“So, is everything at LEGOLAND® California made out of LEGO® bricks?” This is probably the most frequently asked question I get about the Park.
The long short answer is, “NO, not everything is made of LEGO bricks, but you will be amazed at what IS made out of bricks.” Each time I visit, I see something new I’ve never seen before and am even more amazed than the time before.
Here is a list of my top five favorite models at LEGOLAND California:
1) Albert Einstein: Just to the right of the entrance, as you enter the Imagination Zone, there is a gigantic replica of Albert Einstein’s world-renowned mug emerging from the LEGO Hero Factory. Einstein is made of over a million standard gray bricks and was one of the first large scale models in the Park.
2) New York Skyline: This concrete-jungle–turned-plastic-brick marvel is a must see! The mini “Big Apple” has all of the typical New York City sites including cab congestion, street corner hot dog vendors and a glorious replica of the Statue of Liberty made entirely of LEGO bricks.
3) Volvo: This model makes me want to buy a Volvo, no lie. Be sure to check it out when you’re in Fun Town. Most people I show it to think that it’s a real car at first glance.
A little inside scoop: Though the inside of the Volvo model is hollow, with nothing resembling the interior of a car, the model builders hung some fuzzy LEGO dice where the rear view mirror would go for their own inside joke.
4) Elsie the Elephant: One of the first models you’ll see as you enter the Park, and also a great Photo Op to send to the grandparents, is Elsie the Elephant. She resides in the lagoon, spurts water out of her trunk and makes that cool trumpet noise that only elephants can make. My kids ask to stop and wave at Elsie each time we visit the Park. They think she spurts water out just for them.
5) The Mariachi Band: Growing up here in San Diego, so close to the US/Mexico border, Mariachi music has a special place in my heart. This trio of animated models, located in Fun Town, makes me want to eat some tacos and dance around a sombrero, not necessarily in that order. Ole!
What are your favorite models in the Park?