Meet The La Jolla Seals at Children’s Pool, Casa Beach
No trip to San Diego is complete without a visit to meet the La Jolla seals. La Jolla is a seaside community located around 30 mins north of San Diego. The La Jolla Children’s Pool at Casa Beach is famous for its resident harbour seals and sea lions.
Both harbour seals and sea lions enjoy a lazy life in La Jolla. The easiest way to tell them apart is to look for their ears. Sea lions have external ears while seals do not. Sea lion flippers are larger and stronger than those belonging to the harbour seals, who have small, webbed front flippers and have to wriggle on their stomachs to get around. Sea lions are able to stand up on their flippers and “walk” and are brown, while seals are a darker brown, grey or almost black with speckles. Sea lions are the noisier of the two mammals, making a loud barking sound, while seals grunt.
One of the best places to see the La Jolla seals is at Children’s Pool Beach, aka Casa Beach. This small beach has a curved protective wall that was built in the 1930s to hold back the rough waves and make a safe swimming spot for families.
The La Jolla seals, however, had other ideas and the cove is now filled with harbour seals and sea lions. You can visit the beach year-round to see the seals, and are allowed on the sand except from December 15 – May 15, which is when the babies are born.
The La Jolla seals can be viewed from the park at Coast Boulevard and Jenner Street, and from the breakwater wall. There is street parking nearby on Coast Boulevard.
There is a barricade on the sand to prevent close interaction with the La Jolla seals and sea lions.
The LEGOLAND® Hotel is a unique, family-friendly resort located in Carlsbad, California. The deluxe 250-room hotel opened in April 2013.
For any true LEGO fan, a stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel is an absolute must. A stay at the hotel includes themed rooms, free buffet breakfast, nightly children’s entertainment, and an in-room treasure hunt with LEGO surprises.
LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel vs the LEGOLAND® Hotel
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
There are two LEGOLAND® hotels, the LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel and LEGOLAND® Hotel, both located a few steps from the park entrance. They both offer similar benefits: LEGO-themed rooms, exclusive early morning access to the park (when you book a package including tickets), free breakfast, nightly entertainment in the lobby and a daily in-room treasure hunt with LEGO surprises.
Both hotels are three-story with 250 rooms, so have the same amount of guests in each.
LEGOLAND Hotel
Compared to the LEGOLAND® Hotel next door, the LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel is a bit smaller and quieter. The lobby and play area is smaller, the evening entertainment a lot quieter and there is one restaurant vs two and a cafe at the LEGOLAND® Hotel. Both are excellent hotels, however, and guests can use the restaurants and facilities at both quite easily.
Both hotels have swimming pools but only the Castle Hotel has play equipment and an outside movie theatre. The Castle Hotel’s pool is also considered the better of the two pools with its zero-entry and interactive water play features.
Both hotels offer package deals to stay that include park tickets.
The hotel offers five choices of themed rooms, each with an added “deluxe” option.
Pirate
Ahoy there, mateys! A breath-taking step into Captain Red Brick and his first mate’s pirate cabin. Your whole ship will be decked out with pirate bedding, curtains, wallpaper and even Polly, a LEGO parrot, can be found watching over you as you sleep! After a jolly adventure on the rides in the Park, send your junior shipmates up to their private bunks while you relax in the king-size cabin. So, me hearties, book your pirate room today for an unforgettable family treat. Shiver me timbers!
Adventure
Spend the night where the adventure never ends! Dare to follow in the footsteps of the famous LEGO hero adventurer, Johnny Thunder, and explore this adventure themed room… Send your junior explorers off to their very own bunks for a well-deserved rest as you kick off your desert boots and settle down in your comfy king-size bed, safe in the knowledge that Johnny is guarding all exits! Get ready for the ultimate adventure!
Kingdom
A royal welcome awaits you in the Kingdom themed rooms, fit for a king and his court. Bask in your luxurious surroundings and relax in your king-size bed, while your junior royals head off to their own sleeping quarters. With bunting, shields and flags above the bed, this LEGO kingdom is certainly up to royal standards. Little knights and maidens will love the LEGO models dotted around the room, but remember… whatever you do, don’t let them kiss the frog!
Friends
The LEGO Friends have invited you to the ultimate sleepover! Step into the world of Heartlake City where the girls are awaiting your arrival. After you and your friends spend the day in the Park, stay the night at Heartlake Stables with your favorite Friends. With a king-sized bed for parents and private bunk bed for the kids, it is sure to be a sleepover your family will never forget!
