Carlsbad is a very special place, with an ideal climate and abundant natural open spaces combined with active neighborhoods. It has a small town, beach community feel creating a community that can be proudly called home. It's heart comes from the ability of residents to enjoy a healthy lifestyle rich with culture and learning for all ages, making any Carlsbad real estate a great place to build a home.

The City also knows that a well rounded community needs more than just water, sewers, roads and street lights. And, most importantly, a community’s strength comes from the social connections shared among neighbors. This article shares what one of Carlsbad's oldest neighborhood has to offer: the Northwestern Quadrant.

The Northwestern Quadrant is located north of Palomar Airport Road and west of El Camino Real. It can be directly accessed using the San Diego freeway. Though there are some newer developments, this area features many more established single family homes, and in some cases, apartments and condominiums. Because of its antique entity, you may find the appearance of this part to be a bit historical in terms of façade. The fact that many areas in this quadrant existed many years ago is apparent by the fact that some streets (notably Highland Drive) lack sidewalks and/or street lighting. In the case of Highland Drive, however, the city has made the decision to omit improvements to preserve the street’s country-like feel.

Carlsbad Village, or downtown Carlsbad, is found along Carlsbad Village Drive, east of Carlsbad Boulevard (also Pacific Coast Highway or U.S. Route 101) and west of Interstate 5. This area features many antique shops, clothing stores, and restaurants; making it a popular area for shopping, diverse nightlife and after work relaxation. Regular events in the village, which include a farmers market held on Saturday mornings 9am-1pm and Wednesdays from 2-5pm and a marathon, draw many people from throughout the region to downtown Carlsbad.

Hosp Grove. Hosp Grove has a grove of trees relatively untouched by development and now designated by the city for recreational use, is located in the northwest quadrant, along with the Buena Vista and Agua Hedionda Lagoons. The Buena Vista Lagoon is one of three the subject of controversy. The Concerned Citizens of Carlsbad is currently floating a Petition to stop the city council from rezoning the fields into new homes and a state of the art City Hall complex.

The Barrio was the first Carlsbad neighborhood and one of the first oceanfront communities in the city, built in the 1920s. It is densely populated by Latinos and is the site of the city's Centro de Información, a Spanish division of the Carlsbad City Library.

Olde Carlsbad refers to the area south of the Buena Vista Lagoon, west of El Camino Real and north of Cannon Road. This area generally features charming older single family homes and is perhaps the most socioeconomically diverse section of the city, where homes range from enormous mansions to modest, one story homes. Architectural styles in the area vary widely as well; so if you are searching for real estate in Carlsbad you will have a bevy of options here.

Terramar is a small oceanfront neighborhood community developed by William Cannon in the 1950s. It has its own Association called the Terramar Association, with a quarterly newsletter called the Terramar Tides. This neighborhood has a number of breaks, but is primarily known as a longboard break. It has private access to the beach but not all homes in it are oceanfront. The beach access consists of a "Deck" that is elevated above the ocean and has benches, tables, BBQ, surfboard rack, and outdoor shower.

Ultimately, it’s all up to your preference where you’d want to be. It’s all a matter of choice and how you like the look and feel of your community. However, prepare yourself to be awestruck by the intensity of the beauty of this region. You will still have the same feeling of noticing something new every time you look outside. Such is life here, and it’s worth every moment you spend.