Legoland theme park in Carlsbad, California should be added to your vacation list, especially if you have kids. While our travel writers loved the park (and they're pushing senior citizens status), youngsters from ages "baby" to 10 seem suited for the games, the rides and primal art that surrounds you at this delightful theme park. 

Family friendly in every way, from the moment you arrive and observe the colorful, useful baby strollers, to the rental lockers, large bathrooms with low toilets and sinks for tiny tots, healthy fruit cups, milk and other items sold in the restaurants, to games, exhibits and shows designed for youngsters to enjoy, you know you've arrived at kids paradise. Smokers, leave your butts at the door. There's no smoking here!

OK, so maybe Disneyland has Legoland beat for attendance, but by no means do that mean that you should overlook Legoland Park.  For any adult who has ever built a Lego kit for a kid or helped them in the frustrating moments when they're over-challenged by the Lego rocket ship construction, this park's for you, too.  It's not just boys who these toys are geared for, though boys do especially well with them.  Girls dig right in and love Legoland, as do moms, dads, grandmothers, grandpas and just regular grown-ups.

LEGOLAND California features more than 50 rides, shows and attractions with new attractions and events constantly added. Pirates in a Splash Battle, Brave Knights for the Knights’ Tournament and Firefighters to put out fires at Fun Town Fire Academy are but a few of the shows that will keep kids on their toes.

What's especially appealing about Legoland is the location. Halfway between Orange County's Disneyland and SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland is a short distance from the beach and features superb weather and cool afternoon breezes to make the theme park pleasant.

On a recent trip to Legoland, we did something crazy. We went to Legoland to see the flamingos made out of Lego bricks, then went to San Diego Wild Animal Park 30 minutes distance to record the live flamingos in the throes of some major grooming efforts.