ample seating, food service, ping pong, Wi-Fi, and a large pool, all of us were more than content spending three hours a day there.

We also enjoyed nine holes of golf at the adjoining Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course—a beautifully designed and well-manicured public 18-hole championship course designed by Greg Nash. The Crossings at Carlsbad offers plenty of challenges as well as magnificent coastal views. The course is named for the five bridges—or crossings—that were designed into the layout to meet existing environmental topographic conditions. It is nestled amongst natural habitat and wildlife on more than 400 acres of Carlsbad’s coastal terrain.

The Crossings at Carlsbad, a 6,835-yard course, features multiple options and terrain to challenge golfers of all skill levels. The Crossings also offers a 28,000-square-foot clubhouse complete with a golf shop, banquet facilities, a spacious fireplace-lit dining room, full-service kitchen, and an outdoor deck with ocean views. The Canyons restaurant, located in the clubhouse, serves breakfast and lunch daily. Our lunch here was fantastic, featuring a delicious mushroom and white cheddar beef dip, catch of the day tacos, and much more.

Dinner at TWENTY/20 was the highlight of our culinary experiences in Carlsbad.

Named for its picture-perfect coastal views, TWENTY/20 at Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa is elegantly perched atop Carlsbad’s highest point. As the resort’s signature restaurant, its location provides a gorgeous backdrop to a truly delightful dining experience.

Led by Executive Chef Julian Quinones, the menu features farm-to-coast cuisine with flavors and styles inspired by the California coast. All plates are made with fresh ingredients that are organic and locally sourced whenever possible. TWENTY/20 is fortunate to have some of the best of California wines on its over 350 bottle wine list. Global vineyards from South America, Italy, Australia, and other parts of the world are also available.

“What is unique about our restaurant than other hotels, is that 50 percent of our guests are locals, which is a huge compliment to our chef,” says Tina Hingle, marketing manager at Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa. “Guests and locals alike enjoy our live music, specials, and events. We always have a different take on fresh seasonal ingredients so you want to come back, time and time again.”

TWENTY/20 has several seating options. The airy 5,200 square-foot Carlsbad restaurant includes 1,700 square feet of outdoor patio dining where patrons can enjoy sweeping views of the Carlsbad coast, fireplace, and the refreshing ocean breeze as they dine. For indoor dining, try the upscale dining room, the intimate bar, or the relaxing lounge. The outdoor covered terrace has relaxing and communal seating spaces to choose from. It showcases the 180-degree coastal views and custom designed fire and water features. It also has state-of-the art heat elements allowing for year-round enjoyment.

Ocean Pearl Spa at Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa is top of the line, and I was lucky enough to enjoy an hour-long signature massage from one of their excellent masseuses. Ocean Pearl Spa reflects simple yet sophisticated west coast charm by incorporating marine based botanicals along with the finest organic skincare and body treatments designed to nourish, purify, and restore balance. Guests of Ocean Pearl Spa are provided with a private locker with plush robe and sandals, as well as use of the eucalyptus steam room, showers, and relaxation lounge.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa and hope to return in the near future as we ran out of time during our first stay and were unable to enjoy all of the recreational opportunities available. The top of our list for next time? The adjacent Carlsbad Lagoon where Sheraton Carlsbad offers paddle board, kayak, and water sports, as well as the nearby Carlsbad Premium Outlet Mall and pristine Carlsbad State Beach are among the plethora of other activities available nearby.

Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa

5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA

760-827-2500

www.sheratoncarlsbad.com

The Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course

5800 The Crossings Dr., Carlsbad, CA

760-444-1800

www.thecrossingsatcarlsbad.com