Photo courtesy of Legoland New York
With rides and interactive experiences galore, the new Legoland park and hotel is a must for families in the Hudson Valley.
My husband, two daughters (ages 5 and 3) and I were among the first to experience Legoland New York this past summer — and we had a blast. The park offers plenty of rides and excitement for a day trip but if your kids love Legos and theme parks, I recommend booking a night for full Lego immersion.
The hotel is a party from the moment you walk in the door. Characters greet you upon arrival, and love to pose for selfies (they also keep everyone entertained in the hotel’s two dining rooms). The fun continues as you head to your room — which are thoughtfully designed to offer privacy for parents, with a king-size bed on one side, bunk beds for the children on the other, and a bathroom in the center.
Rooms are themed (of course). We stayed in the Castle; the other options are Pirate, Ninjago, and Lego Friends. Each has a play area, and the TVs are preloaded with all four Lego movies, which thrilled my girls.
We started our day with a two-minute stroll to Brick Street, one of seven themed areas featuring entertainment that caters to both little ones and pre-teens. Next was Bricktopia, which is ideal for building enthusiasts who want to hone their skills. We moved on to Miniland, where we marveled at the models of U.S. landmarks and enjoyed the interactive experiences. By then we were ready to cool off at Lego Pirates water rides. The other three “lands” are Lego City, where kids can earn their license on racecourses and train to be American heroes like fire fighters, police officers, and coast guard officers; Lego Castle with its Dragon rollercoaster; and Lego Ninjago World where, you guessed it, children go through ninja training!
