Legoland: Too Many Bucks, Too Little Blocks
We recently visited Legoland in Carlsbad, California (just north of San Diego), and the results were a bit mixed. Kind of like nuts.
The good: It is all about Legos, which are, obviously, awesome. The bad: the rides are awful. The majority of rides are geared towards children under the age of six, because personal experience has shown that Lego-obsessed kids around 8-years-old were barely able to hold back a yawn. Sure, it’s great that the younger kids have fun — it’s for them, I get it, but there should be something for kids of other ages, not to mention an occasional block thrown to the adults.
The good: The park itself is quite beautiful. Most of the walkways are wide and clean, and the landscaping is lush and pleasant. The bad: The lines are really long and do not have any sort of theme or interactive components that might keep kids occupied or entertained.
The good: The food served is pretty tasty by theme park standards. The bad: The food is expensive, which is to be expected, but the admission is really expensive — it’s not much cheaper than a day at Disneyland, and it offers about a tenth (if that) of the experience.
The good: It’s close to the ocean. The bad: You actually need to have something else to do, because there isn’t enough to do in the park to last a full day, and even if there was Legoland closes on most days before the sun sets (that includes stores and dining, when they say they’re closed they aren’t messing around).
The good: The Star Wars exhibit is really cool. The bad: It’s basically a museum of things to look at, which would be fine IN A MUSEUM. It’s a theme park about Legos featuring Star Wars things created with Legos, offer something for kids to do that combines the two. Peanut butter and chocolate, people.
We wanted to like Legoland. My wife and I love the San Diego area. Our whole family loves Legos — seriously, there are an embarrassing amount of Legos in our house. We had a fun time at Legoland, but that was despite the park, not because of it. We were on vacation and we made the most of it. Also, we wouldn’t talk bad about something that the kids were enjoying, however, even they noticed the park’s many shortcomings, and when we asked them if they were ready to leave they didn’t hesitate to say “yes.” That’s never a good sign.
Photo: W. Honea
Disneyland’s Pirate Island is Swashbuckelin’ Fun
Just across from New Orleans Square in Disneyland is an island that be circled by ship and canoe, or reached via ferry. It used to be all about Tom Sawyer, but now it is about Tom Sawyer and his encounter with the pirates. There are caves to explore, treasure to plunder, and interactive skeleton fun (don’t worry, not your skeleton).
It’s a great place to let kids run wild and burn off some energy — just make sure you have a place to meet should you become separated, and understand that there is only one way on and off of the island.
Have fun!
This post is part of the Uptake Family Friday Series.
Photo: Whit Honea
Website Offers Highway Based Hotel Critiques
There are literally thousands of hotel review websites on the Internet today but one website offers a twist. SleepCritique.com, let’s you search for a great room by choosing the highway you’ll be traveling on. Hotels can be sorted by Interstate so, for example travelers using I-95 can immediately check out reviews along that route.
The website also includes individual hotel ratings based on value, location, amenities, rooms and service. Google maps and color photos are also shown. It’s a great resource and worth a look if you’ve got an upcoming trip this summer. Visit SleepCritique.com
Disneyland Birthday Party!
Little boys and birthdays are full of fun and cake. That’s a fact. Nowhere is this more evident than a Disneyland birthday celebration at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Seriously, go there and see for yourself if you don’t believe me. There is cake everywhere.
We took our now 6-year-old bundle of joy and adrenaline to a Disney character breakfast at Storytellers Cafe in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. The hotel is awe-inspiring. The breakfast was fantastic. I love it when that happens.
We bought the buffet, which was fresh, amply stocked, and moved along quickly (unless you waited for a personal omelet, but that’s all you). The buffet was just under $24 per person for adults and slightly under $12 for kids. Smaller kids (0-2) are free.
The breakfast was hosted by Chip and Dale, of Chip and Dale fame, and with some of their other Disney animal friends they visited each table in turn and spent a good amount of time with each child (and adults, too).
Then came singing and cake (an optional addition for $15.99 of a pirate treasure chest or princess-themed box filled with said cake), and the smiles were worth every penny. And then some.
We went into Disneyland full and happy, first stop was Town Hall on Main Street, U.S.A. for free birthday buttons and a character phone call, then it was into the magic and the memories made there.
