Carlsbad Restaurants – The Argyle Steakhouse in Aviara in South Carlsbad

The Argyle Steakhouse (or simply “The Argyle”) is a wonderful place to dine for breakfast (brunch on the weekend), lunch or dinner in the resort residential community of Aviara in South Carlsbad.

The Argyle is the restaurant at the Aviara Golf Course, part of the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, and offers really good food and great views of the golf course and the Batiquitos Lagoon.

While the Argyle is not for the budget conscious, you will definitely feel pampered when dining there, especially if you can enjoy a 1-2 hour lunch on the patio on a sunny day.

The service on every occasion I have been there has been efficient, friendly but not intrusive, and formal enough to make you feel special but in no way stuffy – as it should be for this sort of dining.

The food is creative and visually appealing, flavorful without being overdone, and dishes I wouldn’t likely make at home (check out the lunch and dinner menus). After all, why bother going out to eat what you eat at home, except to enjoy someone else fixing it and cleaning up?

The Aviara area is beautiful, with lush landscaping and beautiful flowers. What better place for fine dining in Aviara than at the Argyle in Carlsbad gazing out over the golf course and the Batiquitos Lagoon. Now if it were in view of the ocean, it would be perfect.

Reservations are wise – I use Open Table for almost all my reservations if the restaurants participate and get the points (100 points for each dining out and you can earn Open Table Dining Cheques).

The Argyle Steakhouse at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad

7447 Batiquitos Drive (off Aviara Parkway)

Carlsbad, CA  92011

(760) 603-6908

The Best of North County Party 2011 - A Photo Recap

We had the pleasure of attending The Best of North County Party 2011 at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad last night, with about 2000 other party-goers. It was a blast!

The party was a celebration of all that North San Diego County has to offer - dining, shopping, wineries, services, health and wellness, and so much more. I don't know the count of vendors but it had to be more than 50 booths with oodles of free food from some of the best and favorite restaurants (Blanca, Rubios, Nine-Ten, Arterra, Casa de Bandini, Addison, Argyle at the Aviara Golf Club, Zenbu) around including the Park Hyatt's Vivace Restaurant, tastings from 8 or 10 wineries and several breweries, and lots of give-a-ways (free wine glasses and wine buffet plates), coupons, massages, hair styling and so much more.

The primary sponsor was San Diego Magazine, who just released their Best of North County issue this month.

I have to give the Park Hyatt credit - the event was well organized, and although traffic was significant they kept it all flowing smoothly and quickly, giving folks the option to self park (free) or valet.

The food and wine were terrific and it was great fun to experience many of the businesses we know and love, but also to discover ones we don't. While it was crowded there was room to move around, the lines weren't too long waiting for food, and of course the grounds of the Park Hyatt Aviara are gorgeous. All in all it was a great evening and a wonderful celebration of the area we live in surrounding Carlsbad.

The Best Of North Country Party on May 6th in Carlsbad 

Tomorrow night, May 6^th, IS the night to celebrate the best of North County - North San Diego County, that is.

This amazing event, being held at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in the Aviara area of South Carlsbad is THE event to attend this year, in celebration of San Diego Magazine's Best of North County issue in May. 

The Best of North County Party should be quite the bash, given what a terrific area we live in and all the amazing art, culture, shopping and dining we have to enjoy. Hundreds of attendees, maybe more than 1000, are expected. 

There will be dozens of North County vendors, from restaurants to business services to spas to retailers, and the list reads like a Who's Who. And the setting at the Park Hyatt Aviara can't be beat, with views of lush vegetation, the golf course, and the Pacific Ocean. 

On-line tickets for The Best of North County are sold out, but there may be some available at the door at $55.00. I'm looking forward to being there! 

The Best of North County Party runs from 6:30 until 9:30 PM, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the San Diego Human Society.

Aviara Homes for Sale in Carlsbad - Homes for Sale in Aviara Carlsbad 

The Aviara area of South Carlsbad is a resort residential community of 1384 homes in gated and ungated communities anchored by the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort (formerly the Four Seasons). 

Aviara homes for sale in Carlsbad run the spectrum from condos and townhomes to ocean view estates at Aviara Point. You won't find any shopping in the area, except at the Park Hyatt, but there is plenty nearby in La Costa and closer to the ocean.

The Park Hyatt Aviara Resort golf course, the rolling hills and lush vegetation, the distant ocean, and the Batiquitos Lagoon are just some of the beautiful views you can expect from the homes for sale in Aviara. Communities include Aviara Point, Isla Mar, Sanderling, Avocet, Marea, Azure Cove, Bella Lago, Pavona, Viaggio, Tramonto, among others (a total of 16 communities in the master association but with other small neighborhoods in the Aviara area). Most homes were built in the 1990s. 

Aviara is an award-winning (1995) planned community with an elementary and middle school in the Carlsbad Unified School District. 

Take a tour through Aviara (video) 

Search for Aviara Homes for Sale in Carlsbad CA

Aviara Real Estate - A Resort Residential Community in Carlsbad CA

Aviara is a resort residential community in South Carlsbad bordering the Batiquitos Lagoon. With beautiful views of the lagoon, hills, golf course and greenery, Aviara real estate is popular with buyers for primary, second or investment homes. 

