LEGOLAND California Hotel

More than just a convenient place to rest near the park, a stay at the hotel is like a 24/7 Lego life. Upon arrival, a brightly-colored clock tower complete with a giant green dragon made of tiny plastic bricks tells you what time it is -- it's LEGO time, all the time here. Inside, a kind of Lego sandbox awaits filled with thousands of the tiny bricks along with the children who are playing with and stepping on them. Behind the front desk, a wall of 5,000 Lego figures make up a colorful mosaic. A life-sized Lego figure rides back and forth on a bike with magnifying glasses for wheels so interested parties can get a better look. In summary, Legos are everywhere. 

Two-dimensional depictions of characters are featured prominently throughout the hotel, especially on the carpets. Real plastic Legos sit in small light boxes embedded into the floors and there's a long continuous trail under clear plastic that winds throughout the property. Many Legos are scattered underfoot by children who removed them from play bins.

It's paradise for kids and any dedicated fans of the brand, while fun and playful enough to win over some others. This is not the place, however for a couple's retreat or a business meeting, and though everyone is here to visit the adjoining theme park, admission is not included in the hotel's rates. Though well-maintained, any property with this volume of children eating and playing will have some lingering stickiness, and those sensitive to cleanliness issues should be forewarned. 

Within the resort grounds at the entrance of LEGOLAND, the hotel is ideally located for a visit to the theme park. The venue is also close to Carlsbad Flower Fields as well as Crossings Golf Course, both on either side of the resort, and it's about a 12-minute drive to downtown Carlsbad's shops and restaurants. This seaside community came into the spotlight when LEGOLAND California opened in 1999, but it is still a fairly quiet place close to several beaches, golf courses, and lagoons. It’s about a 40-minute drive to downtown San Diego, and over 90 minutes to Los Angeles International Airport.

The 250 rooms here all have the same layout -- a small kids’ room with bunk beds and a larger bedroom for adults -- but their decor comes in three distinct Lego styles depending on which of the three floors they're on. First-floor rooms continue the trend set by the hotel's dragon and castle playground, with a kingdom theme heavy on heraldry, knights, and magic. Ivy creeps down the stone-walled wallpaper, with regal bedding and unfurled banners declaring "Ye Olde Adults Keep Out!" 

The second-floor rooms are pirate themed, designed to feel like the inside of a ship with carpets that look like a wooden deck strewn with treasure and wayward sea creatures. Eye-patch wearing Lego characters brandish booty and sabers amid walls decorated with skulls and crossbones. The third floor features "Indiana Jones"-inspired adventure themes, with room decor loaded with lost artifacts, snakes, and Egyptian hieroglyphics. Beyond that, there are premium units for each category with a more thorough theme decor, but the standard rooms already lay it on thick. Each room has a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, and bucket of Legos for families to play with.

The entertainment starts upon arrival, with a brief treasure hunt where kids uncover clues that end in obtaining a key to the treasure chest in every room, with a Lego prize inside. The castle in the lobby doubles as a playground by day and a light entertainment venue at night, where staff members lead activities and performances. There are also daily building contests where kids get the chance to explore their blossoming architectural skills. LEGOLAND characters greet newcomers and make regular visits to on-site meals, including the free breakfast buffet at Bricks Family Restaurant.Mini's Lounge has coffee and snacks as well as to-go options, and Skyline Cafe is moderately more adult-friendly with a full bar. The heated outdoor pool has soft Lego bricks that float and the hotel plays seasonal “Dive-in Movies” on the sun deck. Little details stand out too, with whoopee cushions incorporated into floors and elevators that turn into dance parties with spinning lights and disco music, making an already unique hotel more memorable for its youngest guests.