A composition competition takes place months before and the winner takes home a $3,000 prize.  All applicants must be age 35 or under and use original work in order to provide Carlsbad and the music world with the next generation of pioneering, world-class music and composers. This year’s winner and featured composer is Andy Akiho, an eclectic composer and performer whose interests run from steel pan to traditional classical music. Akiho came to composition through the steel pan (an instrument which originated in Trinidad) and has subsequently gone on to study music composition at Manhattan School of Music, Yale School of Music and Princeton University. Because of the cutting-edge theme, the festival won the 2010 CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and has been praised by several world-renowned news sources.

All concerts will take place in the Village of Carlsbad, within short walking distance of each other, as well as the train, beach, restaurants and hotels. The Festival will commence on Friday evening with the fun, free “Village Music Walk”, where the streets are closed down for music lovers to walk along, listen and watch all sorts of diverse original music. Some of the past years most popular composers/bands have included Calder Quarlet, Jacob Cooper and Vicky Chow. Concerts will take place at a variety of venues on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be purchased that you may order online at www.carlsbadmusicfestival.org or at the Festival.

Matt McBane started the first Carlsbad Music Festival in the spring of 2004. It has drawn thousands of enthusiastic beach and music lovers to its concerts in the coastal California city of Carlsbad. In addition to the raves of the Festival-goers, the Fest has not stopped receiving wonderful reviews from the artists, press and everyone involved.

Guests staying in Carlsbad condo rentals have an opportunity to see a movie like never before at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas.

If individuals are unsure as to which film they want to see, they can watch trailers on Cinépolis’ self-service touchscreen. After they choose a flick and pick up their tickets, moviegoers can relax in an exclusive waiting area or settle into their leather, reclining seats inside their theater. In-seat service will be available to those who want to order some popcorn, gourmet finger foods or sushi. Meanwhile, ticketholders who are going to see a film on one of the venue’s 21+ screens can peruse the drinks and dishes on Cinépolis’ bar menu.

No matter what film those staying at local condo rentals choose to see, they are guaranteed an experience they cannot find in the cinemas back home.

To see everything from clownfish to hammerhead sharks, all travelers staying in Carlsbad condo rentals have to do is make a trip to Legoland and follow the signs to the aquarium. Once there, the kids are sure to go wild in this facility, which has been designed specifically for children.

One of the most exciting experiences offered by the aquarium is the chance to pass through a 35-foot-long ocean tunnel. As sharks and rays swim overhead, travelers become intrepid explorers while learning about the Lost City of Atlantis.

Outside of the tunnel, families can catch one of several feeding demonstrations that take place throughout the day, or meet some new friends in the aquarium’s Discovery Zone Touch Pool.

Those who are staying at condo rentals this spring will also get the chance to check out Claws, the aquarium’s newest exhibit. Here, visitors will learn about Japanese spider crabs, coconut crabs, lobsters and many of the world’s other armored arthropods.

As the GIA claims to be the world’s foremost authority in gemology, diamond grading and jewelry education, there is no better place for visitors to California to learn about gems and diamonds. At the Robert Mouawad Campus in Carlsbad, travelers will also find the GIA Museum. At this site, the institute can use its exhibits and programs to enhance people’s awareness of gems, jewelry and gemology.

When visitors explore the museum, they can view the emerald peridot crystal, which was found on the Red Sea island of Zabargad. Also in Carlsbad are several rough diamonds from the Sir Ernest Oppenheimer Student Collection.

Exhibits at the museum are constantly changing, so no matter when travelers arrive at their vacation condo rentals, they are guaranteed a unique GIA experience. For instance, in March, travelers can appreciate a collection of egg-shaped gems and minerals at the Egg-stravaganza exhibit.

Photo Credit: Fdecomite on Flickr

The well of the famous California Carlsbad Mineral Water stands next to a sophisticated European-style building that now houses a relaxing spa. Its tranquil and secluded rooms are each designed to evoke thoughts of a certain era in time, whether its Ancient Rome, Egypt or Asia.

Patrons can choose from an array of specialized massages, body wraps, facials or the famed mineral baths, which help detoxify and ease stiff joints and aching muscles.

Moms who want a break from Legoland and desire some alone time can escape to the historic Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa and achieve the peace and quiet that may be hard to come by with the little ones.

For a great Southern California vacation, a Carlsbad resort is the perfect destination.

International Guitar Night is an event sponsored by the Carlsbad Library Arts Foundation and put on by the Museum of Making Music. Some of the world’s best guitarists will perform at this concert on the evening of January 6, including Adrian Legg, an electric guitarist from England; Lulu Reinhardt, a German Gypsy Swing player; Marco Pereria, a Brazilian Samba musician; and Brian Gore, a talented local artist. These men will perform for several hours, showcasing the diversity of their great skills.

