EatDrinkSanDiego plus how to get FREE Legoland Tickets

Are you planning a family trip to San Diego including a stop at Legoland California? Let me take you on a step by step walkthrough of what you can expect INCLUDING a bonus of how to get FREE Legoland tickets!! Yes, I said FREE!

Begin at the San Diego International Airport

I brought together family members from the East and the West Coast for my son’s 4th birthday, and the best airport for all of them to meet was the San Diego International Airport. While the McClellan-Palomar Airport is actually closer to Legoland, flights are way too expensive, and you’ll find a lot more non-stops out of San Diego. Plus, there are more airport lounges to choose from.

Explore Balboa Park

San Diego is home to pristine beaches, great seafood, and a cultural playground known as Balboa Park; “where art and nature collide.” Take a ride on the tram that runs through the park and explore over 16 museums and gardens, including the San Diego Zoo! The perfect weather in July might also have you starting your search for Homes for sale in San Diego.

Stay in Carlsbad

Carlsbad is home to Legoland, and while it’s only is only a 45-50 minute drive from San Diego, when you have screaming over-tired kids in the car, it’s better to be only 10 minutes away 🙂

Legoland has two hotels on the grounds however if you want to make the adults as happy as the kids, then I recommend the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara instead.

The villas offer apartment-style living with full kitchens and lots of living spaces, but without sacrificing the amenities you would expect from a Four Seasons Property.

I know you’re probably thinking, Four Seasons, get over yourself!! But if you pay attention to website specials you can snag yourself a third night FREE (as we did). And if you ask nicely they might even upgrade you for special occasions. We were able to turn two studios into one two-bedroom villa, and that comfortably sleeps eight or more!

The Four Seasons Aviara has two great pools for the whole family and a one-foot pool for the kiddos that might not have their swimming fins yet. Take advantage of the shuttle service to the beach which includes free chairs, umbrellas, and sand toys for the little ones.

Seasons Restaurant offers Happy Hour from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and dining options for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. You can also step over to the sister property, The Park Hyatt Aviara, for a choice of three restaurants for more upscale dining.

Do One Big Family Dinner

Having a full kitchen makes it easy to stay in every night, but if you invite a big family to join you across the country they deserve at least one big sit down dinner.

Campfire restaurant in Carlsbad has a great option for large groups where the whole table decides on 3 Appetizers, 3 Entrees, and 1 Dessert and the cost is $40 a person. The restaurant is currently a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which means it’s the “Inspectors’ favorite for good value.”

Some of my favorite dishes included the Grilled Brassica with burrata, spicy ginger, and onion; the Roasted Beet with panna cotta, smoked almonds, and beet green; and the American Wagyu with potato rosti and horseradish.

Discount Legoland Tickets

Yes I know I said FREE, but it all starts with the discount tickets first! I had to buy eight tickets and after scouring the web for weeks, I found these to be the consistently best ways to get discounted Legoland California tickets! Just for reference, a typical ticket costs $108.99 at the door.

• Military: Get 25-50% off depending on the type of ticket. You can even be family of military, but with the ID to prove it.
• Kids free with Adults: The cost of this ticket is $120.99 but it also includes a SEA LIFE hopper ticket to the aquarium. Average that out, and it’s $60 a person…not bad. There’s also a $39 kid ticket floating around as of August 2024 with this link.

How to get free Legoland Tickets

If you’re reading this in the summer of 2019, before September 2nd, then you have the chance to get free Legoland Tickets as part of the 20th anniversary of the theme park! After entering the park you just make a left at the rainbow dragon tail, and you should see a big tent with a FREE Ticket Today only banner.

If you’re reading this after 2019, then use this link to get the best-updated deals. LEGOLAND has them all advertised. If you’re a guest of one of their hotels, tickets are FREE!