Legoland Summer 2016

I had the pleasure of enjoying a 5-day trip to Legoland this past week.  Our school district got out earlier than a lot of them this year, which means we got to enjoy the sunshine without as many crowds.

We stayed at the Hyatt House in Carlsbad this time in a 2 queen studio suite.  There were 2 beds, a couch, a work space, a bathroom with a tub (perk as a parent of little ones), and a small kitchen with a full refrigerator.  Overall, it was a very pleasant stay.  We were on the top floor, pool side.  There was very minimal if any noise, which meant a peaceful night for the whole family.  The beds were extremely comfortable.  The free breakfast at this hotel is also among the better breakfasts I've seen in hotels recently.  In addition to the waffles, pastries, and usual breakfast meats, they offered 2 choices of eggs each day (with or without vegetables), potatoes, a few different cereals, fruits, and more. 

Legoland was, as usual, lovely if you have little kids. Not much for us adults, but it's still great to see the kids' faces light up.  This time, we experienced the new Ninjago area.  The ride is exceptional for Legoland and very similar to Toy Story Midway Mania at Disneyland, except instead of using a shooter, you simply aim and shoot using hand motions.  Extremely fun and entertaining.

We also happened to be at Legoland for Star Wars Weekend this year.  It's definitely worth going if you are a huge Star Wars fan like we are.  While it was not planned, it was a very happy surprise.  People from I am assuming the 501st Legion and other Star Wars groups came dressed for photo opportunities.  Music from the movies was playing and there were little events set up in various areas.  It added a certain element which Legoland usually lacks for me.  I'm sort of curious if they will be able to continue this weekend event once Star Wars Land opens at Disneyland in a few years.  Only time will tell.

The Sea Life Aquarium was another treat we hadn't explored before.  While it's a small aquarium and nothing compared to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, it is a cute place for kids to explore sea life.  We especially enjoyed seeing the lego theming throughout.  

As a sidenote, I finally tried the Ramen at Legoland.  It probably wasn't the best ramen in the world, but it was some darned good soup.  Something different and relatively healthy (or at least healthy feeling compared to hot dogs and pizza).  Give it a try the next time you go.