NINJAGO
Welcome young Ninja! Step into the temple courtyard, the cliff top overlooks all of NINJAGO as far as you can see. The bed lies at the bottom of a large shrine that holds all four of the epic elemental weapons. After a day in the Park, send your little Ninjas to their own private Dragon Cave while you relax in your king-sized bed. Ninja alike will love exploring the different powers of each Ninja… Which power will you choose?
Lobby
The LEGOLAND® Hotel lobby is a sensational space with a castle play area and giant pit of LEGO bricks.
This is also the area where the evening entertainment happens. Expect bright lights, lively hosts, plenty of music and dancing games.
The lobby is also filled with amazing little LEGO details like minifigures, and the merchandise store.
Bricks Family Restaurant
This fun restaurant is filled with cute restaurant-themed LEGO sculptures. A buffet breakfast at Bricks is included for hotel guests which features fresh fruit, smoothies, omelet station, bacon, sausage, hot and cold cereals and more.
Bricks is also open for dinner with a fab buffet for anyone who wishes to dine there. We loved the buffet because it had a huge range of food, including plenty of healthy options.
Kids’ buffet
The dinner buffet includes homemade soups, a California fresh salad bar, carved meats sliced to order, a variety of hot and cold entrees, side dishes, desserts and sweets and a “Just for Kids Buffet”. As a vegetarian I found loads of food to choose from. Children 2 and under eat free.
There is plenty of entertainment throughout the dining period too. We had a photo opp with a LEGO character on arrival, and a hilarious act by a few of the LEGOLAND® Hotel Heroes as we dined.
Skyline Cafe
This bright little cafe is a great spot for a casual meal or snack, offering a variety of made-to-order appetizers, lunch and dinner options. You can also order tap beers, wines and spirits here. We really liked the decorating – the cafe features a LEGO® skyline.
Mini’s Lounge
The lounge is located right next to the play area, so it’s the perfect spot to grab a coffee or snack while the kids are playing. Mini’s Lounge offers hot and cold beverages, fresh fruit, pastries and snacks.
Swimming Pool
The LEGOLAND Hotel features a large, heated swimming pool.
On-Site Amenities
24 Hour Front Desk and Security
Check-In: 4:00pm
Check-Out: 11:00 am
Concierge Desk
Full Breakfast Buffet Included
Bricks Family Restaurant
Skyline Cafe
Room Service 7am-10:30am, 12pm-10pm (Children’s Options Available)
Wi-Fi Included
Outdoor Heated Pool
Poolside Cabanas
Nightly Children’s Activities
ATM
Gift Shop
24-Hour Fitness Center (Treadmills, Elliptical, Weights, etc.)
ADA Accessible Rooms Available
Suites Available
Video Arcade
Resort Fee
All reservations are subject to a nightly Resort Fee of $28 plus applicable tax which is not included in your reservation total and will be collected upon check-in. Resort Fee includes nightly in-room refreshments, nightly surprises for the kids, luggage service, standard wireless internet, children’s entertainment, fitness center, pool access, pool towels, and local and domestic long-distance phone calls. Subject to change without notice.
Parking
Self-Parking: $25 / night
Valet Parking: $28 / night
The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel is located at LEGOLAND California Resort, Carlsbad. The deluxe 250-room hotel opened in April 2018.
A stay at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel is a must (in our opinion) for anyone visiting LEGOLAND California Resort. With every room given a LEGO theme and 2,100 LEGO models made out of more than three million LEGO bricks scattered throughout the hotel, an overnight stay turns a park day trip into an immersive LEGO experience.
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel vs the LEGOLAND Hotel
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel
There are two LEGOLAND hotels, the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel and LEGOLAND Hotel, both located a few steps from the park entrance. They both offer similar benefits: LEGO-themed rooms, exclusive early morning access to the park (when you book a package including tickets), free breakfast, nightly entertainment in the lobby and a daily in-room treasure hunt with LEGO surprises.
Both hotels are three-story with 250 rooms, so have the same amount of guests in each.
LEGOLAND Hotel
Compared to the LEGOLAND Hotel next door, the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel is a bit smaller and quieter. The lobby and play area is smaller, the evening entertainment a lot quieter and there is one restaurant vs two and a cafe at the LEGOLAND Hotel. Both are excellent hotels, however, and guests can use the restaurants and facilities at both quite easily.
Both hotels have swimming pools but only the Castle Hotel has play equipment and an outside movie theatre. The Castle Hotel’s pool is also considered the better of the two pools with its zero-entry and interactive water play features.
Both hotels offer package deals to stay that include park tickets.
