10 Best LEGOLAND California Hotels for Families

You can"t get any closer to the park than the LEGOLAND California Hotel. Children"s eyes will sparkle when they see the bright red, yellow, blue and green bricks that make up the property and they"ll feel like VIPs when they get to check in at their own front desk. Theme park fun is just steps away (with early entry available to hotel guests), including the new Heartlake City section that opened in May 2015. Kids can also take part in scavenger hunts, enjoy nightly entertainment like magicians and live music, and the pool and LEGO brick play areas are sure to please. Retreating to guestrooms is even more fun, as all have kingdom, pirate or adventure themes, with bunk bed rooms for kids. After working up an appetite from all the fun, grab a bite at the onsite Bricks Family Restaurant.

Park the car and leave it until it"s time to go home; the Hyatt house San Diego/Carlsbad is just two blocks from Carlsbad State Beach (listed among the 10 Best Beaches for Families in 2015), and minutes from LEGOLAND California -- with a free shuttle service to get you to both. This Bed & Brick partner hotel is an all-suite property, and families can choose from studio, one- or two-bedroom suites, with full kitchens, free Wi-Fi and DVD players. Fuel up with a complimentary breakfast daily before heading out to ride Coastersaurus. Stay Monday through Thursday and the hotel will have a free social hour waiting for you upon your return from the theme park, complete with wine and appetizers.

The entire family is welcomed at the West Inn & Suites, including dogs and cats. The property, a Bed & Brick partner hotel, is located just minutes from LEGOLAND California and its free shuttle will get you and the kids there in a jiffy. If in need of a break from theme park fun, enjoy the nearby beach, just a few blocks away, or the onsite pool and hot tub; the hotel provides complimentary sunscreen and swim diapers. Rooms at the West Inn include guestrooms and suites, and all feature mini-fridges, microwaves, DVD players and free Wi-Fi. The largest can sleep up to six. When it"s time for a family meal, start with the hotel"s free breakfast and then choose from one of the two onsite restaurants for lunch and dinner; both serve locally sourced produce from the hotel"s own 3-acre farm.

Located almost as close to LEGOLAND as the theme park"s own hotel, the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort is a great option for families. The property is a Bed & Brick partner hotel, with one- to three-bedroom villas complete with full kitchens and living and dining rooms, making it a true home-away-from-home. The resort includes two pools, one specifically geared toward families with a kids" water play area, plus an activity center with a game room. Onsite dining is available at the Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, though guests can also board the free shuttle to the resort"s sister property, the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, for dining at Twenty/20 Grill and Wine Bar.

The expansive Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa offers families a tropical, Spanish Mediterranean-style environment that will make it hard to believe that LEGOLAND California is just steps away. Studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites are offered, with full kitchens, private balconies or patios and free Wi-Fi adding to the appeal. The pool is inviting for all ages, and kids who tire of swimming can partake in resort coordinated activities just for them.

Another Bed & Brick LEGOLAND partner hotel, the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa offers a private entrance to the theme park for its hotel guests. A free shuttle will also transport families to other local attractions, such as the SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium. Accommodations range from traditional guestrooms to suites with connecting capabilities for large or multigenerational families. Onsite fun can be had at the heated outdoor pool, which offers poolside dining and drink service, as well as dive-in movies. Scheduled children activities will also keep little ones busy, while parents can enjoy an evening at the onsite spa, or sip cocktails in the Twenty/20 Grill and Wine Bar.

Located just 1 mile from LEGOLAND California, Carlsbad by the Sea Resort is a Bed & Brick partner hotel that features guestrooms and suites with mini-fridges, microwaves, free Wi-Fi and private patios or balconies. Ticket packages for groups of three or four are also available through the resort, and families can enjoy a free breakfast each morning before hopping on the complimentary shuttle that takes them to the theme park -- all of which will help parents stay on budget. Upon returning from a day on the rides, kids may want to take a dip in the heated outdoor pool.

After days at LEGOLAND or the beach, guests of the Bed & Brick partner Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach can return via the free shuttle to enjoy evening movies on the lawn, complete with free blankets, popcorn and cookies. The heated outdoor pool is also inviting, while in-room DVD players and video games may be just the thing to keep kids entertained while parents relax. Guestrooms and suites also feature mini-fridges, microwaves and free Wi-Fi. Onsite dining is offered at the Carlsbad Beach Bistro for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and families will enjoy family meals with prime views of the Pacific Ocean.

Located just steps from the beach and minutes from LEGOLAND California, the Carlsbad Seapointe Resort is a prime option for families visiting Southern California. Accommodations are one- and two-bedroom villas with free Wi-Fi, fully equipped kitchens, cozy fireplaces and room for up to seven guests. Resort activities include two pools (one just for families), tennis courts, a children"s play area and complimentary beach toys and gear for days in the sand. If traveling with grandparents, mom and dad can slip away via the complimentary shuttle to the Ocean Pearl Spa at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa for some pampering, too.

Choose from pool or ocean view rooms at the Cape Rey Carlsbad resort, all of which have mini-fridges, microwaves, free Wi-Fi and cribs upon request. The resort is part of the Hilton brand and is also a Bed & Brick partner hotel; the free shuttle will get your family to LEGOLAND California in just 10 minutes. Families will also enjoy days at the Carlsbad State Beach, located just steps from the resort, and at the two onsite pools, one that is just for kids. On the weekends, live music is offered in the evenings near the outdoor fire pit. For family meals, fuel up at Chandler"s Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.