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Theme Parks / Legoland / Theme Park Travel / San Diego Travel / → All Tags

Legoland Goes to the Dark Side with New Star Wars Miniland

Star Wars fans, you'll want to pack your lightsabers and head to Legoland in Carlsbad, California. The theme park will open a new Star Wars Miniland area on its grounds on March 31.

You will be able to see seven famous scenes from the Star Wars saga and one from the animated TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars made entirely of the colorful plastic building blocks. Plus, you can come dressed in your Luke Skywalker or Princess Leia costume and pose for pics with life-size Lego replicas of Chewbacca, Darth Vader and R2-D2.

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Water Parks / Theme Parks / Theme Park Travel / San Diego Travel / → All Tags

Legoland Makes a Splash with Its First Water Park

To kick off summer, Legoland did it up right, by opening the world's first Lego-themed water park. Legoland California is home to the new water playground, so you can cool off after tinkering with plastic pieces in the main park.

Since Legoland is a kiddie-centric destination, the 5.5-acre water park caters to the short set. While there are eight attractions in the park, the most distinctive element is a 45-foot-tall tower that looks constructed with building blocks. The park's four biggest slides originate from the tower.

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A Theme Park Christmas / Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Christmas / → All Tags

Celebrate The Season With Toys

Unlike the holiday connection they’re trying to make between Santa and Shamu down the road at SeaWorld, the people at Legoland know what two things really go together: Christmas and toys.

Each night through December, the world’s largest Lego Christmas tree will light up the park. The 30-foot tree is assembled from almost 250,000 Duplo blocks, and each evening they pick a park guest to do the lighting honors, so keep your eyes open for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The party at Legoland really gets bumping towards the end of the month. Starting on December 20, the park starts its annual Holiday Block Party--get it, block party?--with lights, music and nightly fireworks. And of course, there will be plenty of Lego toys to buy for under the probably-not-made-of-bricks tree at your place.

Related Stories:
· Legoland California [Official Site]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: eyeliam]

Celeb Travel / Heidi Klum / Legoland / → All Tags

Heidi Klum Does It For The Kids

Too much vacation! Heidi Klum's daughter Leni flops on the ground at Legoland in classic kid meltdown mode. But come on, you loved Legos yesterday!

Klum and her mom took her three kids to the Southern California amusement park over the weekend for 2-year-old Johan's birthday. While not as well known as the nearby Disneyland, Legoland is actually much better for kids because it's smaller--and for parents because compared to the house of Walt, the shopping opportunities are confined to one area. Plus, we're suckers for miniature cities.

Related Stories:
· California Legoland [Official Site]
· Legoland Coming To Dubai [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]

Theme Parks / Legoland / Aquariums / → All Tags

Theme Parks Travel: Swimming with the Fishies

On August 11, the newest theme park in the Legoland empire is set to throw open its doors in Carlsbad, California. The Sea Life Aquarium promises even more masterpieces of Lego engineering. The 36,000 square-foot aquarium will offer fun in the form of play zones, marine exhibits and, of course, Lego sculptures.

Royalty abounds at the park, as it will feature its own seahorse kingdom in addition to a 360-degree ring of stingrays. The headlining attraction will certainly be the 175,000-gallon ocean display that recreates the Lost City of Atlantis with a 10-foot statue of Poseidon, a seven-foot Lego submarine and 72 more models that share their home with live fish and sharks.

The new park does require a separate admission from the original Legoland across the way; this one is $19. It's certainly a welcome addition to the Southern California amusement park lineup--even though it offers a tribute to plastic pieces instead of plastic ears.

Related Stories:
· Sea Life Aquarium [Official Site]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: william.ward]

Museums / Music / → All Tags

To Do in SoCal: Dork Out on Big Band Music

The cool thing about Glenn Miller is that he's a (dead) man of the people. The famous big band leader had chops so slick, they slice through musicians' stubborn musical taste to this day. There is nothing cuter, or perhaps scarier, than a metalhead who's into Miller. The dude was no joke.

If you know anyone who's a fan, consider a visit to the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA, 35 miles north of San Diego. An exhibit featuring personal artifacts donated by Glenn Miller's family runs there until May 7, 2007. Even if it sounds a little dorky, admission is $5, so you don't have much to lose. Miller disappeared over the English Channel in 1944 and is suspected to have died in a plane crash.

[Photo: funcrunch]

Related Stories:
· Museum of Making Music [Official Site]
· Glenn Miller [All Music Guide]