Welcome to a special “all San Diego” week here on Go Explore Nature. I’ll be sharing some long-overdue reviews from our visit last September and one of my favorite travel bloggers will be sharing her favorite places to explore nature in San Diego. Hope you enjoy!
Two of my favorite places to explore wildlife in San Diego made our to-do list during our visit last September: The San Diego Zoo was one of them.
As a general rule, I’m not a huge fan of zoos, with their smallish enclosures and mostly unnatural looking exhibits. The San Diego Zoo is an exception. This 100-acre park is one of the largest and most progressive zoos in the world.
It’s home to more than 4,000 animals and 800 different species, many of which are exotic and endangered. Including my favorite: polar bears.
Since this place is so huge, we used the online map to plan our visit out in advance to limit the amount of walking we’d do, especially walking uphill. We opted to focus on the animals we can’t see at our local zoos – in this case, the polar bears, pandas and hippos. We also added elephants to our list because they’re a favorite of the big explorer.
After a quick stop at the petting zoo, we headed for the Skyfari Aerial tram to take us all the way to the far end of the Zoo – and the polar bears. Not only does the aerial tram get you to the back of the park before the crowds, you also get a great view of the entire Zoo along the way.
Choosing just a few select animals allowed us to spend some time at each exhibit, which is easy to do at the San Diego Zoo because they make each so inviting.
For example, there is the underwater viewing area at the hippo exhibit, which gave the big explorer an up-close and personal view.
The kids also enjoyed the hands-on displays set up throughout the Zoo, like a helicopter and giant polar bear near the Polar Rim area and the excavation equipment in the Elephant Odyssey.
I love that the animals here are so active, often coming right up to the front of exhibits, which makes viewing much easier for little explorers.
Even though we’d only had a handful of must-see animals on our list, we enjoyed tons more en route from one animal to the next (we especially enjoyed the aviaries).
We left in time for naps and with both explorers still wanting more – which is just fine because you can be sure we’ll be visiting again soon enough.
Tips for Visiting With Kids
- Start early. You’ll beat the crowds and limit your exposure to the heat (especially important during summer visits).
- Plan out your visit. Using the Zoo map, figure out what you to want to see & do when you first arrive. Aim to limit hills & cut down on the amount of walking you’ll do.
- Don’t try to see it all. Focus on the animals you can’t see at other zoos and leave while everyone’s still having fun.
Planning Essentials
- The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is huge & hilly, so use the FREE Zoo map you receive at the entrance to limit the amount of walking you do; even better, view it online to plan your visit before you go
- 1-day admission is $40 for adults, $30 for children ages 3 through 11, children 2 & under are FREE; multi-day & multi-park passes are also available
- The Zoo opens at 9 a.m. every day of the year including all holidays; closing time varies from 5 to 9 p.m. depending on the season
- Ticket price includes unlimited use of the Guided Bus Tour, Express Bus & Skyfari Aerial tram
- Zoo activities not included in the price of admission include the miniature train ride, giraffe feedings & guided group tours
- Multiple dining options available throughout the Zoo; you can also bring your own food in (just no large containers such as coolers)
- Best time to visit is weekdays during cool weather – summers are almost too hot, especially for little kids
- If you’ve got a toddler, bring a stroller
- Ample free parking available
The San Diego Zoo is located at:
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
This review is based on my family’s personal experience. I did receive any compensation for sharing my opinions. If you have any questions, read my full disclosure policy.
That is exactly how we did it! We start at the polar bears, then slowly make our way back toward the front of the park on foot. Enjoy!
What is the best way to get to the pandas? I was thinking of taking the aerial tramway to the polar bears, then walking to the pandas. Is that the best way?
@Carolina: Seeing the hippos perform a ballet show sounds fantastic – and so does a cool, summer evening visit. Thanks for the idea!
I love, love, love the hippo exhibit. It's especially cool in the evenings when the crowds die down, the hippos put on an underwater ballet show.
@Anonymous: Good question! We brought our stroller on the Aerial Tram without a problem. You just need to close it up before you get on.
When I went last year with my toddler I couldn't figure out if strollers were allowed on the Aerial Tram? Please let me know if they are, would love to take my daughter on it. Thanks!
@Joyce: I would love the chance to visit more zoos around the country – I know many are wonderful. We're lucky this one is so close by. BTW, loved your post on dinosaurs! Great ideas for outdoor fun!<br /><br />@Brianna: Thanks for visiting!
The closes zoo to us is in San Antonio,Tx. There is also a wonderful hippo area similar to the one in your photo. My son and his family lived in Wichita, Kan. and we loved going to the zoo there. It was a zoo designed with the animals in larger spaces more like their original habitats. It was wonderful. Is there anything better then a day at the zoo? Thanks for visiting last week and you might be
@Mel: I'm sure your boys will love this place! <br /><br />@Anonymous: Thanks for the info – it has been duly noted.
On the zoo website it says you are able to bring in food. "Guests may bring personal food items into our parks. Large food storage containers such as coolers are not permitted on grounds, and no facilities are available for food storage."
We definitely want to take the boys here. And the Wild Animal Park. I'm hoping we make it down to visit my grandparents in Econdido this fall. If we do you can bet a trip to the zoo is in the cards. Thanks for the great tips about the online map and pre-planning (you know I love to plan!).