The LEGOLAND Castle Hotel is shaped like a castle on the outside, which makes for an exciting experience from the moment you pull up into the car park. Note that parking is NOT included in the stay, nor is the daily resort fee.
Grand Hall
Inside the lobby, called the Grand Hall, the fun begins, with a large Merlin-themed brick pit and fun features to be discovered while waiting for your room key. The brick pit is also excellent for entertaining kids if it’s raining outside.
There are great photo ops in the lobby and up the stairs including tiny jail cell and a silly chair that makes funny comments. There is also a knock-knock wall that tells jokes and a Harry Potter located chair up the stairs.
The slide is a really fun way for kids to get back down to the lobby instead of taking the stairs. We suggest taking the elevator at least once as they’ve put a lot of effort into make the elevator ride itself a fun experience.
Themed Rooms
There are three different themed rooms to choose from: Knights & Dragons, Royal Princess or Magic Wizard.
(PHOTO / LOCK + LAND, Chip Litherland)
Knights and Dragons Room: Guests will defend the King’s Castle and help protect the King’s treasure from the approaching bad Dragon Knights and their fire-breathing dragons!
(PHOTO / LOCK + LAND, Chip Litherland)
Royal Princess Room: The Princess is no damsel in distress and she uses the help of the jester to prepare to sneak into the tournament and compete with the knights.
Magic Wizard: Full of curious potions, spell books, wands and magic mirrors, kids can use their imagination to believe their help is needed to protect these treasures and keep them safe from any bad Wizards or Dragon Knights.
Magic Wizard Room
We chose the Magic Wizard theme and loved our room, which was filled with spell books, wands, potions and even a magic mirror.
Each standard room as two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and one with single bunk beds. Both rooms have their own LCD TV screen.
The main bedroom has a light-up headboard that can be turned off thankfully at bedtime.
The room with bunk beds has a cool feature that, when turned on, shines stars onto the roof like a night light.
In between the two bedrooms is a bathroom. The bathroom had one sink and a combined shower/bath.
The room was a tight fit for the three of us with our luggage, but the theming was just incredible.
If you have a larger family, you might look into one of the 20 family suites at the hotel. The suites are roughly one and a half times larger than the standard rooms, sleeping up to seven people and including a lounge area with sofa bed, children’s sleeping area with a bunk bed and trundle and a king-sized bed for the adults.
The bathroom features two sinks and a separate bath and shower. There are closing doors for the children’s sleeping area and adults’ – something the standard rooms don’t have.
A cute added bonus of staying at the hotel is a daily treasure hunt. Reception hands over a map with four clues that are located around the lobby and restaurant. Find the answer to each clue and you will receive the code to the in-room safe. The safe is filled each day with a different LEGO surprise.
Also included in each room is a box of bricks and a cute LEGO ice bucket.
Dragon’s Den Restaurant and Bar
There is one sit down restaurant located inside the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel, the Dragon’s Den Restaurant and Bar.
Dragon’s Den Restaurant and Bar is a full-service sit down restaurant. In the evenings guests can choose from an a la carte menu.
There is a large brick play area in the restaurant which makes is a great choice for families who want to linger over a meal while the kids play happily.
In the mornings there is a full, hot buffet breakfast on offers featuring fresh fruit, smoothies, omelet station, bacon, sausages and pastries.
Entertainment is offered inside the restaurant including singers and actors.
The Royal Courtyard
The Royal Courtyard area is located directly outside from the Dragon’s Den Restaurant. It has a DUPLO play area for younger kids, play structures movie screen for nighttime movies, a stage for live plays and shows, a gradual incline pool and hot tub.
The zero-entry pool has interactive water play features and whirlpool spa. For those that like to dine by the pool, Castle Pool Bar & Grille will offer smoothies, sandwiches and salads prepared fresh to order.
LEGOLAND Castle Hotel Amenities
24 Hour Front Desk and Security
Check-In: 4:00pm
Check-Out: 11:00am
Concierge Desk
Full Hot Breakfast Included at Dragon’s Den Restaurant
Wi-Fi Included
Outdoor Heated Pool
Hot Tub/Jacuzzi
Poolside Cabanas
Nightly Children’s Activities
ATM
Laundromat
Gift Shop
Fitness Center
Service Animals Only
ADA Accessible Rooms Available
Suites Available
Resort Fee
All reservations are subject to a nightly Resort Fee of $28 plus applicable tax which is not included in your reservation total and will be collected upon check-in. Resort Fee includes nightly in-room refreshments, nightly surprises for the kids, luggage service, standard wireless internet, children’s entertainment, fitness center, pool access, pool towels, and local and domestic long-distance phone calls. Subject to change without notice.
