There's plenty to do in this central Florida amusement park whether you enjoy the "pink-knuckle" roller coasters, the interactive rides and shows, 4D movies, the botanical gardens, or staring in awe at the thousands of Lego creations in Miniland and scattered throughout the park.

For the youngest visitors, Duplo village offers tot-sized play and rides, and the rest of the park is best for the 5-12 set.

The park is small enough that it's possible to zigzag back and forth to catch the various shows or for one more ride on a favorite coaster. Food vendors are also scattered throughout the park.

My visit to Legoland Florida was hosted as part of their grand opening celebration, but after spending two busy days in the park by myself, I'm eager to return with my kids. I have several specific reviews of the park on my Travels with Children blog, http://minnemom.com.

Billed as the world's shortest, steepest scenic railroad, this small car takes you from bottom to top of the bluff in Dubuque in just a few minutes. It's been around for a long time, so it's kind of creaky, yet I felt safe in it the entire time.

From the top, there's a magnificent view of the city, and at the bottom there are a few little shops in Cable Car Square.

At $2/roundtrip for adults and $1 for kids, with children under 5 free, it's an inexpensive way to see the city in a new way.

Open April-November from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

We went on the 1 1/2 hour sightseeing cruise on the Spirit of Dubuque, a paddlewheeler on the Mississippi River. While it was an enjoyable ride, it got kind of long for the kids.

The tour is narrated so you know the history and landmarks of the area. During the last few minutes, passengers are invited to the pilothouse to see how the boat is controlled.

You can sit in the open-air balcony (which is covered to protect from the sun) or in the air-conditioned lower level. Chairs and tables are plentiful in both areas. If it isn't a meal cruise, concessions are available.

We did see a bald eagle and learned a lot about the area. As an adult, I really liked it, but was about 20 minutes too long for our kids.

There's a lot to do at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium on Dubuque's Riverfront. The aquarium itself isn't huge; in fact, my kids wondered if we'd missed it. Instead, it's a series of smaller habitat aquariums. The aquariums are interwoven with museum exhibits in two large buildings. All of the exhibits are focused on the Mississippi River and waterways in general.

Favorites were the Mark Twain area, the river otters, and the lizard exhibit. There's also a children's waterworks area.

Wristbands allow you to come and go all day, so we visited part of the museum, went on a riverboat ride, and then went back. Concessions and gifts are available.

The museum and aquarium are nicely put together, and staff were very friendly and helpful. A nice stop in Dubuque.

Admission is not cheap ($15 adults, $10 kids) but if you're a member of your local zoo you may get a half-price discount.

Play ball on the field where Shoeless Joe and the other players had their games in the movie Field of Dreams. The baseball field is open to the public, and you too can wander into the cornfield.

The house is on the property but not open. A souvenir stand and movie information are adjacent to the parking lot.

Play ball, sit in the bleachers, or disappear into the corn field. It's all free.

Hint--watch the movie with your kids before you go and they'll be excited to go.