LEGOLANDFor Kids of All Agesby Toni DabbsDon't believe everything you might have heard about the new Legoland theme park in Carlsbad, California: it isn't just for children between the ages of two and 12 years. Four of us � all middle aged and older � who recently toured the complex thoroughly enjoyed it.
However, we also liked Water Works, an interactive fountain playground, where visitors can set Duplo block animals in motion by accurately aiming sprays of water: an elephant flaps its ears; a monkey swings its arms; a hippo yawns; a giraffe extends its neck for a drink; and an alligator opens its mouth and then quickly snaps it shut. California's Legoland, which opened on March 20, 1999, is the third such theme park in the world and the first in the United States. The original opened in 1968 in Billund, Denmark � Lego's corporate headquarters. A second park followed in 1996 in Windsor, England. The California version occupies 128 acres and features 40 rides, shows and attractions, as well as restaurants and shops, spread among six theme areas. More than 30 million Lego bricks were used to create the park's 5,000 figures, which include a 15-foot-high face of Albert Einstein and a 19-foot-tall T-Rex. At a small factory in Fun Town, visitors can watch an injection molding machine creating actual Lego bricks and then can participate in product safety and quality control testing. Fun Town also has a Driving School, where kids can demonstrate their road skills in their own little electric cars, and a Skipper School, where they can attempt to navigate boats through a series of canals.
And what would a theme park be without a roller coaster? In the Castle Hill section of Legoland, The Dragon coaster plunges visitors into a dungeon, where its fire-breathing namesake guards the crown jewels, then whisks them out of the castle for a scenic ride through a Medieval landscape. Adding to the appeal of Legoland is its garden-like setting � winding waterways, grassy lawns and tree-shaded walks. Landscaping includes 5,000 trees plus 250,000 shrubs and other plants. Special attention also has been given to kid-sized details, such as restaurant menu boards posted at lower levels and restroom facilities on a smaller scale. And for those who want to try to reconstruct some of the park's Lego models at home, on-site shops allow them to add to their supply of the colorful plastic bricks. ContactLegoland California courtesy of Legoland Copyright 1999 by Toni Dabbs. The author has granted one-time rights only. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from the author is prohibited. |
|
TM
Admittedly, what we liked best might not be what most interests the pre-schoolers. Our favorite part was Miniland, 1:20 scale models of five areas of the United States � a New England harbor, New York City, Washington DC, New Orleans, and the California coast � constructed from 20 million Lego bricks.
Other self-propelled rides include the Sky Cycle and the Kid Power Tower. The Sky Cycle gives guests a different perspective of the park as they pedal their way around an elevated monorail track. The Kid Power Tower allows guests to raise the seat in which they're sitting 30 feet, using a cable system, and then release it for an exhilarating free fall back to the bottom.