Travelers who will not be in Carlsbad on January 6 but are interested in attending a similarly music-centric event may want to consider checking out guitarist Muriel Anderson’s performance on the 27th, or The Roots of Reeds: Tales of the Reed, a flute concert on February 11.

Buildings, foundations, and streets in the park are constructed using the distinctive Lego blocks to create another world experience for all who enter. It is another world with a Water Park, Fun Town, Imagination Zone, and Castle

Hill, among other numerous and fantastic attractions to boggle the mind! DUPLO Village is a safari into the darkest Africa. This land is inhabited with life size lions, zebras, giraffes and other wild animals. Each one is made of Lego bricks. Sea Life is your child’s interactive guide to the life of the sea, an exploration of the underwater world. Hands on learning with educational talks and personal and up-close encounters with sea creatures will captivate any child’s imagination.

LEGOLAND California is open year round for more information visit (http://california.legoland.com/Documents/pdf/LLCR_calendar_2011a.pdf) for full Operating Schedule.

Photo Via Flicker

Individuals who have invested in vacation condo rentals in the beautiful seaside town of Carlsbad, California, may have an interest in spending their next West Coast getaway relaxing in a luxurious setting. While one can get plenty of rest and relief from a day lounging on the beach, travelers may wish to consider spending a few hours at a gorgeous and well-appointed spa instead.

The Skinsational Spa recently took home the award for the number one day spa in all of San Diego County, an honor that individuals who have been to the facility may not be surprised by. This virtual hub of relaxation offers dozens of incredibly indulgent services and treatments that have been designed to pamper and put at ease even the most stressed out traveler, a quality that individuals visiting from across the country may especially appreciate.

Once travelers have decided to book a few services at the facility, they must then decide which treatments they will undergo. As Skinsational offers services for both the skin and body, spa-goers will have many different choices to make when planning out their relaxing day.

The treatments offered at Skinsational run the gamut from massage and facials to hair removal and makeup application. In addition, individuals can also recline in one of the spa’s tanning beds or get a pedicure or manicure. However, for individuals who wish to spend the entire day pampering themselves, a spa package may be the way to go. Skinsational offers group deals, Japanese and Organic body therapies and services specifically designed to cater to the needs of men and new brides.

Regardless of the treatments that travelers select at Skinsational Spa, they are sure to have a relaxing and pampering experience.

The Fish House Vera Cruz has been a California Staple for more than three decades since it opened its first location in San Marcos back in 1979. As the restaurant became more popular and word of its delectable fresh seafood dishes spread, the eatery began to expand to other cities on the West Coast. Currently, the Fish House has properties in Temecula and Carlsbad, in addition to its flagship location in San Marcos.

According to the restaurant’s website, the fish used in its tasty dishes are always fresh and never frozen. In fact, fish is sent directly to the chef’s kitchens from the docks each morning and does not stay in the refrigerator for more than one day. As such, every meal served at the restaurant is fresh, delicious and authentic.

Travelers who sit down for a meal at the Fish House Vera Cruz may wish to consider ordering one of the restaurant’s delicious appetizers as a starter to their meal. The crab cakes are incredibly delicious, although the steamed clams are also a delectable way to begin a dinner. Following the first course, individuals should perhaps try one of the different varieties of grilled fish kabobs, all of which are served with onions and bell peppers.

While many individuals may think of Carlsbad, California, simply as a haven for beach goers and sunbathers, this gorgeous beach side town has much more to offer travelers who have invested in the area’s upscale vacation condo rentals. In addition to the many shops, delicious upscale restaurants and other attractions located in the city, Carlsbad is also the home of Legoland, a fun amusement park that is sure to provide an exciting and enjoyable experience for children and adults of all ages.

Families may wish to plan their trips to Legoland ahead of time, as there are many different things to do and see on the property of this whimsical play place. Travelers should also keep in mind that while the park is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days, it closes on Tuesday and Wednesdays . Occasionally, Legoland will open on these days for special occasions or holidays, such as the week leading up to Thanksgiving when many festive activities are planned.

While Legoland boasts dozens of rides and attractions geared toward children of all ages, there are many more things to do in the park. For instance, there are several shops on the property where travelers can purchase souvenirs, such as t-shirts and of course, Legos. There are also 14 different dining options in the park, where visitors can snack on items ranging from crisp apple fries to Carne Asada steak nachos.

In addition to the land-based rides at Legoland, some of which include the Safari Trek, Captain Cranky’s Challenge, Royal Joust and Sky Cruiser, the attraction also boasts an exciting water park and educational aquarium on the premises.

Book your Legoland California Hotels today!