Parking
Self-Parking: $25 / night
Valet Parking: $28 / night
Have a LEGO-lover in your family? Then a visit to LEGOLAND California Resort in absolutely has to be on your family’s bucket list.
LEGOLAND California Resort is located in Carlsbad, about 30 mins north of San Diego or just under two hours south of LA. The resort has two official LEGOLAND hotels attached to it, however visitors are able to self-drive or get a day tour from San Diego or LA for a day at the park.
It’s designed for little kids
This is an excellent theme park for little kids. LEGOLAND California is aimed at 2-12 year olds, with the “sweet spot” being 4-9 year olds. What this translates to are rides and facilities geared towards this age group throughout the whole park, so kids who are at the older end of the age bracket will be able to go on every single ride and enjoy every attraction.
It’s really nice for little kids to have a park geared towards their needs and entertainment. We found as a result the whole atmosphere of the park was calmer, a result of the younger aged visitors (mostly families with kids under the age of 8), easy to manage, and also very do-able to see all the attractions in one day.
Big kids will love it too
If you’re an adult who loves LEGO, then you will enjoy your experience at the park, too. When we visited in December there was a dedicated Star Wars-themed Miniland area (which has sadly since been removed) which my Star Wars-loving husband absolutely geeked out over. As adults we also appreciated the incredible work that goes behind building the LEGO masterpieces. They are such works of art!
There is LEGO literally everywhere
There are 30,000 LEGO models scattered all around the park. We wanted to stop and take photos of or with basically everything.
Inside the front entrance, visitors meet Bronte, the dinosaur. Bronte is made from 2 million bricks, the most of any model in the park. In total, sixty million LEGO pieces have been used throughout the park.
Ride your heart out
LEGOLAND California Resort is filled with more than 60 rides, shows and attractions. There are rides to suit kids of all ages and interests, from very gentle rides to thrilling rollercoasters.
Our daughter’s favourite however was the new Deep Sea Adventure, an interactive ride featuring more than 2,000 life sea creatures. We spotted sharks, rays and plenty of fish interspersed with sea-themed LEGO models.
Burn off steam in the play areas
There are several play areas around the park for kids to run and climb, as well as a dinosaur dig area and the popular LEGOLAND Build-a-Boat – a water play area where kids (and adults!) can build a LEGO boat and sail its around a water play table.
Get tiny at Miniland USA
It’s hard to tell who loves Miniland USA more, kids or adults! The incredible detail in the recreated famous buildings appeals to big and littles alike.
Around 32,496,352 LEGO bricks have been used to recreate landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the capital building in Washington D.C., Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Grand Central Station in New York and the strip in Las Vegas.
Also in Miniland USA is the Model Shop, home of the LEGO builders and more than three million LEGO bricks. The workshop is the headquarters for maintaining and repairing the models in the park, as well as the creative centre for developing new models and displays.
Cuddle up to a character
The LEGO character meet and greets are adorable! We met a very cute gingerbread LEGO character when we visited and it made for a very cute photo opp.
Enjoy seasonal delights
LEGOLAND California Resort is even more fun during the holidays. We visited at Christmas for example and enjoyed the special LEGO decorations, builds and character meet-and-greets at that time of year. Halloween would be an amazing time to visit.
Get a driving licence at Driving School
Driving School is technically a ride but it was the absolute favourite activity at the park for our daughter, so it deserves its own mention. Kids ages 6-13 can drive their own car and earn your own LEGOLAND Driver’s license.
Make a mini figure (or 10!)
Make mini figures to your hearts’ delight at the Minifigure station!
Go under the ocean at SEA LIFE® aquarium
Attached to LEGOLAND California Resort is SEA LIFE® aquarium, a great option for kids who love aquatic creatures. SEA LIFE® aquarium is a combination of active hands-on learning with up close encounters with sea creatures including sharks, octopi and rays. SEA LIFE® aquarium also has a new exhibit, Sea at Night, where visitors can stroll in a gentle surf under a starry sky, and frolic in a simulated bioluminescent tide.
Admission to SEA LIFE® aquarium is included in a LEGOLAND SEA LIFE Park Hopper ticket, or any LEGOLAND ticket can be upgraded to include SEA LIFE Aquarium admission for $25.
Splash in the water parks
During the warmer months, a visit to the LEGOLAND and CHIMA Water Parks are a must! There are plenty of slides and rides to enjoy – admission to the water parks is an additional $30.
Tips for visiting LEGOLAND California Resort
Buy tickets online in advance. If you book through Klook you can get a discounted rate.
