Legoland
LEGOLAND
Carlsbad
Legoland California is a 128-acre amusement park in the northern San Diego County community of Carlsbad with more than 60 rides, shows, attractions and a water park.
The SD Experience
LEGOLAND California is about a 45-minute drive or train ride from downtown San Diego. It is ideal for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages and particularly families with kids under the age of 12. So it was great when my cousins with young kids came for a visit, so I could check this out. I was very impressed with the 30,000+ LEGO models at the park created from more than 62-million LEGO bricks. The park is split into nine sections, which are: The Beginning, Explorer Island, Heartlake City, Fun Town, Castle Hill, Miniland USA, Imagination Zone, Pirate Shores, and Land of Adventure. A Sea Life aquarium is adjacent to Legoland California. In 2010, a water park opened on its grounds and was expanded in 2014.
Miniland USA
As an adult, my favorite section is Miniland USA. This is a 1:20 scale model miniature park featuring prominent architecture and symbols from seven areas in the United States. Certain models are visible throughout the Legoland park. It was constructed over the course of three years using more than 20 million LEGO bricks. The Coast Cruise ride, which departs from Miniland USA, travels through the lake in the center of Legoland. The lake covers 1.73 acres.
Miniland includes the Model Shop, the main design and building office for Legoland's US parks. A large viewing window allows guests to watch master model builders working on new models. Repairs and refurbishment of existing models are also conducted in the Model Shop.
Certain model builders have inserted incongruous scenes into the Miniland vignettes, including a businessman mooning the presidential motorcade and a man using the toilet in the Grand Central Station model. Miniland officials insist all such scenes are incorporated with full management knowledge and approval.
Fun Town
If you have kids, then I recommend spending time in Fun Town. My three year old cousin loves firetrucks and wants to be a fireman. So I loved seeing his eyes light up and the fun he had at the Police and Fire Academy. This is a competitive team attraction where groups propel a hand pumped truck in a race down a street, accomplish a task, and return. You can ride in either a fire truck or police car. I rode with my cousin (adults can go to help the little ones) in a fire truck. I worked the pump and he enjoyed the ride. Once we reached the end we jumped out and doused a simulated fire with our hose. We both had a blast! Those that rode the police car would knock down robbers at the end of the line instead of putting out a fire.
Other fun rides in Fun Town include the Sky Patrol where you you ride in a police, fire or medical LEGO helicopter that moves up and down and spins. The kids can control how high or whether to spin it. My cousins also enjoyed the Volvo Driving School
where children drive self-propelled LEGO cars on a closed circuit featuring multiple intersections, two way traffic and traffic signals. It is designed to promote safe driving and skills. I think my cousins may need a few more lessons though! It was so cute.