Year-round
Four hundred acres of working wetland, with a way in.
Agua Hedionda is the middle of Carlsbad’s three lagoons and the busiest — a wetland that is simultaneously a wildlife habitat, an aquaculture site, and a recreation area. The Discovery Center is how the public gets at it.
The lagoon supports oyster and mussel farming, a white sea bass hatchery, a desalination plant, boating, and a YMCA day camp — an unusually crowded set of uses for one body of water, and part of what makes it worth understanding.
The Discovery Center itself runs hands-on exhibits, gardens and live animal ambassadors, plus lagoon tours, school field trips, and a Discovery Camp. Entry is by suggested donation rather than a fixed ticket.
Make a day of it
While you're here.
Everything nearby is run by a Carlsbad Chamber member.