Plan your visit by looking at the height restrictions map for attractions at LEGOLAND California Resort.
Pack lunch or try one of the restaurants.
We found plenty of healthy choices throughout the park including salads and toasted sandwiches.
Stay at a LEGOLAND Hotel for the full experience. We loved staying at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. You can also drop into the lobby of either hotel and play in the brick areas if you’re not a guest of the hotel.
If it look like rain, take a poncho and wear waterproof shoes! Rides can stop running during the rain however that are still plenty of inside rides that can be enjoyed, plus the SEA LIFE® aquarium.
Visit the LEGOLAND store! They have the most amazing LEGO merch, including some LEGO sets that are only available in LEGOLAND California Resort.
San Diego Zoo, located in Balboa Park, San Diego California, is a world-renowned, innovative zoo, with a strong conservation focus.
The San Diego Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals from over 650 species and subspecies. It’s often described as having set the standard for modern zoos with its natural habitats for animals, often with different species living together, and lush landscaping.
San Diego Zoo is 100-acres in size, making for a big day out if you want to see everything on offer.
San Diego Zoo Conservation Focus
Both San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Safari Park are havens for endangered species where animals are cared for and breeding programs are in place to help protect them against extinction. Studies of animal behaviour and health are also conducted at the zoos which would be difficult or impossible to perform in the wild, which provides invaluable information on these species that is shared with other zoos and wildlife parks globally to aid animal conservation in the field.
San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research generates, shares, and applies scientific knowledge that is vital to the conservation of animals, plants, and habitats worldwide. You can read about their excellent work online.
Plan your visit to San Diego Zoo
The zoo is absolutely huge, so good planning is a must. Take a good look at the map in advance and plan what animals are a must-see and plot your path. The very helpful volunteers at the entrance will let you know if there are any babies at the zoo and where you can find them.
I also suggest wearing good shoes for walking, arriving when the zoo opens to make the most of the entire day and pack sunscreen and a hat.
The easiest way to see the zoo is with a 35-minute narrated tour on a double-decked bus. The Guided Bus Tour presented by Go San Diego® Card is included with all admission tickets.
Hop on and off the Kangaroo Bus
A great option if you want a lift between stops around the zoo but want to see most of it as close as possible with some walking here and there. The Kangaroo Bus lets you hop on and off at four different stops throughout the Zoo.
There are well-signed stops around the zoo – simply wait at one of the stops for a bus with a yellow Kangaroo Bus banner to arrive. The buses run roughly every 15 minutes. All admission tickets include the Kangaroo Bus. You may bring an empty, folded stroller on the Kangaroo Bus, space permitting.
Catch the Skyfari Aerial Tram
We loved the Skyfari Aerial Tram. It’s a convenient and fast way to get from one side of the zoo to the other, as well as giving a beautiful view of the zoo as you go. The Skyfari Aerial Tram is included with all admission tickets. Note however that jogging, oversized, and double strollers cannot be accommodated and children younger than 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Skyfari Aerial Tram will be closed for renovations during early 2020 so check the website for updates if taking it is a must for your visit.
Enjoy a show
The zoo runs some fun shows that are perfect for kids in particular. At time of writing the Dr Zoolittle Explores Australia show is running weekends at 12pm and 1pm.
There are three play spaces for kids spaced throughout the zoo.
The Elephant Play Yard is a hands-on play and exploration area for anyone who loves fossils. Enjoy the fossil dig play area, puzzles and maze of elephant satellite tracking collars in this space. Located at Elephant Odyssey
The Koala Klimber lets visitors snap some fun selfies with replica koalas in the Australian Outback section.
The Polar Play area has some super shiny polar bears to get up close to, plus a polar bear den that kids love crawling through. Located in Northern Frontier
Plan your meals
There are an overwhelming number of choices for dining at San Diego Zoo. Options range from casual to restaurant dining and quick bites. You also have the option to keep costs down by bringing your own lunch and snacks, however that’s always a challenge if, like us, you’re visiting and don’t have a kitchen to make your own meals.
Each of the dining options has a different menu and price point, so I highly advise taking a thorough look at the website in advance and exploring the dining options available before your zoo day, particularly if you have any dietary requirements or fussy eaters.
Kids’ Meal
Try and upgraded experience
If you want to make your day even more special, try an upgraded experience, which lets visitors get even closer to the animals.
Animals in Action
We loved the Animals in Action interactive experience. The one-hour experience took us behind the scenes to feed, touch and observe some of the Zoo’s animal ambassadors up close.
