Second U.S. Legoland outdoor park: Legoland® Florida

Winter Haven, Florida (CNN) -- It's a Lego fan's dream come true: Legoland® Florida opened October of 2011 in central Florida, the first Lego-themed outdoor park in the United States since Legoland® California opened in 1999.

From John Couwels, CNN Travel

Built on the former grounds of Cypress Gardens, one of Florida's first theme parks, Legoland® Florida has preserved much of the historical and natural beauty of its predecessor.

Popular in the 1950s and 1960s, Cypress Gardens featured Southern belles in large hoop skirts walking around the carefully manicured grounds greeting guests. Its famous water-ski shows were glamorized in movies and the 1982 music album and video for the Go-Go's song "Vacation."

After Disney World opened in 1971, Cypress Gardens' attendance started dwindling, and after several attempts to revive the park through new ownership, it closed in 2009.

Legoland® Florida is the largest of the five Legoland parks, located in Denmark, England, Germany, and the United States. Future parks are planned to be built in Malaysia and Dubai. There are also smaller indoor Legoland Discovery Centers around the world, including several U.S. shopping malls.
Legoland® Florida is geared for kids ages 2 to 12 and features 50 rides as well as Miniland USA, the heart of every Legoland® Park. This park's Miniland USA features Florida destinations in the form of intricate Lego structures, including NASA's Kennedy Space Center, featuring the space shuttle spewing smoke, ready for takeoff.