Brooke, 2, enjoys Swabbles Deck, an interactive water play area at Legoland California.

Editor's note: This is the second installment of Eric's two-part series on exploring San Diego.

I may have a big problem on my hands in 11 years. My oldest daughter, 5-year-old Laurel, likes to go fast, but she can't necessarily steer. I learned this at Legoland California in Carlsbad, and it has frightening implications for her teenage years.

One of our first rides of the day was on Coastersaurus, a small dino-themed roller coaster that served to whet Laurel's thrill appetite. She wanted to ride The Dragon as many times as she could, and we took three consecutive trips on the quick coaster that features tight, banking turns. From there it was onto the Aquazone Wave Racers, a spinning ride that goes, you guessed it, fast. Those were followed by the Lego Technic Coaster, another hand-raising, hair-blowing experience.

I love roller coasters, so I was more than happy to share the screams and laughs with Laurel. But what had me concerned was her experience at the Volvo Junior Driving School. I watched helplessly from behind the fence as she bounced her electric car from wall to wall while trying to navigate around the oval. Still, the attendant handed her a "driver's license" after the ride was over.
But that's what makes Legoland unique. It is truly a kids' amusement park. It is just their size (although tall for her age, Laurel met the height requirements for every ride they have) and everything is hands-on, or made for "exploratory learning" as my wife the teacher so eloquently described it.

While Laurel had the need for speed, her younger brother and sister wanted to splash. Brooke and Drew did just that at Pirate Shores, an area of the park that's attractions all feature water.
"Dada, I all wet," Brooke announced. It was her way of saying how much she enjoyed Swabbies Deck, a water play area rife with all sorts of inventive ways to spray water and get kids wet. April and I laughed as she tried to hug vertical streams of water shooting from nozzles in the ground.

While Legoland was all about the kids, our adventure the next day was an indulgence for me. We visited the USS Midway, the Navy's longest-serving aircraft carrier. After a 47-year career stretching from the final days of World War II through Operation Desert Storm, it became a floating museum docked at the Navy Pier in downtown San Diego.

Marriott San Diego Hotel and Marina 619-234-1500 www.marriott.com

It was just a few blocks from our hotel, the Marriott San Diego Hotel and Marina, but we decided to indulge Drew and take the trolley. Whenever we were in our 17th-floor room, he would spend most of his time with his nose pressed up against the window looking at the red trolleys passing by on the tracks below. We finally promised him a ride. After boarding at the stop across the street from the hotel, it was a short ride to the stop nearest the Midway.

Measuring about 1,000 feet long, the Midway is impressive just to look at. It becomes even more so after climbing aboard. The hangar deck, where planes were stored between flights, is chock full of exhibits, displays, and memorabilia commemorating the ship's storied career.

But what makes an aircraft carrier is its flight deck, and the Midway's is something special. It's like a time machine given that the ship first sailed with piston-powered planes, saw the introduction of helicopters into the Navy, and carried jets that are still flying from more modern carriers. An impressive collection of aircraft from each era lines the four-acre deck. For a military aircraft enthusiast like me, it was a welcome opportunity to get up close with some of the planes and helicopters I have always found fascinating. Some are even open to climb in for "exploratory learning."

The kids were still worn out from their adventures at Legoland, so we didn't stay long at the Midway. But I had time enough to wander, appreciate the history, and even take in the amazing views the flight deck affords of downtown San Diego and the surrounding bay.

The visit also gave me the opportunity to be thankful that Laurel hasn't discovered flying. That would be even scarier than her driving.

Set Sail for San Diego
Play
Legoland
760-918-5346 www.legoland.com

Learn
USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum
619-544-9600 www.midway.org

Move
San Diego Trolley
www.sdmts.com

Stay
Marriott San Diego Hotel and Marina
619-234-1500 www.marriott.com

Eric Harnish lives in Newhall.