Anchored by the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort (formerly the Four Seasons until June 2010), Aviara offers an idyllic residential community less than 2 miles from ocean beaches.

Aviara is readily recognizable with manicured grounds and roadways, lush vegetation, rolling hills and a Mediterranean feel to the housing. There are gated and non-gated enclaves of detached and attached homes, 2 excellent schools (Aviara Oaks Elementary School and Aviara Oaks Middle School), the Batiquitos Lagoon and wildlife preserve with miles of walking trails, and easy access to the coast road, the freeway, and the El Camino Real Shopping Corridor in La Costa to the east. 

As one would expect so near the coast and in such a beautiful area, the Aviara real estate market is pricey. The average price of a detached home in 2009 was $921,010 and YTD in 2010 is over $934,000 (higher than the average pricing in the Carlsbad real estate market as a whole). 

Aviara condos are priced more moderately, averaging almost $470K in 2009 and over $500K so far in 2010.

At the upper end, a luxury home at Aviara Pointwill fetch from the low $1,000,000s to the mid $2,000,000s in the current market. You will find some short sales and REOs in the Aviara real estate market but they are less common than in other areas. 

The Aviara lifestyle is one coveted by many. Take a drive through Aviara below (2 videos) and you'll get a taste of why (videos are about 3 1/2 minutes).

 Search for Homes and Live the Aviara Lifestyle

Goodbye Four Seasons Aviara Resort

It's now, sadly, the truth. The famed Four Seasons Aviara Resort is leaving Carlsbad in June after a sting of 13 years managing the resort. Well, the resort will still be there but the Four Seasons will no longer be managing the resort and golf course. 

I mentioned way back in June 2009 the arbitration that was in process as the result of allegation by the resort's owners of alleged mismanagement by the Four Seasons of funds in its operations in Carlsbad. The Four Seasons denied any wrong-doing. 

READ MORE:  Carlsbad's Four Seasons Aviara - Will They Stay or Will They Go? 

I will miss the Four Seasons, having visited multiple times including having our daughter's wedding reception there last October (thankfully things had not been resolved with the arbitration). The spa is fabulous, and dinner at Vivace was always a treat. 

The new resort will be the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort beginning June 21, 2010. Of course we'll have to test it out - the views will still be wonderful, and I have heard some good things about the Park Hyatt hotels. It may not be the Four Seasons but perhaps the quality will still be top notch. Time will tell.

Carlsbad Homes for Sale in Aviara - A Resort Residential Community Near the Beaches

Many buyers seeking Carlsbad homes for sale consider Aviara, which is a resort residential community near the beaches in South Carlsbad in the 92011 zip code. Flanked by the Batiquitos Lagoon to the south, the La Costa area to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west (less than 2 miles), Aviara is anchored by the famed Four Seasons Aviara Resort, the Four Seasons Residences, and a beautiful 18-hole golf course. 

READ MORE:  Carlsbad Village by the Sea 

Aviara is purely a residential area of about 1000 acres on rolling hills, with no commerce or retail other than the Four Seasons (with shops, 4-star dining at Vivace with several other restaurants, and their signature spa), although plenty of shopping, dining and services are very close near the ocean and in La Costa along El Camino Real. 

There are 16 communities within the master Aviara Home Owners Association, some gated and some not, and an array of home styles and sizes, yet a fairly consistent theme in terms of architectural look. Homes were built beginning in 1989 and into the mid 1990s. There is no new construction. 

Aviara holds a strong appeal for Carlsbad buyers because of the location near the beaches, and highly rated Carlsbad schools, with a good number of homes offering views of lush landscaping, the canyon, the Batiquitos Lagoon, the ocean or the golf course. 

Aviara is beautifully maintained with manicured common areas and roadways, and the nature trails and views along the Batiquitos Lagoon (a nature preserve - no boating, swimming or fishing) within walking distance or a short drive for most residents. 

Aviara homes range from townhome style attached condos and detached homes to large single family homes (single and two story) and luxury properties at Aviara Point; they range in size from 1200 SF up to the largest estates at 8000 SF.  

Home prices vary substantially but you will only rarely find Aviara homes for sale priced under $500K (in this market those are typically short sales or REOs) and they may reach $2 million. The average price of an Aviara home sold in the last year is about $879,000 ($279/SF).

Search for Aviara Homes for Sale

Take a Walk with Me along the Batiquitos Lagoon - Enjoy the Video

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

TheAviara area of Carlsbad bordering the Batiquitos Lagoon is a beautiful resort residential community anchored by the Four Seasons Aviara Resort, and buyers in the Carlsbad real estate market seeking a detached view home should well consider the homes at Mar Fiore in Aviara.

READ MORE:  

Carlsbad Village by the Sea

Aviara - A Beautiful Resort Residential Community in Carlsbad 

Mar Fiore is one of the 16 communities in the Aviara master homeowners association. This ungated community of 137 homes (mostly two story but with a few single story homes) is built on rolling hills overlooking the lagoon and the popular Four Seasons Aviara golf course.

