Grand Magazine - September/October 2008 - (Page 61)

Legoland’s new Land of Adventure includes a camel created entirely in Lego bricks. Left to right: Ken and Donie Stone; Darin, Lorna and Summer Adams. Summer and Donie soar through the air on this exciting flying ride, featuring a LEGO brick model of a female pilot inspired by Amelia Earhart. “I heard my daughter say, ‘Grammy’s on the phone; do you want to talk?’ And Julia said, ‘No thanks.’ I told Ken, ‘She’s forgotten us, Kenny. She has forgotten us.’ I was miserable.” Not interested in becoming anonymous to their grandchildren, Donie and Ken began to play closer to home and, sometimes, taking the family along for the ride. One memorable trip for all generations was to Legoland, in Carlsbad, California, 40 minutes north of San Diego. Legoland has blossomed into a mecca for the under-12 set. With her cousin busy with year-end studies, 5-year-old Summer scored the special grandparent weekend. Legoland is to Lego aficionados what the Louvre is to art lovers. Imagine more than 40 rides and attractions all created in Lego bricks and Lego colors, intricate Lego miniature replicas of every city and monument on planet Earth (standing ovation to the creators) and stations to build your own, say, Lego Eiffel Tower, should the mood so strike. Several water play structures are sprinkled throughout the park, with the centerpiece being an enormous pirate ship meant for drenching any giggling matey who ventures too near. “We didn’t know what to expect, and I’m not crazy about some of those theme parks,” says Ken. “But Legoland was great. They couldn’t tear me away from the shooting water cannons. I was saying to the boats floating by, ‘I’m gonna git you!’ Summer and I loved it.” But wait, there’s more: Ready for some chilling out, Donie and Ken and Summer popped over to nearby La Costa, in Encinitas. Yes, your memory serves. Once known as a hangout for the Dean Martin/Frank Sinatra Rat Pack, La Costa has morphed from an oasis for adults into a luxurious playtime landscape for all ages. The $140 million redo now sports a pool with a sandy beach entrance, three industrial-size water slides, and an elaborate Kidtopia with activities and games galore for children from 6 months to 12 years. “They even had a nice kids menu,” says Donie. “Summer said, ‘Ohhh,’ when she saw her fancy hot dog with fries cut like stars and the pineapple cut in cute shapes.” Several thousand calories later, grands can burn some energy at La Costa’s elaborate fitness center, tennis courts or golf course. As long as kids are accompanied by an adult, they’re welcome, too. (Teens must have a driver’s license for the cart-only golf course or must have an adult along to drive.) And, if you’re devoted to all things tranquil, head to the Spa at La Costa. “It sounds corny,” Donie says, “but I floated out after the Lomi Lomi massage and didn’t have a touch of insomnia the entire time.” Post-massage, Donie and Ken shared a bottle of wine poolside and watched Summer swim. G What’s not to love? legoland Carlsbad, California 760-918-5346 Tickets range from $49.95/kids to $59.95/ adults for one-day admission. www.lego.com/legoland la Costa ResoRt & spa encinitas, California 800-854-5000 For great prices visit La Costa in the offmonths of late October to early December. Winter holidays are packed, but all is quiet off and on again in the spring. You’ll find heated pools and great prices, but no crowds, over the Columbus Day weekend, when rooms will dip to $199 to $250 per night. Also, check the Web site often. Those in the know say tempting rates pop up and down with speed. www.lacosta.com SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2008 GRAND 61 http://www.lego.com/legoland http://www.lacosta.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grand Magazine - September/October 2008

Grand Magazine- September/October 2008 Grand View:�Priceless Contents Isn't it Grand?: Picture Perfect Winners!: GRANDparent of the Year Grand Central Toddler Town:�Grand-proofing Ask Grand:�Two Tired Tips on Teens: The Bar Mitzvah Trips Just So We Know:�BPA Not Our BFF Full House-Full Heart-Full Time:�Confessions of a Backyard Grand Grandbloggers: It Takes a Village Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Family + Food = Fun On the Cover: Nora Roberts A Fine Romance Everything Was Fine Until You Showed Up Happy Big Sister Day Looking Grand:�Elementary, My Dear All in the Family:�Pasta, Present and Future Reunions:�Doubleheader Inspirations:�Grandpa's Violin Grand Bazaar More to the Story Grand Finale:�Long Ago Under the Sun

Grand Magazine - September/October 2008

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