Thanks, Amy…It just so happens…my husband and I took a drive down to carlsbad yesterday. So inspired by the positive comments about the community in this thread…we wanted to see it before we continued our research.

Well…my first observation…was since it WAS a Saturday…the traffic was alittle heavy in the bigger planned community areas, especially where the retail was. We got off at the Carlsbad Village area and drove through that area and then by the beach going south…I noticed a really cute cottage type single family home community ( I guess where Poinsettia hooks up on the beachside) Those kinda held my interest…then we crossed the hwy and came over and basically made a huge loop going across and then coming down Santa Fe and then hooking with barcelona and eventually finding La Costa Valley… after we passed by the La Costa Oaks entrance too. One thing I didnt realize is just how hilly the terrain was…I am a runner…and the thought of having to conquer those hills regularly were of some concern. I like a flatter terrain…I like to be able to see out…anyway…just a small preferance on my part. So we drive in to the community via Calle Barcelona…and randomly picked a neighborhood off to the right…that’s coming in by turning off of Santa Fe and then Calle Barcelona. Well, we were impressed…I do think the houses were very likely out of our price range but very much like houses we were used in other places we haved outside of CA. I liked the size of lots and the wide streets and the amount of family activity we saw. These houses were not spanish/mediterranean, but rather very traditional…sorta something I would see back east. Nice. And then we drove out.

What is your take on the Pacific Rim elementary In Poinsettia Park and Aviara oaks Elementary in Aviara? I liked the flatter terrain that was closer to the lagoons and beach areas.