Lush vegetation with eucalyptus trees and styling reminiscent of Old Santa Barbara are hallmarks of this upper end community with close proximity to the walking trails of the Batiquitos Lagoon preserve. Views might include the golf course, the ocean, the lagoon or the community itself. 

There are 4 Carlsbad homes on the marketat Mar Fiore ranging in size from 3328 to 3942 SF with 4 or 5 bedrooms and 3 or 4 baths. Prices run from $975,000 to $1,150,000.

These homes are characterized by high ceilings, large windows, private yards, fine finishes (granite, travertine) and a variety of floor plans. There is a wonderful hiking trail through the eucalyptus grove as well.

Children attend the nearby Carlsbad Unified Schools - Aviara Oaks Elementary and Aviara Oaks Middle School. 

HOA fees vary depending on the home, from about $76/month to $81/month. Residents also pay Mello Roos fees which are fairly modest compared to some communities, from $590/year to $995/year. 

In 2009 there have been 4 Carlsbad homes sold in Mar Fiore, from $785,000 (a bank-owned property) to $975,000, with sizes from 3112 SF to 3445 SF. 

The beautiful spacious detached homes in Mar Fiore offer a terrific opportunity for buyers in the Carlsbad real estate market who want a residential area near the ocean yet with easy access to a variety of amenities including shopping, dining, and the Carlsbad beaches.

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All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

It's an ugly question to have to ask, but a very real one.

The Four Seasons Aviara Resort has been a mainstay of South Carlsbad's Aviara area for more than 10 years (they signed a 30-year contract in 1995 with several 20-year optional continuations). That is until the owners of the resort that the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts manages got their britches in a bunch.

The owners are alleging financial mismanagement by the Four Seasons and running the resort in a less-than-cost-effective manner (my words). Seems the alleged issues surround the 2009 operating budget and recent refinancing by the owners resulting in increased debt (a challenge in these economic times), who now want to bring in Dolce Hotels and Resorts as new managers of the resort.

The Four Seasons states that the increased debt by the owners is "making it impossible for the resort to service this amount of debt in the current economic downturn" according to a recent article by Penni Crabtree in the San Diego Union Tribune. Here's a press release from the Four Seasons on May 13.

The parties were in federal court May 11, then started oral arguments in late May. Arbitration proceedings began on May 29 according to the North County Times, and the hearing was continued until the week of June 15. I haven't seen any updates on where things stand now. 

I'm not familiar with Dolce Hotels and Resorts and have no idea if they can run the caliber of resort that so many are accustomed to, and gravitate towards, at the Four Seasons hotels. Some folks want, and are willing to pay for the Four Seasons experience, which garners them high rankings in polls by Conde Naste and others year after year. I have my own personal reasons for wanting the Four Seasons to remain. Nuff said. 

Stay tuned - the battle is not yet over.

READ MORE:

Carlsbad Village by the Sea

Avaira - A Beautifu Resort Residential Area in South Carlsbad

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Aviara (in the 92011 zip code) is a beautiful resort residential community anchored by the Four Seasons Aviara Resort (with golf course) in South Carlsbad overlooking the Batiquitos Lagoon and within view of the ocean. Rolling hills, lush vegetation, manicured properties and roadways, and gate communities characterize this popular neighborhood just west of La Costa.

READ MORE:  AVIARA -  A Beautiful Resort-Like Residential Community 

TAKE A VIDEO TOUR OF AVIARA

There are a number of smaller communities within the master Aviara HOA - Pavona, Avocet, Aviara Point (the most exclusive), Bella Lago, Cantata, Sanderling, Crystalla, Azure Cove, Isla Mar and Tramonto, among others - some area gated, others are not, but there is a consistent feel to these communities that surround the fabulous Four Seasons with its high-end dining, upscale spa, boutiques and golf course 

CURRENT ACTIVITY in AVIARA

Detached Homes:

• 26 on the market
• Average price $1,054,509 (range $599,000 - $2.095 million)
• Median price = $882,000
• Days on market = 81 (range 1 - 271)
• Price per SF = $337 (typical home is 3115 SF with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths)

Attached Homes

• 5 on the market
• Average price $631,780 (range $485,000 - $829,000)
• Median price = $600,000
• Days on market = 119 (range 1 - 257)
• Price per SF = $329 (typical home is 1933 SF with 2 bedrooms, 3 baths)

2008 SALES vs. 2007 SALES in AVIARA

Detached Homes:

• 54 sold in 2008 vs. 50 sold in 2007 (up 8%)
• Average sales price in 2008 was $832,585 (down 15% from $979,816, 2008)
• Average $/SF was $312 vs. $341 in 2007

Attached Homes:

• 17 sold in 2008 vs.19 sold in 2007 (down 11%)
• Average price $561,688 (down 2% from $568,126  in 2007)
• Average $/SF was $335 vs. $341 in 2007

Buyers in the Carlsbad real estate market have wonderful opportunities to acquire a home in Aviara, with historically low interest rates as of this writing. If you would like more information about this community and the housing market, please feel free to let me know.

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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits