A verdant hillside blanketed in native wildflowers? Absolutely enchanting—but totally weather dependent. Perfectly manicured rows of planted flowers? Well, you know, a little less magical but still visually stunning—and way more predictable.
For those springtimes when the poppies don’t pop, head to Carslbad’s Flower Fields instead. The nearly 50-acre field in northern San Diego County features a staggering assortment of shades of giant ranunculus flowers, sort of similar to buttercups. They’re only in bloom for about six to eight weeks each year, with a peak period in April—and expect every one of those weeks to be pretty busy—but if you want to frolic and pose in a field of flowers, consider it worthwhile. There’s more than just the namesake field, too, with an orchid greenhouse, a sweet pea maze and U-pick blueberries.
For 2024, the Flower Fields are open from March 1 through early to mid-May, depending on the season. Reservations are available now.
