Shopping at LEGOLAND

The name of the game at LEGOLAND California Resort is discovery and wonder. Everywhere you look, there is a playful use of LEGO bricks and rides with mechanically-themed whimsy, whether it’s at Driving School, where kids learn the ways of the road in LEGO-esque mini-cars, or Safari Trek, where riders drive animal-striped Jeeps to wind around a world of life-size giraffes, elephants, and tigers (all made of—you guessed it—LEGO bricks). At Fairy Tale Brook, climb aboard a whimsical boat shaped like a giant leaf to float past recreated scenes from classic stories such as The Three Little Pigs (whose brick house is made of, yes, plastic bricks).

For your child’s first roller-coaster experience, take a spin on tot-friendly Coastersaurus, billed as a “pink-knuckle” ride—enough for a thrill but not white-knuckle, I-want-to-go-home-now-mommy scary. Expect to get wet on rides like Splash Battle, where riders not only shoot water from their own ships, but can get fired upon by the water cannons powered by spectators.

Another water-themed attraction—albeit underwater—is the LEGO CITY: Deep Sea Adventure, which opened in 2018. Take a dive in a submarine and marvel at the more than 2,000 real sea animals, including sharks and stingrays, that thrive below the surface. You can even assist the LEGO minifigure treasure-seeking dive team in identifying such items as gems, pearls, and LEGO gold coins on the “sea” floor with a porthole touchscreen.

For some quieter downtime, take the behind-the-scenes factory tour, which shows how LEGO bricks are made, or let your little builders get creative in hands-on Duplo Play. And then there are the coasters. The two fastest ones are the still-fairly-mellow Technic, in the park’s Imagination Zone, and the free-wheeling Dragon (but even on these two rides, the height minimums are just 42 and 40 inches, respectively). For shortest lines, aim to get to the park early, head straight for furthest-away rides and attractions, then work your way back towards the entrance.

When it comes to mealtime and snacks, LEGOLAND definitely knows its audience. All over the park you’ll find restaurants and stands serving kid-friendly fare—lots of hamburgers, hot dogs, and an all-you-can-eat buffet at the Pizza & Pasta Buffet (for a welcome dose of greenery, there are also salads). 

But LEGOLAND also offers diverse, adult-friendly fare. In the Castle Hill section, feast like a king on the ribs and barbecue chicken at Knights’ Smokehouse BBQ. In the Ninjago section, choose from banh mi Vietnamese sandwiches on steamed bao buns. In the Heartlake City section of the park, snack on Nutella-slathered crepes. In the SeaLife Aquarium, the Ocean Journey Café offers gourmet macaroni and cheese, Angus beef sliders, and other fare—all locally sourced (and you don’t need to be attending the aquarium to eat there).

No matter what, save room for Granny’s Apple Fries, a LEGOLAND creation of Granny Smith apple slices cooked until tender and dusted with cinnamon and sugar. Dip them in the accompanying vanilla cream sauce for an extra treat. The fruit fries are available at Castle Hill.

Dietary restrictions in your family? Kids with nut allergies can find options at Burger Stop, Castle Burger or Fun Town's Urban Kitchen, while gluten-intolerant tummies can find options at The Garden Deli & Cafe, or stir-fry dishes at Wok ‘N’ Bowl Ramen.

Your little guy or gal may not yet own their first set of DUPLOs, but they’ll still be drawn into this fantasy world made from millions of miniature bricks. Gentler rides and play areas are delineated by a cuddly teddy bear on the park map. Kids can chug around on a pint-size choo-choo, “pilot” a plane six feet in the air or dig in the sand for dinosaur fossils. (Tip: Before you get to Carlsbad, check out the theme park's handy Know Before You Go page.)

Much of the magic is in Miniland USA, where you’ll find to-scale LEGO replicas of iconic landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Las Vegas Strip, and New York’s Central Park, where short attention spans will love searching for itty-bitty sunbathers or people practicing tai chi. That’s if you can peel your weensy Wookie away from the Star Wars attraction next door, where scenes from the films and cartoon have been painstakingly recreated. What could be more mind-blowing than the attention to detail here? The amount of bricks to make it all happen: more than 32 million.

For children five and under, DUPLO Playtown is a place to slide, climb, and explore playhouses and other interactive structures—which include a hospital, a barn, and a supermarket—decked out with buttons, games, and, of course, plenty of giant LEGO bricks. The LEGOLAND® Express Train Ride gently navigates hairpin turns as it chugs through a sprouting LEGO garden. It’s a great introduction to theme park fun for smaller kids just beginning to ramble around on their own. For older LEGO fans, DUPLO® Playtown has the impressively looming Kid Power Towers; kids and parents can ascend to the top for panoramic views of the park before “free falling” back to the ground.

LEGOLAND California makes things extra-lively for events and holidays throughout the year—whether it’s annual celebrations or special occasions, like a week highlighting a new Star Wars display in Miniland, or perhaps celebrating the enigmatic LEGO Batman. The Carlsbad theme park shows its national pride in July for its patriotic Red, White & Boom celebration, with games, dance contests, and early-evening fireworks for July 4. For Halloween, the goal is to entertain—not frighten—the smaller set. There’s a “Brick-Or-Treat” party Saturday nights leading up to Halloween, with special entertainment, costume contests, giant LEGO Halloween models, fireworks, and of course plenty of sweet treats.

At Christmastime, the park is aglow with twinkle lights and music. Marvel at the world’s largest all-LEGO Christmas tree (a cool fact, but how much competition does it have?), take a family photo with a life-sized LEGO Brick Santa and Reindeer, sing carols with elves, and stock up on LEGO brick gifts too. Come right after Christmas and you can take part in a family-friendly version of New Year’s Eve, with live music and a bedtime-friendly “brick drop” at 6 p.m. On special nights in December, add holiday fireworks and light shows to the mix.