My son said it was the best birthday ever. I am inclined to believe him.
There is a character breakfast in each of the Disneyland Resort Hotels and one in each park (Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure). Reservations are recommended (call (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463). If you are celebrating a special occasion let the host or server know.
Speaking of special occasions, Town Hall has buttons for everything — anniversaries, first visit, birthdays, button wearers… you name it!
We paid for our own stay on Disney property, park ticket admission, and buffet. Disney was kind enough to provide the birthday pirate chest for the purpose of this review. Opinions are my own (and everyone that was with us).
Photo by W. Honea
Groovy Brews In The City By The Bay
A trip last year to San Francisco for the Craft Brewers Conference gave me an opportunity to explore the city’s bustling craft beer scene and I took full advantage of it. Meeting many of the brewers from the area gave me new places to check out. Stopping by the famed Anchor Brewing Co, as well as hidden gem Beach Chalet, was phenomenal.
When most folks think of San Francisco, they get visions of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grateful Dead, Alcatraz Island, riding the trolley into Fisherman’s Wharf and the smoke filled hippie days of the late 1960?s. Smack dab in the middle of these wonders of the West Coast, in San Francisco’s famed Haight-Ashbury district, sits Magnolia Pub and Brewery.
Photo Courtesy of iNeTours
After a day of walking around Fisherman’s Wharf and strolling through Golden Gate park, it was time for a quick visit at Magnolia before the evening events related to the Craft Brewers Conference. I stopped in with a couple of friends and quickly found a seat at the bar. After ordering their Robust Porter named after American songwriter, Cole Porter, we had the chance to take in the atmosphere. Magnolia’s decor will strike you as a mixture of a neighborhood pizza parlor and the psychedelic vibes of the Grateful Dead. Deep mahogany colored tables, benches and walls make up most of the place, with plenty of murals doused in psychedelic colors. Peeking out from the kitchen area I could even see the brewing equipment. The decor was not as surprising when I found out that the Dead were, founder and Brewmaster Dave McLean’s, favorite band. In fact, McLean credits his intro to craft beer to the times he tried it at Dead concerts.
Although food wasn’t in the cards for us that day, I had noticed the extensive lunch and dinner menus available. Regret is what I felt once we left for not having tried their Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwich, or their Short Rib French Dip, for everyone I noticed seemed to be tripping on the flavors of the food they’d ordered.
Look at those taps!
Although it was quite crowded while we were there, you wouldn’t have known if it ever fazed any of the wait staff or bartenders. The servers were whizzing in and out of the kitchen bringing in orders and taking them out, while the bartenders expertly poured every beer, both without missing a beat. My only regret was not bring able to talk with McLean, or Head Brewer Ben Spencer, to thank them for the tasty brews and the great atmosphere in which to enjoy them.
A trip back to San Francisco is definitely in the future.
Valentine’s Day Family Getaways
Of Mice and Moments
Sure, Valentine’s Day is more about romance of the couples variety — and it’s on a Tuesday, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the excuse of a candy-filled holiday to take a mini-vacation. Am I right?
Personally, I’m a fan of the family theme park outing. Disneyland and Walt Disney World (dinner at Victoria and Albert’s, anyone?) always have something up their, um, glove(?) for Valentine’s Day, which means fun for the whole family. What? Disney is totally romantic.
If theme parks aren’t your thing how about a cabin stay in one of our many state and national parks? It may be brisk out, but a few hours of hiking or mountain biking will warm up the family in no time.
Of course, there is always the option of getting a babysitter and, hopefully, a reservation at some restaurant with a special holiday menu (see, pricy) and being one more sucker in a suit — don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that, but why wait until Valentine’s Day to do it? Go out on any Tuesday, it will be less crowded and a lot more meaningful. Spend Valentine’s Day with the entire family, that’s the love, people.
Photo by W. Honea
Go West, Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the enormously popular and magical addition to Orlando’s Universal Studios Resort, is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. It’s like Manifest Destiny for wizards and the muggles that love them (you know who you are).
Don’t worry, Florida, your version of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is going to be significantly expanded. It is unclear if the new Hollywood version will include the pending Orlando expansions.