It was a fantastic opportunity to not just meet some animals that we would never have otherwise been able to see up close, but to hear stories from the keepers on the animals, how they ended up at the zoo, the part they play in animal conservation, and fun facts that we didn’t know. Some animals are only able to be viewed by attending the Animals in Action experience.
On our Animals in Action experience we met a rhino, flamingoes, hedgehog, zebra, cheetah and armadillo. The animals change in each experience based on their health.
Tips for guests with disabilities
San Diego Zoo have several services to help guests with disabilities. The Zoo provides special parking, rest rooms, and access to shows, tour buses, and exhibits for guests with disabilities.
Please note there are steep grades in parts of the Zoo. Free shuttle bus service operates inside the Zoo for those with limited mobility. Guests who use wheelchairs are not able to use the moving walkways.
Tips for visiting the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne
History of the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne
The Heide Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Bulleen, around 30 minutes drive from the Melbourne CBD, Victoria, Australia. The museum was established in 1981, and is home to a collection of houses modern and contemporary art in three exhibition buildings. Set within sixteen acres of heritage-listed gardens and a sculpture park, the Heide is the perfect Melbourne day trip offering an experience that includes art, architecture and nature.
After purchasing the property in 1934, owners John and Sunday Reed opened their home to artists including Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Joy Hester, John Perceval and Danila Vassilieff. The Reeds established the Museum of Modern Art of Australia in 1958, which became a public art museum in 1981.
Visiting the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne
While entry to the grounds, sculpture parks and gardens is free, there is an entrance fee to visit inside the galleries. The best option is to purchase a museum pass which is valid for an entire day and allows multiple entries and exists from the galleries, allowing visitors to explore the galleries, park and cafe in their own time. Museum entry is free for children under 16.
Heide Gardens
The beautiful gardens at the Heide offer a free space for the public to enjoy the sculptures and several of the original gardens, which are now heritage-listed.
Wandering through the kitchen gardens will lead to discoveries of birds such as rainbow lorikeets, various flowering plants and trees overflowing with fruits.
The gardens are a beautiful place to picnic, so pack a blanket and food for the day and set up under one of the many beautiful big trees.
Connie KimberlySculpture Park and Tony and Cathie Hancy Sculpture Plaza
More than 35 permanent sculptures have been placed around the 16-acre property, with a focus on Australian artists and a selective group of international works.
Pick up a map at the entrance or take a look at the informational boards set up in various spots to locate the sculptures.
Heide Market
On the 2nd Saturday of every month, the Heide Museum of Modern Art and The Rose St. Artists’ Market collaborate on a beautiful collection of stalls that offer visitors the chance to purchase skilfully created handmade goods. Jewellery, clothing, baked goods, and more are on offer.
Visiting the Heide Museum of Modern Art Melbourne with Kids
The Heide Museum of Modern Art is the perfect family outing. Entry to the galleries is free for children under 16, and there is a range of activities to keep kids engaged while visiting.
Pick up a Heide Detective sheet from the Heide III information desk, at the main entrance to the museum. Follow the clues around the gallery and sculpture park to solve the puzzle.
The Heide also offers facilities including a cloakroom and baby changing.
While the onsite Café Heide offers kids meals and treats, visitors can also bring a picnic and let the kids run wild around the sculpture park.
There are plenty of great trees to climb, too!
Locals can get involved with family-focussed programs such as Heide Art Kinder or Art Babies. The Heide also offers creative programs during the school holidays.
Be sure to take kids on a stroll through the kitchen garden so they can see where there fruit and vege come from!
Café Heide
We dined at the onsite Café Heide, which is located at the main entrance.
The cafe serves simple, fresh food, using fresh produce from the Heide kitchen garden.
There are plenty of options for kids as well as options for dietary requirements. Our group ordered the Asparagus and Broccoli Risotto, $24, Kids’ Pasta & Tomato Sauce, $15, Kids’ Calamari, $15, Wagyu Burger, $25.
There are also plenty of baked treats to choose from. The scones looked amazing.
Getting to the Heide
Get info on getting to the Heide by car and public transport here.
Heide Museum of Modern Art 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen VIC Hours: Tue-Sun and public holidays, 10am-5pm
Heide Cafe Opening hours: Tue-Fri: 9-4.30pm, Sat & Sun: 9am-5pm https://www.heide.com.au/
Meet over 10,000 animals at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. The aquarium is located in central Melbourne, Australia, on the banks of the Yarra River.
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is home to some of the the world’s most incredible animals. Visitors can get up close to penguins, sharks, sawfish, stingrays, seahorses, tropical fish and more!
