I thought the grounds, service and room quality were all excellent. I enjoyed seeing my kids run down the hallways of this fine hotel. I enjoyed eating with my kids in the dinning room with MANY other similar situated families. I enjoyed bringing my kids to the pool area and letting them frolic in the wading pool. I did not mind their noisy behavior because I could see beyond it - beyond myself.

We went to the zoo while we stayed there and it was enjoyable.

The resort is beautiful with spacious, well appointed suites and very fine service. It is a shame, however, that a resort of this quality, caters to families with young children. I found it difficult to find a quiet place to read. Children run up and down the halls, stand on the furniture, and are constantly up from their seets in the dining hall. The main dining room is very noisy with a kids buffet and play kitchen set up next to it. The prices, however, are in keeping with a fine restaurant. If you eat there, ask to sit in the back room. I would stay there again if there were specific "family" dining times for those with young children and if the staff would ask guests, with young children, to remove them if they misbehave.
The experience may be more favorable off season.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!!! Beautiful location, clean rooms which were beautifully decorated, amazing front desk team and wonderful valets and bellmen. Highly recommended. By the way....they have a "quiet pool" around the back where no children are allowed. This is my favorite Four Seasons property.

My wife surprised me with a trip to FS Aviara late in February as a B-day present.

The resort makes for a nice getaway from LA.

We have been most recently to the FS Costa Rica (see my review), which we loved, and thus had high hopes for this property.

Overall, the food was great, the room was tidy and comfortable, and the service was great. Not a fantastic as FS Costa Rica but good none the less.

Read below for more details on the good and the bad:

Good:

The food: We had dinner at Vivace and its was so good. Anyone in Carlsbad or San Diego should try the cuisine. Really fresh italian.

The spa: Very small but well kept and service oriented. Nice place to unwind and get pampered. They have a nice lounge to relax before treatments.

The pools: Just the right temperature and prompt service. However, really ugly view of land being commerically developed.

Rooms: Are room was on the 4th floor. It was big enough and had a view of the pool and mountains. It had a nice balcony which we had lunch on. The bed was so comfortable.

Very close to LA but far enough that it seems like a getaway.

Cons:

There are alot of kids at this resort. I understand that families need a place to have fun, but often these kids spoiled the quiet and relaxation. This is the main drawback to the resort.

At breakfast, kids were running around the restaraunt and crying and fussing. At the pool, kids are running and laughing even at the so called quiet pool.

This is not to say that the place is overrun with crying children. Just that alot of families come here to relax and to expect it.