Best hotel and beach near Legoland?

[annieb727]

Hi there! We're planning a trip to DL, but I think we're going to spend a few days down in the Carlsbad area - a couple of days at Legoland, a day at Sea World, and maybe some time at a beach. I figured since we'll be doing some stuff down there that we ought to stay down there for a few nights.

What suggestions for hotels do you have near Legoland (we want nice but cheap)?

Also, what is a good beach that we can spend some time at? How are the beaches down there in early September? Is the water pretty warm?

 

[Zoemakes5]

With kids the ages of your kids, the BEST beach in the area is "Moonlight Beach", which I really think of as Encinitas Blvd. Beach, as you take Encinitas Blvd. west until it ends, and that's the beach. We just had my DD's 6th b-day there. It has picnic tables and bbq's and fire pits, bathrooms and showers, a small snack bar and rental shop and a really nice, large, clean playground. All the kids loved it there.
From Legoland I'd say it's about 10-15minutes further south off of I5.
The second most favorite is the beach next to Oceanside pier. It has a playground as well, nice but not quite as nice. It also has the showers and bathrooms, though they're not quite as close to the play/sand areas. It's fun to walk down the pier. There's a Ruby's Diner at the end of the pier which is good for lunch or dinner (and weekends has breakfast, too.)
That one is probably similar time away from Legoland/Carlsbad. It's further north off I5, I think the exit is Mission.
Hotels are tougher. There's a really cool Holiday Inn in Carlsbad right off of Palomar Airport Road and across the street from the outlet center. When we've looked for out of town guests, it's been sold out, so I'm not exactly sure what the price range is. Sorry I can't be of more help in that one, we just recently moved about 10 minutes away from Carlsbad, but have family in the area and have never had to stay at a hotel. I know most of the major chains (from Motel 6 to grand resorts) have hotels in the area.

 

[annieb727]

With kids the ages of your kids, the BEST beach in the area is "Moonlight Beach", which I really think of as Encinitas Blvd. Beach, as you take Encinitas Blvd. west until it ends, and that's the beach. We just had my DD's 6th b-day there. It has picnic tables and bbq's and fire pits, bathrooms and showers, a small snack bar and rental shop and a really nice, large, clean playground. All the kids loved it there.
From Legoland I'd say it's about 10-15minutes further south off of I5.
The second most favorite is the beach next to Oceanside pier. It has a playground as well, nice but not quite as nice. It also has the showers and bathrooms, though they're not quite as close to the play/sand areas. It's fun to walk down the pier. There's a Ruby's Diner at the end of the pier which is good for lunch or dinner (and weekends has breakfast, too.)
That one is probably similar time away from Legoland/Carlsbad. It's further north off I5, I think the exit is Mission.
Hotels are tougher. There's a really cool Holiday Inn in Carlsbad right off of Palomar Airport Road and across the street from the outlet center. When we've looked for out of town guests, it's been sold out, so I'm not exactly sure what the price range is. Sorry I can't be of more help in that one, we just recently moved about 10 minutes away from Carlsbad, but have family in the area and have never had to stay at a hotel. I know most of the major chains (from Motel 6 to grand resorts) have hotels in the area.

I was thinking about the Days Inn - Encinitas. It's actually really close to Moonlight Beach - I found it before I even saw your post. I liked that it was so close to the beach...a little bit South of Legoland, and so kind of in between Sea World and Legoland. It's at 133 Encinitas Blvd. Have you heard anything about it?

Thanks for all your help!