A few years ago, we decided to make a trip to Florida, driving down the Atlantic coast and returning by the gulf coast side. We had a set budget and two weeks vacation. We decided to tent camp whenever possible. Now, I knew that sounded ambitious but we were up for the challenge! Not everything went as planned (weather and car sickness) so, we did have to stop a few times and stay at a hotel.  Otherwise, we camped at some of Florida’s amazing state parks and really enjoyed the beautiful beaches and old forts that came along with the entry fee.

We really wanted to go to Walt Disney but after looking at the prices, we decided it wouldn’t be a possibility for our family this time. We still wanted to do something “big” for our wonderful kiddos. One day by accident, I discovered LEGOLAND in Winter Haven, Florida.

How? Well, I came across a coupon that said KIDS GO FREE in one of my kids Lego sets. I had no idea what this place was but they had me at “KIDS GO FREE”. After a lot of research, we decided that we had found the “big” event we were looking for.

From the moment we walked up to the ticket booth my kids were SO excited! I have to admit so was I! This place looked amazing!

If you have any LEGO lovers in your family…this is the amusement park for you. My kids were four and six at the time and I loved the fact that my youngest child could ride almost every ride, with the exception of maybe one or two. And on top of that, every ride had an area for the kids to build LEGOS while their parents stood in line. It was a lifesaver!

If your kids are like mine, they have a ton of little LEGO mini-figures hanging around…if you bring them with you, you can trade them with the staff at the park. Each staff member has a lego name tag that has LEGO figures attached to it. Just ask them to trade and they will!

We were allowed to bring food into the park and that is always a plus in my book! I don’t know about your kids but my kids have to eat every 5 seconds ( I exaggerate a little). So, having a backpack full of snacks and water really helps our budget! We brought sandwiches and ate them on a picnic bench in the shade (it was a scorcher of a day).

From going to Egypt to exploring Legoland USA to Ninjago and Star Wars… Not including the LEGO creating stations and driving school… there was oh so much to see and do. My son was convinced that we needed to move there after our first trip. I don’t blame him a bit…

Something we didn’t know when we arrived was that tucked away in the corner of the park was a botanical garden! It is called Cypress Gardens! And it’s beautiful!

Take time to explore it! You won’t be disappointed, I promise you. Make sure to check for events happening in the garden…like a water skiing show. (We missed it because it was the last thing we did.)

Tips and Tricks:

• Parking is not free! It is $17 just for standard parking. (Check their website for additional pricing options.)
• Check local businesses to see if they have any Kids Go Free coupons. This is a big help! We found a $5 off coupon at the local McDonalds.
• If you cannot find any coupons, buy your tickets online as far in advance as you can. The further out you buy your ticket, the cheaper it is.
• Bring your own snacks, lunch and refillable water bottle.
• Get there as soon as they open. Their hours of operation are shorter than most amusement parks. 10 AM-7PM.
• If you are going to have a couple days, buy both the LEGOLAND water park/amusement park combo. We didn’t go to the water park but wish we had made time to do so.
• When visiting, don’t forget your sunscreen and a hat!
• Start from the back of the park and work your way forward. You may not have to wait so long in line. (Good luck at convincing your kids this a good idea.)
• Don’t forget about the botanical garden!
• Bring your least favorite LEGO mini-figures to trade with the Staff!

Have any good LEGOLAND tips to share? Please do!