Several murals can be found in Carlsbad on a wall in the southeast corner of Carlsbad Boulevard and Grand Avenue. (I shared a photo of one back in 2019. That mural still exists. It shows two tigers and dripping colored paint. See it among other Carlsbad murals by clicking here.)
Here are photographs of a more recent mural on the left end of this wall. It celebrates the Carlsbad 5000 road running event, which has been called the World Fastest 5K since 1986.
From the nearby artist signatures, it appears both the race imagery and the intermingled sailboats were painted by sports muralist Taylor Gallegos.
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
I love this super colorful mural in Carlsbad. It was painted by several artists on a wall near the west entrance of the Village Faire mall, adjacent to the Twin Inns.
The artwork shows coastal scenery and sea life, plus Carlsbad’s iconic, historical Twin Inns building.
This mural at Liberty Station in Point Loma is suggestive of many things. Variously shaped and colored cells combine into what appears to me like an organism seen through a microscope, or perhaps a color-coded map, or perhaps a sunset or stained glass seen through an odd lens. What does it look like to you?
The public art is titled Vitral Sunset: A Marine Perspective Across The Border. It was created last year with acrylic paints by Tijuana artist Mischka Ippólita (@mischkaippolita). You can find it at Barracks 19.
A nearby plaque describes the art:
The visual references that inspired this mural are seascapes, landscapes, local plants, and microscopic life.
Components of the mural are a combination of ships at sea aerial views and cross-sections of native plants from California and Baja California. A significant factor that unifies all the elements in the piece references the North Chapel, an aesthetic emulating the stained-glass windows.
Yes, the mural does evoke all of those things. Very cool!
A couple weeks ago I took these photos…
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
During my recent walk around Oceanside Harbor, I encountered wildlife that you might expect by the water.
For fun, I took these photographs!
Okay, what animals do you recognize?
In addition to more common seagulls and pigeons, I observed Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets, Brewer’s Blackbirds (I think!), and Sea Lions snoozing and hanging out on the docks!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
It’s painted on a wall outside the North Coastal Art Gallery in Carlsbad. Find it tucked away inside the Village Faire mall. The mural is called The Colors of Carlsbad.
Was the super colorful artwork painted by an octopus? No! This mural that celebrates Carlsbad was created by North Coastal Art Gallery artists.
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
The California Welcome Center in Oceanside is the perfect place to find useful information concerning local attractions and hospitality. It’s also just a fun place to visit!
One reason I enjoyed dropping in yesterday was this cool little exhibit celebrating Tony Hawk, legendary trailblazing skateboarder who grew up in San Diego and continues to reside in Encinitas, just south of Oceanside.
The exhibit includes a short biography of Tony Hawk that lists many of his accomplishments in skateboarding, entertainment, and as an entrepreneur. There’s also a detailed display concerning the Evolution of the Skateboard, from ridiculously primitive 2x4s to present-day sporting equipment made of more advanced, more flexible materials.
I remember how my first skateboard was made of wood and had clay wheels. (It resembled the second skateboard from the bottom in the above photo. Yes, I’m that old.) Skating down our driveway, when I inevitably ran into a pebble or twig, I’d come to an abrupt stop and go flying! Ouch!
Skateboards today are not only designed for maximum performance, but they can be incredible works of art. A far cry from those bygone days of rolling lumber!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
The Nature Center is located at the south end of Oceanside, at 2202 South Coast Highway next to Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve. The building is open daily, from 10 am to 1 pm.
From across the driveway, a short but beautiful trail loops through part of the lagoon. This nature hike is an easy way to see birds and other wildlife that thrive in the wetland. You can enjoy photographs from two of my past hikes here and here.
Inside the Nature Center, visitors learn all about the life of the lagoon. There are lots of great educational displays.
I was most amazed how dozens of examples of native wildlife have been preserved via taxidermy. A super friendly volunteer working the front desk explained that over the years, dead animals that were found were transformed into these educational displays by one individual who loves taxidermy.
The Nature Center also features a meeting and activity room, fascinating rocks and minerals, a microscope through which insects and tiny lagoon organisms can be studied, a long table full of bones and assorted specimens that can be handled, and an upstairs observation balcony. There are works of art and a cool little gift shop that supports the local Audubon Society, too!
If you’re ever in South Oceanside when the center is open, step inside! If the Nature Center is closed, take an easy walk along the hiking trail!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)