Spring is in the air in Carlsbad — and about to be in full bloom.
North County’s springtime staple, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch , will reopen for the 2023 season on Wednesday, March 1, running through Monday, May 15. Let’s frolic in the fields, shall we? 🌼
A close-up of color.
Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
🌷 My, how you’ve grown
The 55-acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus blooms blanketing the rolling hills have a deep-rooted, ~60-year history in Carlsbad. Over the years, the colorful attraction has become a spring destination and beautiful backdrop for photos .
In addition to self-guided strolls near the blooms, The Flower Fields has grown to feature additional activities like tractor wagon rides, artist gardens, bird aviaries, a Cymbidium Orchid Greenhouse, a playground, a sweet pea maze, a demonstration garden, and a 5-acre field of sunflowers . 🌻
The site also hosts fun, bloom-themed events throughout the season, so keep an eye on this calendar . We spy dreamy picnics amongst the flowers, art and wellness workshops , yoga , and more.
The hills are alive.
Photo via Marcie Gonzalez and The Flower Fields
💐 Blossom basics
Ready for your annual trip? Seed you there.
- The Flower Fields will be open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Timed-entry tickets cost $18 for adults and $7 for kids ages 3-10 (and include parking). They’re only available for purchase online — just arrive within 30 minutes of your time slot and stay as long as closing time.
- Pro tips: Visit on a Monday, and get a free kids ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. If you’re planning multiple visits, you may want to spring for a $48 season pass .
- While the first blooms have sprouted , the season’s peak is late March to early May, so plan your trip accordingly. The flowers are in bloom for approximately 6-8 weeks.
- There are snack and drink stands at the Flower Fields, too, so you can make a whole day of it.
Say yello’ to the Sea of Sunflowers.
Photo via @the_flower_fields
🌻 End of the season
The Flower Fields announced its last day for the 2023 season is scheduled to be Mother’s Day — Sunday, May 14 — but it will continue to open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., until then.
Recently, something else has been blooming at this Carlsbad destination: The Sea of Sunflowers is now open. This currently, 1 acre is in bloom and lets visitors petal through rows of yellow flowers that can grow to be 12 ft tall . And if you can sea past these giant beauties, you’ll also catch a glimpse of the Pacific Ocean in the distance.
Tickets can be purchased in advance for the final week of operation which includes access to the Sea of Sunflowers.