SEA LIFE Aquarium at Legoland acquires 2 spotted eagle rays

New resident

In the murky depths of the giant main tank at Legoland California’s SEA LIFE Aquarium in Carlsbad (north of San Diego), you can make out two new residents – the inky black bodies with bright white spots, long tails and uniquely shaped snouts of eagle rays.  Eagle rays are extremely smart creatures that can actually be trained and these two are juveniles that may grow to have wingspans up to 8 feet long.

The eagle rays, which have very flexible rostrums, or noses, are being trained to recognize a small orange traffic cone in the water. Read More »

Aliso Beach

I’m a big fan of the close vacation.  By that I mean you don’t have to drive very far, but you’ve gone far enough that you are definitely not in Kansas anymore.  For those of us in the hot valleys of Southern California, a weekend stay on the beach in Orange County is like a New Yorker’s Jersey Shore or Hamptons getaway.

There are many smaller hotels along Laguna Beach on Pacific Coast Highway.  Aliso Creek Inn is just about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego on PCH, and boasts beach proximity as well as a 9-hole golf course and a fancy restaurant.  Aliso Beach park across the street is one of the only beaches in the Laguna area that Read More »

Did somebody say car ride?

If I learned anything from John Steinbeck it’s that there may be no better travel companion than a dog — and I don’t mean putting your dog in your purse and going to the supermarket. That’s not travel, that’s a cry for help. I’m talking a good ol’ road trip with a pooch that sits in the backseat with their tongue flapping out the window and their eyes on the prize (the prize in this scenario being adventure). A good dog is a trusted friend, a faithful guardian and the perfect road trip pillow. Dogs are family.

Which makes it hard to leave them behind on family vacations… but what if you didn’t have to? Read More »

No Nemos here.

When most people think of Legoland, they imagine giant Lego sculptures, and an amusement park.  Which is pretty much what it is, actually, an amusement park appropriate for children ages 3 to say 12, as long as the 12 year old doesn’t have to hold your hand, of course.

Less obvious when you think of Legoland, at least the San Diego, CA location, are the water-related features.  The park has an adjoining aquarium that charges its own admission fee or a discount with “park hopper” tickets.  It is opening a new water park on May 28.  And within Legoland itself is a mini water wonderland perfect for children to cool off on a hot day of amusement park fun. Read More »