San Diego Things to Do

On the Pacific Ocean, just north of Mexico, discover San Diego with its top attractions: Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Visit Balboa Park, where there’s a long list of things to do - Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center, the Museum of Art, the Museum of Man and the Natural History Museum. Families enjoy the firehouse and children’s museum, the amusement park and Cabrillo National Monument with whale watching. Take a harbor cruise or discover the Maritime Museum. Visit Old Town State Historic Park to see the city in a earlier day. Find restaurants, clubs and shops in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter and hotels throughout the city.
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San Diego Zoo

2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, California
619-231-1515
Average Rating:
Zoo
Tickets
The San Diego Zoo is one of the most well known zoos in the world due to its conservation efforts, as well as its work with endangered species. There always seems to be a new arrival or two in the nursery.

Throughout the zoo, discover numerous habitats that replicate natural environments. In the Monkey Trails® and Forest Tails see hippos, leopards and crocodiles, plus mandrill monkeys with their painted faces. Absolute Apes recreates a Southeast Asia rain forest perfect for orangutans. Complete with a pool for its largest resident is Ituri Forest®. Walk next door to the Tiger River® to observe tigers, storks and tapirs. Gorilla Tropics® is the home to these magnificent creatures, plus monkeys and the Scripps Aviary with more than 100 African birds.

Sun bears can be found in their namesake forest, along with hyenas and red-cheeked gibbons. The Giant Panda Research Station houses a growing number of pandas some that have been born at the zoo. Speaking of bears, the Polar Bear Plunge® is one of the largest exhibits of its kind in the world. Brrrrrr.

The Reptile House and Reptile Mesa are home to some pretty scaly folks with and without legs - find tortoise, snakes, frogs, iguanas and even a salamander or two. The Owens Rain Forest Aviary is for the birds - 200 or more - set against the backdrop of a Southeast Asian rainforests, while the Wings of Australasia showcase birds from the tropical climates of both countries.

The Children's Zoo gives little ones a chance to actually touch animals, enjoy the beauty of gardens and those that live in its midst - and sometimes even encounter Dr. Zoolittle.

The zoo offers a number of additional ways to explore the grounds: a guided bus tour covers a large portion of the park, a miniature railroad (fee), Skyfari® aerial tram or a VIP tour (fee). Gardeners will also find plenty to see while at the zoo, as there are more than one million plants.
Hours & Admission
Daily 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission.
Location
Just north of downtown in Balboa Park.
Directions
From Interstate 5 (I-5) southbound, take Pershing Dr. exit and follow the signs. From Interstate 15 (I-15), take Route 163 south, exit Park Blvd./I-5 south exit. Turn left on Park. The zoo entrance is off Park at Zoo Place.
Rating:

By ultimatefoodie
Texas

Visited: Mar 31 2007
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is an attraction not to miss if you ever get to visit this beautiful Pacific coast city. It is situated just north of downtown and is part of Balboa Park; a complex of museums, attractions and park space that could keep you busy for weeks. Don't skimp on time here. We spent close to five hours just exploring the zoo.

I would highly recommend starting your visit with the guided bus tour of the zoo. Included in the $33 admission price, it is a great way to get an overview of what the zoo has to offer, you'll learn some interesting facts about the animals and park, plus you will be better able to determine what you most want to see the rest of the day. The tour leaves from and returns to the front of the park and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the people who drive and narrate the tour are biologists and keepers who work with the animals and have intimate knowledge of the park.

When exiting the bus tour, make sure you get the kangaroo stamp on your...

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