Legoland Hotel opens in Carlsbad

Premium room at Legoland Hotel. (Photo courtesy of Legoland California)

Driving up to the Legoland Hotel in Carlsbad, it’s clear that this isn’t your usual hotel. The brightly colored columns can be seen clear across the vast parking lot. And a large smoke-breathing dragon hangs above the portico.

Welcome to the latest addition to Legoland California. The new 250-room hotel opened Friday. And everything inside caters to children 2 to 12 years of age.

Inside the lobby, kids are greeted by large Lego sculptures, with airplanes and pirates ships sailing overhead. In fact, the resort features more than 3,500 Lego models built from three million blocks.

While you’re checking in, check out the Lego minifigures lining the wall. Kids love to collect the little figures and this is one of the largest collections in the world. A bicycle slowly pedals across the wall, it’s plastic wheels magnifying the detail on 5,000 figures.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story LEGOLAND.

Try flying down a hill upside down in New Zealand

Adventure flies down zipline with Ziptrek Ecotour in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo courtesy of Ziptrek Ecotour)

Flying down a wooded hillside upside down and backwards can be quite invigorating. I’ve done it once accidentally when I went out of control skiing in the Canadian Rockies.

But this time, I had intentionally decided to try this flying adventure, goaded on by our tour guide and my friends. In fact, such aberrant behavior is encouraged by Ziptrek Ecotours in Queenstown, New Zealand.

And after ziplining around the world from Canada to Chile, with Hawaii and many places in between, I was very impressed with all the safety precautions that Ziptrek takes.

So I felt perfectly safe as I soared down Bob’s Peak upside down. I even waved excitely to my friends as I zipped away.

Visitors to Queenstown can actually walk to this little adventure, which begins with a ride up the Skyline Gondola on the edge of town.

Read more in Rich Irwin’s story ZIPTREK.

San Diego attractions welcome baby animals this spring

This Spring, say hello to some of the newest additions to San Diego attractions including plenty of adorable baby animals!

SeaWorld San Diego will have a few days with extended hours offering more time to see the new baby orca, the sixth successful orca birth in the park’s 49-year history.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has been busy caring for two new California Condors and an African White Rhino in addition to over 10,000 butterflies in the Butterfly Jungle. Also the San Diego Zoo hosts Play Days with daily activities for kids including the baby panda, Xiao Liwu.

Orient-Express Hotels renovates El Encanto in Santa Barbara

El Encanto opens in Santa Barbara today. Photo courtesy of Orient-Express Hotels

Take one hotel with a star-studded Hollywood past, add stylish American Riviera décor with a knock-out ocean view, and combine with coastal dining at its very best  and seven years dedicated restoration. The result? Orient-Express’ latest creation, and first hotel on the US West Coast, El Encanto, which opens today in Santa Barbara.

“The addition of El Encanto to the Orient-Express family is another milestone in the strengthening of the Orient-Express footprint in North America,” says John M. Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.  “El Encanto is an icon on the West Coast and fits perfectly with our existing international portfolio of unique assets.”

A glamorous hideaway for almost 100 years, El Encanto sits in seven acres of beautifully preserved landscaped gardens and is an integral part of Santa Barbara’s social, cultural and architectural heritage. Under Orient-Express’ watchful eye, the hotel has been fully restored and now consists of 92 individually designed California-style bungalows, with hardwood floors, plantation-style shutters, and bespoke accessories.

Seven Stars Resort offers flash sale with lowest prices of year

Seven Stars Resort located on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, launched a limited-time Flash Sale today. The resort is offering their lowest rates of the year on stays now through July 31. Travelers can take advantage of the Caribbean warmth with room rates starting at $387 per night for a Garden View Junior Suite when they book by February 28.

Named for the seven stars of the storied Pleiades constellation, Seven Stars is an all-suite resort that sits on 22 acres of manicured grounds at the center of Grace Bay Beach – rated one of the best beaches in the world.

The resort’s suites are among the Island’s most spacious with private balconies and dramatic views. Offering luxurious comforts, accommodations feature stylish furnishings and gourmet kitchens complete with wine refrigerators and Nespresso machines.

Fright Nights at Winchester Mystery House through Oct. 31

The
award-winning Winchester Mystery House attraction “Fright Nights” returns for a
second year, transforming the estate into the world’s most terrifying Halloween
experience. Filled with haunted walk-through attractions, roaming scare
performers, and nightmare inducing tales, “Fright Nights” will once again be an
event visitors won’t want to miss.

