NEW LEGOLAND® WATER PARK

Get wet and have all the splash-filled fun your entire family can handle at the all-new LEGOLAND® Water Park, the world’s first LEGO® themed Water Park at LEGOLAND California.

The centerpiece of the Water Park is a 45-foot-tall tower designed to immerse children in the creative world of LEGO. The Water Park features several waters slides including six-person raft slides and single-person tube slides as well as slides for toddlers. Toddlers also can enjoy a zoo-themed, hands-on water play area designed especially for them.

New Water Park rides and attractions include Orange Rush, a family tube slide where up to four people can ride together down a 312-foot long curving track on an 11-foot in diameter half pipe; Twin Chasers, two side-by-side enclosed red tube slides that stretch nearly 130 feet, Splash Out, an open body slide that invites guests to slide 240 feet and “splash out” into the water below; Joker Soaker, a fun interactive platform in the wade pool where kids can aim water cannons at each other as a LEGO jester model tells jokes and pours 350 gallons of water down upon them; a one-of-a-kind concept, Build-A-Raft River, where kids customize their own raft made of soft LEGO bricks before floating down a lazy river; Kid Creek, a lazy river built with younger kids in mind and DUPLO® Splash Safari, a water play area designed especially for toddlers with three small slides and interactive DUPLO creatures including an alligator, polar bear and an elephant.

The imagination really flows at the Build-A-Raft River, a lazy river where everyone floats on their own custom-built LEGO raft. Stand beneath the splash tower as it counts down to pours hundreds of gallons of water over kids daring enough to get drenched.

Watch out for giant LEGO friends who splash or spray water on fun-seekers. All this plus two sandy beach wading areas, cabanas for families to rest and relax, great retail shops and snack carts make LEGOLAND Water Park a place for everyone to enjoy!

LEGOLAND Water Park is a $10 upgrade from the standard LEGOLAND California admission and is included in the price of Water Park Hopper and Resort Hopper Tickets. Kids 3–12, Sen. 60+ $67; Adults $77. Parking $12. www.LEGOLANDwaterpark.com.

2010 MCAS MIRAMAR AIR SHOW

October 1-3, Friday through Sunday

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is host once again to the largest Air Show in the country! This year, the amazing U.S. Navy Blue Angels will join force with The Canadian Snowbirds and will be performing on October 1, 2, and 3 at MCAS Miramar. To complement the aerial performances, the flight line will have military equipment exhibits, air show memorabilia, and plenty of refreshments.

During the air show you will have the opportunity to spend time with our military’s most important asset - our service members. Talking with these brave young men and women will reveal their dedication and passion for protecting our nation and our way of life.

The air show has been a Miramar tradition for more than 50 years. The first large-scale Miramar Air Show was in 1953 at what was then Naval Air Station Miramar. 300,000 people attended. The event faced cancellations throughout the 1960s and 1970s due to the Vietnam War. Since 1974, it was held without interruption until it was cancelled in 2001 due to the September11 attacks.

Directions: Take I-5 south, merge left onto I-805 south. Take the Miramar Rd./La Jolla Village Dr. and follow Miramar Rd. to the west gate of MCAS Miramar. For special seating (grandstand, box seat, and chalet) call 619-220-TIXS.For more information call (858) 577-1000 or visit www.miramarairshow.com.

The San Diego Zoo Summer Nights

Now- September 6, Monday, 9am-9pm

The San Diego Zoo's Nighttime Zoo begins now with extended hours and spontaneous fun popping up all over the grounds. Acrobats dressed as animals will hold impromptu shows in unexpected places and entice guests to become part of the act. Artists will paint to music in the front plaza, making huge, colorful animals come to life on canvas. And the Zoo's signature summer bird show will have a bald eagle buzzing the audience.

Nighttime Zoo welcomes the return of Stephen Fishwick's "Splash! Animals," an explosion of paint and music that entertains guests on the front plaza as they wait to see what animal will come to life on his canvas. The musical group Three Hour Tour will perform on the front plaza with ukuleles and tamboo-bamboos, a bamboo instrument that can be tuned, creating a very unique sound. Dr. Zoolittle, the Zoo's physician of fun, will show off nature's tricks every day for families at Discovery Outpost. Complete the evening at the San Diego Zoo by watching the free-flight birds, dazzling lights and memorable music at "SOAR: A Symphony in Flight."

For more information visit www.sandiegozoo.org or call (619) 231- 1515

SD ZOO CELEBRATES SUMMER WITH WEEKLY ELEPHANT POOL PARTIES

Now through September 4

The Elephant Pool Parties at the Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey celebrates sun, summer and wild animal fun at the San Diego Zoo. A series of pool parties will take place each Saturday through the September 4.

During the Elephant Pool Parties the pachyderms enjoy floating fruit in the pool and play with special elephant-sized "beach balls."  Capybaras and a jaguar that live near the elephants also will be enjoying some aquatic enrichment during the pool parties.

The event will highlight the Zoo's partnership with Elephants Without Borders and the range of enrichment the Zoo provides for elephants in Elephant Odyssey including "utilitrees" that raise and lower food to simulate the foraging they would do in their native lands. On pool party days, guests can join in the summertime fun by enjoying drink specials at Sabertooth Grill. Guests who mention the Elephant Pool Party special will get $2 off Elephant Toppers and Elephant Floats. For more information visit www.SanDiegoZoo.org.

