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2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-234-3153
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What started out as a handful of exotic animals nearly a century ago has grown into one of the world’s finest animal parks. This vast menagerie covers 100 acres of Balboa Park and is garnished with over 700,000 plants. The zookeepers here have gone to great lengths to recreate each animal’s natural environment, and these state-of-the-art enclosures are a far cry from the bars and cages of days gone by. The list of interesting and exotic creatures here numbers over 4,000, from the creepy and crawly to cute and cuddly and everything in between.
SeaWorld®
500 SeaWorld Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
Phone: 800-25-SHAMU
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With more than four million visitors annually, SeaWorld ranks among the top ten theme parks in the United States. There are a good half dozen shows here, each with the park’s signature unique blend of education and entertainment. In addition, SeaWorld covers the waterfront when it comes to aquatic animals. Their simulated environments like the Penguin Encounter and Manatee Rescue give visitors a chance to see these remarkable creatures up close. Throw in a few great rides like Journey to Atlantis and Wild Arctic, and you’ve got the makings of a pretty full day.
1050 N. Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 800-44-CRUISE
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Leaving from the dock on a regular, SDHE offers a variety of narrated cruises. During the winter months, Visitors can take one of Harbor Excursion’s whale watching tours, guided by the naturalists from the Birch Aquarium. But no matter which cruise you choose, a Harbor Tour like this one is a memory that is pure San Diego.
San Diego Maritime Museum
1492 N. Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-234-9153
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The Maritime Museum of San Diego is truly one of the finest collections of historical ships anywhere. The jewel in the crown of this flotilla has to be the Star of India. Built in 1863, this magnificent windjammer is the oldest active ship in the world, and the old gal still puts out to sea at least once a year. It’s all part of San Diego’s rich maritime history, and it’s one of the city’s true highlights.
San Diego Wild Animal Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Drive
Escondido, CA 92027
Phone: 760-743-9362
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The San Diego Wild Animal Park is the sister park of the San Diego Zoo, but it’s a much different way to encounter nature. Originally serving as the zoo’s breeding ground, the Wild Animal Park opened to the public in 1972. At this 1800-acre facility, the focus is on wide-open spaces containing numerous different animals and you can take a guided monorail tour around the perimeter, getting a view of over 400 species.