The revamped “Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze”
– an interactive, multi-sensory gateway between Heaven and Hell – lets visitors
mingle with the undead as they travel through the Corn Fields of Winchester
Mystery House, into the haunted ruins of the family Graveyard and ultimately,
to a showdown with Sarah herself as she presides over one of her infamous
sances.

The “Walk with the Spirits” Flashlight Tour lets guests tour the
mansion as they never have before – on their own. Explore the rambling,
mysterious mansion with only the moonlight, a souvenir flashlight, and the
imagination to provide illumination through the bewildering labyrinth of rooms
and stairways. www.winchestermysteryhouse.com.

Big Bear Resort Association giving away gas cards for staying in Big Bear

Big Bear Resort Association is giving away free gas now through Nov. 19. The recent spike in gas is all the more reason to drive up to Big Bear Lake
this fall.

Guests that stay two nights at a participating lodge will receive a free
$50 gas card, a three-night stay is worth $75 in free gas, or stay four or more
nights at a participating lodge and receive a free $100 gas card.


“We
want to ensure our guests that they dont need to worry about the recent
increase in gas prices, because this fall were going to fill up their tanks for
free,” said Big Bear Lake Resort Association Director of Operations Rebecca
Hrabia.

The
free gas card offer for $50, $75 and $100 ends Nov. 19, 2012. Minimum night
stays vary per lodge, and other restrictions may apply.

The free gas card
promotion must be mentioned at the time of booking. A $50, $75 or $100 Shell Gas
Card, redeemable at participating Shell gas stations, will be given to the guest
at check-in. Limit one gas card per reservation. This offer may not be used in
combination with any other offer.

Knott’s Scary Farm celebrates 40th anniversary in Buena Park

What
started as a few decorations and some hidden talent in Knott’s peek-ins
in Ghost Town now embodies the Halloween season in Southern California –
Knott’s Scary Farm and the infamous Halloween
Haunt.

The event which has welcomed millions of visitors over the years
is turning 40, and the celebration st,
promises to be killer. Knott’s Halloween Haunt continues to be the
leader in theme park Halloween events and the anniversary
celebration promises to go where Knott’s Halloween Haunt has never gone
before with the debut of an interactive maze, new characters and
surprises around every corner.

Haunt
is available on select nights through Oct 31. Haunt is a
special ticket event not covered by regular Knott’s Berry Farm admission
or a Knott’s Season Pass.  Ticket prices are
$36 – $52 presale online and $60 day of event.

 

Camp Spooky for Kids

For the younger set ages 3-11,
Snoopy’s Costume Party in Camp Snoopy is an alternative daytime
non-scare celebration of Halloween cheer rather than fear offered
weekends October 6-28, 10 am to 5 pm and is included with regular park
admission.  This special, family event includes a
costume contest, a live show, kid-friendly mazes, storytelling, and of
course, trick-or-treat stations.  For more general event information on
Halloween Haunt, call the Haunt Line at (714) 220-5200 or visit
knotts.com. 

Mammoth Mountain guarantees snow

The snow will be back in 2012-13, Mammoth Mountain is guaranteeing
it
: book your 2012-13 ski trip to Mammoth Mountain early, and rest easy
knowing your snow is guaranteed!
Here’s the deal: Book before opening day (Nov. 8) and if our base depth
doesn’t meet the levels on the chart below, guests will receive:
  • A $100 gift card, for keeping the original reservation date OR
  • The option to move the reservation date with no fees or penalties
Base depth Chart based on 5-year minimum average:

November
8

November
15

December
1

December
15

January
1

January
15

February
1

February
15

Base
Depth**

(In
Inches)

10″
12″
20″
28″
50″
50″
66″ 70″

Lido Yacht Expo coming to Newport Beach

See the latest and largest yachts at the 34th
Annual Lido Yacht Expo at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach on Sept
27-30.

At the Lido Yacht Expo, show-goers can step aboard and
compare nearly 200 new models making their West Coast debuts and ocean-tested
brokerage boats at the West’s largest In-Water Fall Boat Show.

There will be
much to see including luxury yachts, offshore sportfishers, sailboats,
long-range trawlers and sportboats.