If you're planning a visit to the tidepools, check the tide tables before you go.
Low tide is the optimum time for an up-close look at the vast array of marine creatures.
The Flower Fields in Carlsbad draw BIG crowds, including organized groups, tour buses filled with visitors, and lots of people from Southern California. To avoid the crushing traffic, visit before noon on a weekday during the blooming season, from March to mid-May. An ideal place for shoreside whale watching is the observation deck located on the grounds of the Cabrillo National Monument. High-powered viewers are available to help you catch sight of the migrating gray whales. Tire chains may be required.