Let's Talk with Terry Ambrose
June 26, 2025
Sandcastles to Galleries: What Does Your Next Vacation Hold?
Ah, summer at the beach! There’s something magical about this time of year in California’s vibrant coastal towns. Just the other day, we were walking along the seawall in Carlsbad. It felt like the waves crashed with just a little more zeal, the scent of sunscreen and sea breeze filled the air, and families from all over were here for an unforgettable escape.
Whether those people were here to build sandcastles, watch the sunset, or simply soak up some rays, it’s a sure thing that beach season is in full swing here in Southern California.
Our closest beach town, Carlsbad, has a lot more than just sand and surf. If you’ve ready my second Beachtown Detective Agency mystery, you know that Carlsbad is also home to a thriving art scene.
A Splash of Creative Color
Carlsbad has a way of blending laid-back beach vibes with cultural richness. The town is home to art galleries that showcase everything from contemporary masterpieces to local coastal-inspired works.
If art is your thing, you’d love the William D. Cannon Art Gallery, a gem nestled within the Carlsbad City Library complex. Or maybe you’d wander into the North Coastal Art Gallery, where local artists showcase pieces that are as diverse and captivating as the ocean itself.
In the local galleries, you can find everything from paintings of a Pacific sunset, to line art, to handcrafted sculptures by local artisans. And if outdoor art is your thing, Carlsbad is home to a number of murals that can be viewed in a walking or biking tour. I’d venture to say that every piece of art tells a story.
What Stories Lie Behind the Artists Themselves?
That question helped drive the second Beachtown Detective Agency mystery, THE CASE OF THE BEGUILING BROOCH. At the memorial service for a friend who owned a local art gallery, an elegant woman asks Jade to solve a cryptogram and help find a family heirloom that’s been missing since World War II.
The case seems simple enough, but as Jade delves deeper into the case, she discovers that her friend’s elegant facade was just a cover for a much more complicated and troubled life. And as she unearths more clues, Jade begins to see the true story behind each piece of art in her friend’s gallery.
Sandcastles, Galleries, or Murder?
When we’re on vacation, our preference is to wander the local galleries rather than head to the for same sandcastle building. What about you? Are you more of a beach person or a gallery roamer? Or maybe you prefer to just cozy up with a good book? Let me know if the comments below.Thanks for being here!
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Posted in Let's Talk, with Terry Ambrose • Tags: Beachtown Detective Agency, Let's Talk, Terry Ambrose | 15 Comments
I like to think I’m a little bit of a beach person and a little bit of of gallery roamer/looker/ and I just love to curl up with a good book
I like the variety, too, Crystal
Before moving to TN, I spent my entire life within a short drive to the Jersey shore (In NJ we go “down the shore,” not “to the beach.”) I’m not someone who enjoys baking on the sand, though. My favorite times going i the spring and fall when I could walk along the shoreline, often in solitude, before the tourists descended or after they’d departed.
Ah, yes, the shoulder months. My favorite time to do things!
I would like to go on vacation to visit one or more of our National Parks.Yellowstone to watch Old Faithful. One of these days our parks may not be here for anyone to enjoy. How sad.
I agree, Kathleen, on both counts. We’ve wanted to get to more of the National Parks, and now we’re worried they may be in trouble. Let’s hope not!
All of the above 😁
As a kid living in southern California we liked to swim and sunbathe at the beach, but not anymore. Now when I go on vacation I like to walk the boardwalks, take walking tours, or go to art galleries. Then I can go rest up in my hotel room and read!
I hear you, Helen. I’m almost exactly the same!
I’m a foodie and shopping person. I used to love the beach. Now I’d rather gaze at the water than swim in it. I’ll take a walk and admire the ocean’s ebb and flow and look for seashells, then it’s off to main street to browse the gift shops and try new restaurants.
I love going to the beach, it’s so relaxing, but I also enjoy visiting museums and historical attractions. I also enjoy relaxing with a good book and a glass of iced tea.
HIstorical attractions can be so much fun. One of my favorites is ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu. It’s so well preserved and the docents are incredible.
I like to go to museums and the botanical gardens. Deborah
Ooh! Botanical gardens. I love going there, especially when I have my camera
I love the beach and sightseeing too.
They both are a fun place to visit on vacation.