Guidebook for Carlsbad
Food Scene
Best of the 3 barbecue places in town. We recommend grabbing it to go and having a picnic by the river.
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Danny's Place
902 S Canal StBest of the 3 barbecue places in town. We recommend grabbing it to go and having a picnic by the river.
Go for breakfast but get there early because they sell out by 10 quite often. My favorite are the chocolate croissants. The patio cat is super sweet.
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Blue House Bakery & Cafe
609 N Canyon StGo for breakfast but get there early because they sell out by 10 quite often. My favorite are the chocolate croissants. The patio cat is super sweet.
Tokyo
1479 W Pierce StTeppanyaki is fun for everyone!
THE BEST ONION RINGS. Call ahead because although it *looks" like a drive-thru, the wait is usually really long so it becomes more of a pickup window.
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Church Street Grill
301 W Church StTHE BEST ONION RINGS. Call ahead because although it *looks" like a drive-thru, the wait is usually really long so it becomes more of a pickup window.
Fanciest place in town, but fair prices. Delicious food in a historic building. Nice for Sunday Brunch.
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The Trinity Hotel & Restaurant
201 S Canal StFanciest place in town, but fair prices. Delicious food in a historic building. Nice for Sunday Brunch.
Lovely courtyard and good salads, steaks, and desserts
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Yellow Brix Restaurant
201 N Canal StLovely courtyard and good salads, steaks, and desserts
Local chain, great to grab sandwiches to go. Also baked potatoes and soup. Calling ahead is the easiest/ quickest.
McAlister's Deli
2304 W Pierce StLocal chain, great to grab sandwiches to go. Also baked potatoes and soup. Calling ahead is the easiest/ quickest.
Drinks & Nightlife
Awesome local bar- local beer and wine. Ask if they have the sangria. They also have an outdoor patio where you can watch trains. Also occasional food truck nights and live music. Re-opening in a new location shortly.
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Milton's Brewing
213 W Mermod StAwesome local bar- local beer and wine. Ask if they have the sangria. They also have an outdoor patio where you can watch trains. Also occasional food truck nights and live music. Re-opening in a new location shortly.
Good burgers and bar fare, but also live music upstairs usually Friday and Saturday nights. About a 15 minute walk from the house.
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Lucky Bull Grill
220 W Fox StGood burgers and bar fare, but also live music upstairs usually Friday and Saturday nights. About a 15 minute walk from the house.
Sort of a locals Dive bar. Pretty casual country vibe. Bowling next door. Especially fun on live music or karaoke nights! Check facebook.
Cal's Shade Western/restaurant
1611 S Canal StSort of a locals Dive bar. Pretty casual country vibe. Bowling next door. Especially fun on live music or karaoke nights! Check facebook.
Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company
3324 National Parks HwyLocal beers, plus best pizza in town!
Parks & Nature
Great for a hike. Beautiful fall colors. Bring a picnic because there are no services in the park or anywhere nearby.
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Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Great for a hike. Beautiful fall colors. Bring a picnic because there are no services in the park or anywhere nearby.
Family friendly beach area on the river, and walking trails going all the way around. You can watch trains, rent a paddle boat, go for a pirate cruise, go to the water park, or play on one of the many playgrounds. River above the dam is for boats and swimming, below is for fishing and ducks.
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Lake Carlsbad Beach Park
708 Park DrFamily friendly beach area on the river, and walking trails going all the way around. You can watch trains, rent a paddle boat, go for a pirate cruise, go to the water park, or play on one of the many playgrounds. River above the dam is for boats and swimming, below is for fishing and ducks.
A bunch of athletic fields and the splash pad is to the right when you pull in. Great for hot summer days with little kids.
Bob Forrest Youth Sports Complex
3213 W Lea StA bunch of athletic fields and the splash pad is to the right when you pull in. Great for hot summer days with little kids.
Plan ahead for specific tours. If at all possible, take the natural entrance on the way down (takes about 1.5-2 hours), it is just so impressive! Then ride the elevator up. If you are here when they have the bat flight that is also an experience! Bring jackets because it is cold in the caves.
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Nationaal Park Carlsbad Caverns
Plan ahead for specific tours. If at all possible, take the natural entrance on the way down (takes about 1.5-2 hours), it is just so impressive! Then ride the elevator up. If you are here when they have the bat flight that is also an experience! Bring jackets because it is cold in the caves.
Fishing or swimming or birdwatching. Or boating. Just outside of town to the north.
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Brantley Lake State Park
33 W Brantley Lake RdFishing or swimming or birdwatching. Or boating. Just outside of town to the north.
About an hour's drive, but well worth it. Sort of an oasis in the desert. Swim under a waterfall in New Mexico!
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Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area
742 Sitting Bull Falls RdAbout an hour's drive, but well worth it. Sort of an oasis in the desert. Swim under a waterfall in New Mexico!
A 3 hour drive but worth a visit. Borrow sleds! Beautiful at sunset and sunrise. While in Alamogordo check out the zoo, or the train museum or the Museum of Space History. Stop in Cloudcroft on the way back for mountain air and pie.
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White Sands National Park
A 3 hour drive but worth a visit. Borrow sleds! Beautiful at sunset and sunrise. While in Alamogordo check out the zoo, or the train museum or the Museum of Space History. Stop in Cloudcroft on the way back for mountain air and pie.
Good little zoo. Very educational and a gorgeous view of Carlsbad from up on the hill. Bring a picnic! Friday mornings at 9 am they have a special program for preschoolers.
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Living Desert State Park
1504 Skyline RdGood little zoo. Very educational and a gorgeous view of Carlsbad from up on the hill. Bring a picnic! Friday mornings at 9 am they have a special program for preschoolers.
Arts & Culture
The Artist Gallery
120 S Canyon StArt by local and New Mexico Artists. Sculpture and paintings.
Carlsbad Community Theatre
4713 National Parks HwyCheck facebook for their current offerings!
Great library. Has several programs for kids of all ages. Great summer program with traveling shows. Also a small museum with exhibitions about this area.
Main Building
Great library. Has several programs for kids of all ages. Great summer program with traveling shows. Also a small museum with exhibitions about this area.
Shopping
Cat's Meow Thrift Store
124 S Canyon StThrift store. Bring cash!
Pecos River Antique Mall
110 S Canyon StWide variety of vintage and antique items. Not great with kids!
Keeping Up With the Joneses
325 S Canyon StAntique store.
Essentials
For everything! It is tradition to wear pajama pants and a cowboy hat for Walmart shopping after 9 pm, but not required. Open 24 hours.
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Walmart Supercenter
2401 S Canal StFor everything! It is tradition to wear pajama pants and a cowboy hat for Walmart shopping after 9 pm, but not required. Open 24 hours.
Parking is a pain and this is the only real grocery store in town, so try to go in the morning on a weekday.
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Albertsons Market
202 N Canal StParking is a pain and this is the only real grocery store in town, so try to go in the morning on a weekday.
Entertainment & Activities
Especially fun on special event nights. Check their facebook page.
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Cal's Cactus Lanes Bowling
1609 S Canal St Especially fun on special event nights. Check their facebook page.
Your basic movie theater. Get there early for big shows because there is only the one theater in town and they sell out fast. Or book online.
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Allen Theaters La Cueva 6
2322 W Pierce StYour basic movie theater. Get there early for big shows because there is only the one theater in town and they sell out fast. Or book online.
Free rec center with indoor kids play area, arcade games, and sports courts. Great place to take the kids on a rainy day.
Riverwalk Recreation Complex
400 Riverwalk DriveFree rec center with indoor kids play area, arcade games, and sports courts. Great place to take the kids on a rainy day.
The local municipal golf course. I don't golf so I can't tell you much more. It runs along the east side of the river.
Lake Carlsbad Golf Course
901 Muscatel AveThe local municipal golf course. I don't golf so I can't tell you much more. It runs along the east side of the river.
Riverside Country Club Park
1207 Bryan CirThe "fancy" golf course.
Part Winery part pumpkin patch part event center. Check their facebook page.
Balzano Family Vineyard & Pumpkin Patch
5230 7 Rivers HwyPart Winery part pumpkin patch part event center. Check their facebook page.
They have the public pool (open year round and indoors) and also high school football games that tend to draw a crowd. Also occasional theater productions.
Carlsbad High School
3000 W Church StThey have the public pool (open year round and indoors) and also high school football games that tend to draw a crowd. Also occasional theater productions.