I went to Legoland for my kids, but I experienced true grown-up awe at Miniland USA. I guess I expected some things at Legoland to be made of Legos, but I was not prepared for the marvel of entire cityscapes rendered in millions of bricks.
Miniland USA was my favorite region of Legoland, well worth the price of entry all on its own. There were so many jaw-dropping structures that I didn't have time to appreciate them properly. The scale and attention to detail were truly incredible. I went through the Las Vegas strip, with hotels lining both sides of a walkway, and was charmed by the idea of a Lego replica of a Vegas replica of the Eiffel Tower (Legoland also boasts a larger Lego Eiffel Tower). The New York City skyline was crowded with iconic buildings, including One World Trade Center, the tallest Lego model in the country. (I wonder when Miniland debuted, because if it was around when Legoland opened in 1999, I wonder what Lego New York looked like in, say, October 2001.) San Diego was one of the newer additions, and it was breathtaking, comprehensive and alive with activity--my children loved the train running around the perimeter of the Lego city.
There were whole areas of Miniland I barely saw, as when my four-year-old ran through Washington D.C. and I snapped off a few shitty pictures with the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the White House in the background. I think I missed Los Angeles altogether, and will have to seek out the Lego Griffith Observatory and Grauman's Chinese Theatre next time I'm here.
I probably like Legos a little more than the average adult, but I can't imagine anyone shrugging off the wonders of Miniland USA. It's genuinely amazing, something I'll look forward to whenever I take my kids to Legoland. read more