SeaWorld Helps Families Reconnect with $5 Kids Tickets 

Summer is the perfect time for reconnecting with family and friends and making memories that will last a lifetime. SeaWorld is rolling out an offer that comes at the perfect time for summer vacations and allows families to make a difference for wildlife conservation.

Through the SeaWorld Cares offer, now through the end of this year, with each full-paid SeaWorld single-day adult admission purchased online, any child age 12 and under gets a $5 admission, all of which goes to fund non-profit organizations that are working right now on wildlife conservation projects. The offer is good for SeaWorld San Diego as well as SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla. and San Antonio. Families can choose which wildlife conservation effort receives their donation. Complete details are available at www.SeaWorldCares.com.

“This offer makes it easy for families and friends to reconnect during a vacation, a getaway or even just a day trip to SeaWorld,” said SeaWorld San Diego President Andy Fichthorn. “At SeaWorld, families experience amazing up-close animal connections that can’t be found any place else. And we believe a greater respect for the world we share follows a visit to one of our parks.”

With so much coming up at SeaWorld, there’s never been a better time to visit: “Blue Horizons” featuring energetic bottlenose dolphins, majestic pilot whales, a colorful array of exotic birds and amazing human performers, is scheduled to open this summer. Summer Nights, featuring extended hours, special nighttime animal shows, fireworks and more, continues through summer.

SeaWorld San Diego is open year-round. Hours vary by season. Admission is $69 for adults and $59 for ages 3–9 (note that the $5 child’s admission included with the SeaWorld Cares offer is good for children age 3–12). For more information about SeaWorld San Diego, visit www.seaworldsandiego.com or call (800) 25-SHAM.

Wild Animal Park Roar and Snore for all ages!

Family Night Roar & Snore (4:15 p.m.– 9:30 a.m.)

Family– African Safari (for ages 6 and older)

Experience Africa… without leaving San Diego County! Join us on an overnight African Safari adventure designed for families with children ages 6 and older. Meet African animals up close in a private encounter; take a guided tour around the Wild Animal Park after dark; enjoy hands-on activities, games, and crafts; participate in an African drum circle around the campfire; slumber to the rumblings of lions and elephants, then wake to the courtship calls of African crowned cranes.

August 5, 12, 19, 21, and 27; September 5 and 25; November 27

Family – Wild West (for ages 6 and older)

Grab your cowboy hat and boots for this wild wilderness adventure! Learn all about animals from the Wild West and the adaptations that help them survive with a guided tour along the Park’s Condor Ridge and up-close encounters with native critters. Learn real roping techniques from one of our zookeepers, enjoy a Wild West campfire program, and focus on the native animals that share your backyard. It’ll be a rootin’ tootin’ night of family fun!

August 4, 11, 18, and 25

Family – The Park After Dark (for ages 10 and older)

Often called the "zoo of the future," the Wild Animal Park is world famous for its cutting-edge animal care programs and authentic, expansive habitats. An adventure like no other, you'll feel like a VIP as you enjoy back-of-house tours and meet some of our very special animal friends up close. You'll have a whole new perspective on what makes the Park so unique!

September 11; November 13

Adults-Only Roar & Snore Night activities (4:15 p.m.– 9:30 a.m.)

Adult- Adventure (for ages 21 and older)

Feeling adventurous? Ready to team up and compete against other overnight guests? Then this is the overnight adventure for you! Dedicated to adults only, no kids allowed, you’ll meet new people as you work together to solve puzzles and complete challenges that will lead you on a race throughout the Wild Animal Park. Start your evening with a Journey into Africa tour focusing on the fiercest competitors out in the field. Then start stretching, because the race is on! Hope you listened during that tour, as that knowledge sure will come in handy! Are you up for the challenge?

August 20; November 20

Adult– The Park After Dark (for ages 21 and older)

Often called the "zoo of the future," the Wild Animal Park is world famous for its cutting-edge animal care programs and authentic, expansive habitats. An adventure like no other, you'll feel like a VIP as you enjoy back-of-house tours and meet some of our very special animal friends up close. You'll have a whole new perspective on what makes the Park so unique!

August 7 and 28; September 18; October 9

For more information visit www.sandiegozoo.org or call (619) 231-1515.

“KIDTOPIA” AT LA COSTA RESORT IS FUN FOR ALL

La Costa Resort continues the tradition of providing outstanding recreational fun for local residents and visitors. Their supervised children’s program, Kidtopia, is a water world with multiple swimming pools, a sandy beachside pool, crazy waterslides and tons of great toys!

Kidtopia is divided into three areas based upon age groups: 6 months to two years; two-four years; and four-12 years. Each area contains interactive attractions such as a tree house, dance floor, large saltwater aquarium, small animal display, high-tech entertainment stations with computers and an endless selection of games, books and toys. The infant/toddler area offers a calm, nurturing environment complete with age-appropriate toys, cribs, changing tables and high chairs. Children 4-12 can participate in full or half day programs. Children 3 and under can enjoy Kidtopia for up to two hours per day.

Hours and Rates

Hours of Operation: Daily from 9am to 4 pm

Night Camp on Fridays & Saturdays from 6-10 pm

Full Day registration (9 am - 4 pm) $80, includes lunch

Half Day registration (9am - 1pm and 12pm - 4 pm) $50, includes lunch

Night Camp registration (weekends 6pm - 10pm) $55, includes dinner.

Advance reservations are recommended to insure availability. There is a 24-hour cancellation policy.

To make your La Costa Resort Kidtopia reservations, call (760) 931-7543.