Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Love LEGOS?

I don't know about you, but I love LEGOS. I know I am a grown man (and then some), but there is just something about them. Once I start noodling with 'em, the hours just click on by.

Hey, did you know that the LEGO was created in Denmark in 1949? Yeah, they were based on a very similar English-made interlocking block, but took the form we all know today under the direction of Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter and toy-maker from Billund. According to their website, the name LEGO was coined by Christiansen from the Danish phrase "leg godt" meaning "play well". The modern LEGO brick was patented in 1958. If you have blocks from that era (I do), they will work seamlessly with today's systems. So a grandfather and his grandchildren can "play well" together using a system that spans generations. Try that with your Atari.

If you are a LEGO lover, or have young children, I strongly suggest a trip to LEGOLand in Carlsbad, CA. The original LEGOLand was first conceived in Denmark by Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, the son and heir of the original LEGO creator. He envisioned it as a simple outdoor space to demonstrate the many wondrous constructions that can be made using only LEGOs. What started as a simple 9-acre "display garden" is now celebrating its 40th anniversary, and includes locations in four countries. But the 128-acre site in Carlsbad is my personal favorite. Opened in 2009, it is the only LEGOLand to feature a water park. It also has some small roller coasters and rides, but the primary focus is on children and what can be created with LEGOs. Dino Island, for example, is a mini roller coaster that weaves among massive dinosaurs constructed from LEGOs, while Fun Town features actual vehicles made from LEGOs which children get to drive on a closed course. Are you kidding me? Where was this stuff when I was a kid?! And Miniland USA features miniature dioramas of seven regions of the USA, made from over 40 million LEGOs!

When you go to LEGOLand, you will have a choice of great timeshare rentals in the Carlsbad area. The Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara and Grand Pacific MarBrisa Resort are both rated 5-stars by RedWeek.com members. And none of the area's timeshare resorts are less than 4-stars, according to our members. I am staying at the beautiful Grand Pacific Palisades Resort. In addition to great access to LEGOLand, it is right next to Carlsbad's famous flower fields. From mid-March through early-May these fields are awash with row-upon-row of every color of flower you can imagine. Just gorgeous. Plus it has all of the other amenities you expect from a great timeshare resort and never get from hotels: clubhouse, separate children's pool, playground, laundry room, etc. Plus, all of the units come with full-sized kitchens to help you save money on meals.

Of course my trip to Carlsbad is not purely for entertainment. You see, there is a worldwide community of people who set and break records involving LEGO constructions. For example, the largest LEGO Christmas tree is housed in Carlsbad and is 30 feet tall and 16 feet around! That will never fit in my house, so I instead have my eyes on the largest LEGO ship record. Some school kids from Switzerland hold the record with a container ship model that is just over 25 feet long. With some serious rearranging, I think I can fit the record breaker in my basement. Now I just need to figure out where I am going to score a half a million LEGOs.

2 comments:

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  2. I hope you enjoyed your trip. Too bad the weather here has been so dreary lately. I've got a "staycation" lined up next summer for another Grand Pacific Resort in San Diego called the Coronado Beach Resort.

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