When you go to Legoland in Carlsbad, Calif., one of the exhibits you see is a scaled-down U.S. Capitol, with a matching scaled-down marching band out front. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Grace Li Qi Reynolds, age 4, joins her mother, Mary Frances Smith-Reynolds, in studying a bust of William Shakespeare made of Legos. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The real Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Bowl are a few miles apart in L.A., but in Legolands Miniland, theyre next-door neighbors. Also nearby: a mini Manhattan and faux San Francisco. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Grace, center, joins her mother, second from right, on Legoland’s Cargo Ace ride in the Land of Adventure, which opened in March. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, which opened in February, is next door to Legoland and has its own park entrance. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The Sheraton has a big, kid-friendly pool area and a sliver view of the Pacific. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Legoland’s scaled-down version of San Francisco. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
