10 Things To Do With Kids at The Carlsbad Flower Fields

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are a fun place to visit with kids! There are lots of activities, most of which are included with admission.

1. Enjoy A Passport Stamping Activity

When kids enter, they’re given a booklet, titled The Flower Fields Passport. Take the Passport to different numbered stations found around the property and stamp the corresponding number in the booklet. It’s a fun activity that gets kids engaged with their surroundings.

2. Take An Antique Tractor Wagon Ride

Take an audio narrated antique tractor wagon ride around the ranunculus fields! This fun ride stops at the top of the fields and allows you to hop off to walk around. You can hop back on another tractor that comes by to enjoy the remainder of the ride. The tractor ride is an additional fee, but a great way to learn the history of the fields, and see some areas not as easily accessible by foot.

3. Walk Through A Sweet Pea Maze

Walk through a fun sweet pea maze! The maze is located below the ranunculus fields, past the Poinsettia building. Go through the maze as many times as you wish, as it’s included with admission!

4. Play at Santa’s Playground

Santa’s Playground is a super cute area. Here you’ll find playground equipment, some neat little play houses, benches for seating, and larger-than-life mushrooms once found at Santa’s Village in Lake Arrowhead. It’s a great place for kids to run around!

5. Try Gem Panning

Try gem panning! The gem panning activity is an additional fee, but fun, and you get to keep whatever you pan! Present your fully stamped Flower Fields Passport to the attendant, and get $1 off the activity. (Don’t worry, they’ll also let you keep the Passport!)

6. Take Pictures In a Beautiful Setting

The Flower Fields is a great place to take pictures! Let your budding photographer take some shots, and be sure to snap some too. It’s very picturesque, so be sure to have room on your phone for lots of pictures, and bring a DSLR if you have one.

7. Check Out the Birds In the Aviaries

Check out the birds in the aviaries! The aviaries are located to the right of the entry, in the Artist’s Garden, near the restrooms. Here you’ll find doves, chickens, and other birds.

8. Learn About Flowers and Plants

The Flower Fields is a great place to learn about different flowers and plants. Learn about the Tecolote Giant Ranunculus (the flowers grown in the fields), different species of roses, and the poinsettia. The best way to learn about the ranunculus is by taking the tractor ride with the audio tour. Walk through the Rose Garden to view many different species of roses. Go through the Poinsettia Building and view many different species of this plant.

9. Enjoy and Appreciate Nature

Wandering around the grounds is a great way to enjoy and appreciate nature. Field trips are available for schools, and FREE Educational Activity Sheets, related to gardening and such, are available for download. Scroll toward the middle of the page for links.

10. Get Exercise While Exploring the Grounds

The Flower Fields consist of 55 acres, so there’s lots of room to walk around! Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. It’s a great place to get some exercise while exploring with kids.

Open March 1 – May 14, 2017

The Flower Fields are open daily from 9am-6pm daily, March 1 – May 13, 2018. They offer free parking, and allow you to picnic in designated areas. Be sure to check their website for entrance fees and further details. As mentioned in our other post about The Flower Fields, the fields bloom in patches. If you’d like to check blooming conditions, call 760-431-0352 x3. We can’t wait for our annual visit! Perhaps we’ll see you there!

The Carlsbad Flower Fields

Visiting the Carlsbad Flower Fields is a super fun Springtime family outing! There’s a lot to do, most of which is included with the cost of admission.

Tractor Ride, Playground, Maze, Gem Panning, & More!

Some of the activities at the Carlsbad Flower Fields include a tractor ride with an audio history about the location, Santa’s Playground, a sweet pea maze, rose garden, gem panning, an “artists garden” with a pond and birds, and so much more. Most activities are included with admission. Gem panning and the tractor ride are a bit extra.

The Flower Fields Passport Activity

When children enter, they receive a Flower Fields Passport, included with entry. Kids look for specially numbered wooden posts, and stamp their fun little booklet with the corresponding number from the posts. Once they have all their stamps, they can take the passport to a gem panning area for $1.00 off the activity.

The Flowers Bloom In Patches

Something to keep in mind, is that the ranunculus in the fields are never in full bloom completely all at once. They bloom in patches. From our experience, we’ve found many of the flowers tend to be blooming around mid-April, but it varies each year. Weather, time of planting, and other factors play a part of when the flowers bloom. You can call 760-431-0352 x3 for current blooming conditions.

What To Bring, Wear, & More

The Carlsbad Flower Fields allow strollers, and you might want to bring one if you have a little tot. Be sure to bring sunscreen, hats, and wear comfortable walking shoes. You might want to bring a light jacket as well, as the fields are just above the Pacific Ocean, and there’s often a nice breeze. You can bring food and beverages to enjoy at designated tables for eating. They sell fresh lemonade daily, and sell other food items certain days of the week.

Hours, Dates, Etc…

The Carlsbad Flower Fields are open from 9am-6pm daily, from March 1 – May 14, 2017. Weekdays tend to be less crowded than weekends. If you visit on a weekend, or on the day of a special event, you might hear a band, or be present during an arts crafts show. We suggest you designate a good 3+ hours for your visit.

Buy Entry In Advance or at the Gates

You can either buy your admission tickets online, or at the ticket booth. Be sure to buy your tractor tickets at the admission booth prior to entering the gates. You can pay your gem panning fee at the panning station. Parking is free!

Location, Location, Location

The Carlsbad Flower Fields are located at 5704 Paseo Del Norte, in Carlsbad, CA, just down the hill from LEGOLAND California. Click HERE for more information about The Flower Fields, including their event calendar and pricing. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

P.S. If you enjoyed reading this, you’ll also enjoy our other post, 10 Things To Do With Kids at The Flower Fields.