LEGOLAND California

Maybe the best theme park in California for children not called “Disneyland”.

What if I told you that there is an amazing theme park in California aimed exclusively at children? No, I’m not talking about Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm, but LEGOLAND, an amazing destination for families that is getting more and more popular as the years go by. Seriously, a lot of children compare this theme park to the house of Mickey and Friends. It’s that good, and if you have children aged 3 to 10, you should definitely start packing your LEGOs and come here.

If you are planning to go to Disney, Universal or SeaWorld, you should definitely come here. LEGOLAND California is located 30 minutes north of San Diego and about 70 minutes from Disneyland, so you might want to stay at a local LEGOLAND hotel to save time. Yes, there are two official LEGOLAND hotels that grant you some great perks. No, they are not made out of LEGO.

LEGOLAND has over 55 attractions designed specifically for young kids, plus a separate water park and a Sea Life Aquarium right next door. So, not only do you have access to a ton of kid friendly rides, but you can pay a little bit more to enjoy some water rides during the summer and visit a pretty nice aquarium to check out whales, sharks and all kinds of fish. Yes, these are real animals and no one bought the special “20000 pieces LEGO Stingray” to build these beauties in a day.

Standard 1 day tickets start at $89, though prices change based on season. Peak times like Christmas and summer holidays cost more than off season periods like September. Still, LEGOLAND California is always cheaper than a visit to Disneyland or Universal, which is pretty great for your wallet. Here's a quick tip: the basic ticket only covers the theme park itself. The water park requires the Park Hopper option, so take that into consideration if it is the middle of the California summer and you are melting. The Sea Life Aquarium costs $25 if you want to just go there, and it’s definitely something new and cool for kids to see.

The water park only opens during summer and special dates, so it’s a good idea to check if it’s actually open before buying special tickets. The water park is pretty nice, and it’s actually larger than the LEGOLAND Florida water park, with more slides, splash areas and playgrounds. A lot of people even buy a 2 day ticket and dedicate one full day to the water park.

If you want an amazing theme park for children, LEGOLAND California is an amazing option. It doesn’t get crowded, the prices are very affordable and there are a ton of great ride options for kids. In fact, a lot of these rides can be testing grounds for your children to try the more intense rides at Disneyland or Universal later on. Pack your bags and get ready to explore a truly underrated theme park, you will thank us later.