Tips for visiting SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Book your tickets online
Save between 5% and 15% when you book your ticket online in advance, and even more if you bundle your ticket with another Merlin Entertainment attraction such as the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Melbourne. You have 90 days to visit the second attraction once you redeem your aquarium ticket, so it’s a great deal.
Follow the map
It might sound obvious, but pick up the map at the entrance and follow the trail. It’s the most comprehensive way to see everything. The aquarium is over several floors, so it’s easiest to go around the exhibits in an orderly fashion.
Make the most of the photo ops
Aquariums are generally a bit tricky to take pics of your kids inside as the lighting can be quite dark. the aquarium has several really cure photo ops with decent lighting around the aquarium so you can come home with a few decent family shots.
Take a food break early
We pretty much arrived and needed a snack break to fuel us for our visit. The cafe is centrally located and has a huge fish tank in the centre, with plenty of tables around the edges and restrooms.
You can buy reasonably priced meals such as pizzas or nuggets and chips, or bring your own feed and eat it at the tables. We also used this time to make sure everyone had used the bathroom before heading deeper into the aquarium.
Mix it up
SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium does a great job at mixing sea life exhibits with interactive zones, which are a great way to entertain kids. If you’re not short on time, I suggest letting kids enjoy the interactive areas and taking a break.
The brand new Interactive Wonder Wall is a fantastic spot for playing. It’s an all-new immersive, digital installation inspired by underwater movement.
Learn lots
My mini explorer is wild about sea life, so a trip to the aquarium for us is a learning experience. The best way to do this is by speaking with the staff around the aquarium. They are so happy to share their knowledge.
There are plenty of feedings and talks on throughout the day to attend, too. Check out the timetable to see what’s on when you visit.
Meet the jellies
The brand new Ocean Invaders section of the aquarium is excellent. There are three interactive zones to explore, filled with creatures such as upside down jellies, blue blubbers and sea nettles.
We loved seeing teeny tiny jellyfish babies in the lab.
Meet the animals up close
For a special occasion, check out these thrilling experiences – such as getting face-to-face with sharks or penguins!
Head back to the Ice Age
Enjoy a 4D cinema experience with Ice Age: No Time For Nuts, included in the general admission fee.
The immersive artwork Rain Room has found a permanent home in Australia at the Jackalope Pavillion in Melbourne. Making its Southern Hemisphere debut in August 2019, the Rain Room Melbourne has captivated over half a million visitors worldwide – with no signs of slowing down.
The Rain Room is a 100-square metre field of continuous rainfall housed inside a purpose-built pavilion in St Kilda. The Rain Room Melbourne is a responsive environment, meaning as you walk through the room, the rain response to your movement, and ceases to fall.
The clever technology behind the Rain Room has created a completely immersive experience whereby the visitor is able to walk though the rain – and not get wet.
The pavilion is located on the rooftop of a building – follow the signs to the elevator and take it to the top. The building and elevator are both well signed.
On the rooftop, umbrellas are set up for small amounts of shade, and there is a ping pong table for entertaining those who need it while they wait for their session.
Restrooms are temporary facilities on top of the roof, accessible by a ramp. There are no restrooms inside the Rain Room.
Bags and strollers are not permitted inside the Rain Room. Bags can be checked into free lockers just outside the entrance.
Expect to be mustered around five minutes before your booking time and to enter right on time.
Inside the Rain Room
We booked our tickets in the first session of the morning, at 10am. The session was fully booked, however some ticket holders didn’t show up, which meant our session wasn’t technically full. We had approximately 10-15 people in our session.
While the pavilion is large, with a group of people inside it, it feels quite small, as the rain responds to all the people in it – meaning if there are lots of people in the rain, more rain will be turned off, and less will be falling.
The staff let us know that in fully booked sessions the group is often split into two smaller groups, to allow each group to fully enjoy the Rain Room.
Since our group was not full, we entered as one group, with the suggestion that we didn’t spend all of our time actually in the rain but divided our time between being in it and standing on the wall in the dry area so that there as more rain falling for those in the rain.
Each session runs for 30 minutes, which includes time that is spent waiting inside the entrance for any ticket holders who are late. We probably spent around 20 minutes actually in the Rain Room Melbourne.
Getting wet – or staying dry
While the premise of the Rain Room is that visitors can walk through the rain without getting wet, the reality is that you can expect to get wet, no matter how hard you try to stay dry. We were instructed to walk slowly and not to walk near other people as moving quickly and groups of people confuse the technology and make it more likely that you will get wet.
We found that no matter how slowly we walked, we still got wet. If this is something that bothers you, take a change of clothes and shoes to change into afterwards.