From the good people at Universal Studios:
“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be as impressive as what has been created in Orlando – and is expected to transform tourism in Los Angeles for decades to come. It will be a fully immersive environment for the entire family that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life and is faithful to the visual landscape of the films, including a majestic Hogwarts castle to serve as the centerpiece of the themed environment. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood will be created with the same commitment to authenticity and the same level of talent and resources as its Orlando counterpart.”
From the good person that created Harry Potter, author J.K. Rowling:
“I am delighted that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been so popular with fans since the opening in Orlando last year and I am sure that the teams at Universal and Warner Bros. will bring their expertise and attention to detail to Hollywood to make this new experience equally as exciting.”
I’m pretty excited about the news. I haven’t been to the Orlando version (there’s a story there), but I live in L.A. and that increases my chances of visiting by about a billion percent (give or take).
Now who do I talk to about getting a Hollywood version of the Spider Man ride?
Have you been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? What do you think?
Photo Credit: Kevin Kolczynski, Universal Orlando Resort
Travel Back in Time At L.W. Paul Living History Farm
A farmer volunteer guide at the living history farm.
Farming is the foundation of American history but sadly, farms are quickly disappearing from the daily landscape of the typical American experience. Generations of kids are growing up without a clear understanding of where their food comes from and how it’s produced. The L.W. Paul Living History Farm provides an active example of how small, one-horse family farms operated generations ago.
cotton fields
Located a few miles outside of Myrtle Beach in Horry County, SC, the L.W. Paul Living History Museum offers opportunities to witness and participate in centuries -old farm activities like cotton picking, grinding sugarcane and grits and syrup making. A popular weekend excursion, crowds of families were strolling the 17 acre farm when I visited.
Each season brings new activities so I observed fall activities like meat curing and grinding grits. The grits mill was a community machine that farmers would use together and give some of their corn as payment. Another area featured clothes dying, where women used plants to make dyes. Black walnut was used for brown, madderoot for red and acorn for a yellow shade. Mules plowed fields and tobacco was hung up in small shacks to dry.
The L.W. Paul Living History Museum showcases such an authentic farming experience that it was featured in the movies “Cold Mountain” and “The Patriot”. Admission is free and hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9-4PM. For a little more elegant relaxation after so rustic an experience, head to Tilghman Beach & Golf Resort and enjoy panoramic views of the beach in two or three bedroom luxury condos.
Photos courtesy of Rosalind Cummings-Yeates
Family Fun on New Year’s Eve
Christmas may be over, but that doesn’t mean the holidays are! New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and there is lots of fun to be had (please drink responsibly).
While New Orleans would be awesome, it may not be quite as family-friendly as New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Sure, both have beads and Dixie, but one has less public nudity (Disneyland). So there’s that. (And you can buy drinks at Disney’s California Adventure or Downtown Disney)
However you spend New Year’s Eve, make it safe for everyone. Don’t drink and drive!
Photo: Disneyland Resort
Holiday Fun at Disneyland Resort
When you think of Disneyland you probably think of magic. That’s because they have a great PR team. Also, magic. Christmas brings to mind similar thoughts, but with more sugarplums. See where I’m going here?
The holidays at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA are as magical as you could possibly hope for. Whether it’s meeting Santa in person, seeing your favorite Disney characters dressed in their holiday best, or catching the festive parade, fireworks and other events, there is Disney-wrapped Christmas fun throughout the resort (that includes Disneyland, the Disney hotels, Downtown Disney and Disney’s California Adventure).
But that’s not all!
There are also holiday versions of two classic attractions! The Haunted Mansion features the gang from The Nightmare Before Christmas, putting their touch on the season, and Small World gets a different tune stuck in your head — Jingle Bells has never sounded so happy. For so long. And the lights!
There is also snowfall nightly in Disneyland. It appears right as the fireworks end. Don’t ask me how they do it, sometimes it is best not to know.
And then there is the food. Holiday touches are everywhere, and there is something for the whole family. I’ll let you discover that part on your own (it’s more fun that way).
The holidays at Disneyland Resort run through January 8, 2012 (it’s a great place to spend New Year’s Eve!).
My family and I were treated to a preview of Disneyland Resort’s holiday magic. It was fantastic, as you can probably imagine. The day was on them, the opinions are all me.
All photos courtesy of Disneyland Resort