Photography inside the Rain Room
Photography in the Rain Room is tricky. The room is extremely dark except for the one bright light shining from the back wall, and there are a lot of people also in the rain. I took many, many bad photos that were out of focus or filled with other people to get just a few that I considered great.
My best photos were taken at the end of the session after everyone else had left and we were the last people to leave the room.
The Rain Room Melbourne offers school holiday kids sessions, designed for families with kids aged 12 and under to experience the Rain Room in an interactive and fun format. We did not do one of these sessions however, and our session was full of kids, so it’s fine to do either session. If you want to do a kid-friendly session during the school holidays, look for times marked ‘KIDS SESSION’ in the session times. Kids under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Rain Room is a flat, even surface, with good sized doors and no steps or bumps, for those interested in a accessibility. The grates on the floor are very small and would accommodate a wheelchair.
I highly recommend booking tickets at least a week in advance.
Enjoy an elegant afternoon tea experience with The Langham High Tea Melbourne. The Langham and Wedgwood have collaborated to present a special experience, “The Langham Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood”.
Wedgwood specialty teas are served up in tailor-made “Langham Rose” Wedgwood tea ware, alongside a with special menu created by the hotel’s pastry chefs.
Boutique Morsels
Gin & Kaffir lime cured Tasmanian salmon, crème fraiche, Rubicon River salmon pearls on blinis*
Queensland Yeppoon Spanner crab, Marie Rose sauce & cucumber, mini choux*
Yarra Valley Persian feta crostini with micro basil and confit tomato
Bendigo chicken and chive sandwich, Birch & Waite mayonnaise*
I received a mix of vegetarian sandwiches instead.
Savoury
Summer truffle and King Brown mushroom, gruyere bechamel crepe roulade
Quiche Florentine, pencil leek fondue
Sweet
Saffron panacotta with spiced figs, apricots and long pepper
Victorian summer berries tart
Lemon and kalamansi meringue tart
Blackcurrant cremoux chocolate tulip
Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or whisky chocolate torte with wild morello cherries
Jasmine tea and blueberry dome
Scones
Raisin scone and plain scone
Served with rose preserve, Yarra Valley pure cream and lemon curd
Espresso coffee, tea and hot chocolate
A delicious and generous high tea. The scones were serves fluffy and fresh, and I enjoyed the wide variety of savoury items. My vegetarian substitutes were delicious!
As always, The Langham staff prove themselves to be efficient and elegant, providing a five-star experience that I always expect from The Langham hotels across Australia.
Prices
Served with a glass of sparkling wine, Wedgwood tea, Langham Blend tea or espresso coffee
$75 per person
Twilight tea bookings may enjoy either a glass of sparkling wine or a Wedgwood tea infused cocktail served with free flowing sparkling wine
$88 per person*
Served with a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne
$95 per person
Available Monday to Friday
Valid from 28th December 2019 and onwards
10:30am until 8:00pm
*Served for a period of 2 hours. Free flowing sparkling wine is only available if all guests are partaking.
+$5 public holidays. Excludes special events. Prices, times and menus subject to change without notice.
Swap muddy puddles for finger sandwiches at this delicious Peppa Pig-themed high tea at The Langham, Melbourne these school holidays.
Weekdays from Friday December 27, 2019, until Friday January 24, 2020, The Langham, Melbourne is offering the most delectable Peppa Pig-themed high tea for little piggies and grownups.
My little piggy was a huge Peppa Pig fan when she was a wee thing, so was absolutely delighted for the opportunity to enjoy this darling pink high tea, filled with all tasty things that I’m sure Peppa herself would have approved of.
Peppa Pig High Tea Menu
Savoury buffet with hot chips, chicken nuggets, carrot and cucumber slices and dips.
Sweet buffet table with cupcakes, mini MnMs, strawberries, chocolate fountain and scones.
Three-tier cake stand that includes:
Peppa’s shortbread cookie
Muddy puddle dip cup
Strawberry and marshmallow fruit skewer
Fairy bread
Cheese and vegemite brioche
Chive and Parmesan Quiche
Honey and soy chicken skewer*
Cordial
Hot chocolate
Our vegetarian stand included a mushroom crepe instead.
Little Piggies will also be given a plush toy, colouring activity and Peppa Pig ears.
There is also a little play area with Peppa Pig toys that was a smashing hit with the kids, and also encouraged social interaction. How lovely to make new friends at a high tea!
Parents and grandparents can enjoy the hotel’s signature Wedgwood high tea for $69.00 per person, including a glass of sparkling wine, coffee or tea.
Creator Aaron Walker Photography
