San Diego Zoo and Wild Life Park

[Zimbubba]

As an east coaster I am not familiar with these two places. Are they worth the trip down the interstate to see them?

[Darkbeer]

Yes, the San Diego Zoo is known as the World Famous San Diego Zoo, and truly is that good. They are currently working on a new area, as they are trying to get away for individual exhibits, and creating "habitats" instead. Make sure you take the Bus Tour (which comes with free shuttle service), and wear comfy shoes. It is located just north of Downtown San Diego, so easy to get too.

The Wild Animal Park is good, it is located about 45 minutes outside of San Diego, so you would need a rental car or arrange a bus trip. Large amoutn of land, that allows the animals to be seen in a much more natural setting, also they offer some interesting shows. If I had to pick one, the Zoo comes first, and matches well with a trip to SeaWorld, add a day at Seaport Village and the Gaslamp Quarter (Horton Plaza and PETCO Park are good things in the area) and you have a good long weekend.

Here is a link to the Wild Animal Park...

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/384015

And to PETCO Park...

http://darkbeer.smugmug.com/gallery/235112

[Alan]

Petco Park? Out of curiosity, what would interest a tourist about Petco Park? Don't forget, you can go down to the Embarcedero and visit the Midway.

[fkurucz]

Petco Park? Out of curiosity, what would interest a tourist about Petco Park? Don't forget, you can go down to the Embarcedero and visit the Midway.

You can catch the San Diego Madres there.

[Alan]

You can catch the San Diego Madres there.

Like I said, what is worth seeeing in Petco Park?

[Darkbeer]

DODGERS SUCK !!!!
GO PADRES!!!!!!!

Heck, at least their name isn't the Brea Angels of Orange!!!!

[Flint]

Yes, the San Diego Zoo is known as the World Famous San Diego Zoo, and truly is that good. They are currently working on a new area, as they are trying to get away for individual exhibits, and creating "habitats" instead. Make sure you take the Bus Tour (which comes with free shuttle service), and wear comfy shoes. It is located just north of Downtown San Diego, so easy to get too.

The Wild Animal Park is good, it is located about 45 minutes outside of San Diego, so you would need a rental car or arrange a bus trip. Large amoutn of land, that allows the animals to be seen in a much more natural setting, also they offer some interesting shows. If I had to pick one, the Zoo comes first, and matches well with a trip to SeaWorld, add a day at Seaport Village and the Gaslamp Quarter (Horton Plaza and PETCO Park are good things in the area) and you have a good long weekend.

The Wild Animal Park is truly a unique experience. I very much recommend a trip there. The Zoo is also fabulous.

Sea World is worth a half day... I'd compare it to Knott's Berry Farm, but much less fun.

Seaport Village == expensive stores (that are along the bay) that sell absolute crap. Really, go up the coast into north county and go to a beach instead. Seaport Village is a waste and an eyesore, the epitome of a trashy tourist trap.

Gaslamp Quarter == no parking, lots of stores that really aren't open much of the time, "quaint" where the young gentrified yupsters can schmooze and hobnob with the homeless. And again, expensive. (gotta pay for the expensive downtown rent, I guess) Go to La Jolla instead, if'n you want expensive stores - at least they have plausible hours. (and fewer bums!)

and Horton Plaza... umm, don't they have malls where you come from? OMG Becky!

[Alan]

Something that not many people know about is the Olympic training favility in Chula Vista. They have several great exhibits and a tour of the site. to get there, just go south on 805 to the Olympic Parway exit. Trun left and it is at the end of the road.

[tappertrainman]

I would recommend visiting the Wild Animal Park over the Zoo. Even though the San Diego Zoo is the best one in the world, the Wild Animal Park is more unique. You can get about 75% of the San Diego Zoo experience at any other zoo. But, you can't see the Wild Animal Park anywhere else that I know of (never been to Disney's Animal Kingdom). And, of course, since I'm a Padres fan, you should go see Petco Park, and hang around the Gaslamp for a while if you enjoy the drinking and party atmosphere (which I'm not really that into, but the restaurants are good!). Here is Petco at night, after a Padres win, of course!

[fkurucz]

Go to La Jolla instead, if'n you want expensive stores - at least they have plausible hours. (and fewer bums!)

Plus you are less likely to get mugged on Prospect St.

[cubsd]

I have to agree about the Wild Animal Park. While the Zoo is great, at the Wild Animal Park you get to see the animals in a more natural setting. Also, the new Lion Camp is fantastic!
You should visit www.sandiegozoo.org and check out ticket packages. You can have unlimited admission to the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, and Seaworld for five consecutive days for $98.95. You'll probably only spend a day at each.

They also offer a "San Diego Passport" for $69.95 that includes:

<LI>Old Town Trolley City Tour - ticket valid for two consecutive days



<LI>Best Value Adult Admission into the San Diego Zoo



<LI>One or two hour Harbor Tour on Hornblower Cruises - ticket valid for two consecutive days



<LI>Admission for the San Diego Museum of Art and the San Diego Maritime Museum (in Balboa Park, where the Zoo is)



<LI>Wild Animal Park - $10 off the Nairobi Ticket Package (Current price is $28.50, so your price would be $18.50)



<LI>SEAL Tour - $5 discount



<LI>Complimentary entree at Bazaar del Mundo restaurant (when one of equal or greater value is purchasedwith two beverages) This is in Old Town.



<LI>Complimentary souvenir gift from Westfield Shoppingtown Horton Plaza (in the Gaslamp)



<LI>Souvenir phone card and a VIP shopping pass courtesy of Seaport Village.



<LI>Buster's Beach House and Longboard Bar - Free Breakfast or lunch entree with purchase of another of equal or lesser value (next to Seaport Village)



Croce's Jazz Bar - Free Entrance at Croce's Jazz Bar (with minimum purchase of $15 - ages 21 and above) in the Gaslamp
All of these attractions and shopping can be reached by the Old Town Trolley.
Have a nice trip!

[xfkirsten]

I prefer the Wild Animal Park over the Zoo, as well. Like tappertrainman said, it's more unique. That big open range is a really cool way to present the animals.

Plus you can feed the giraffes and the lorikeets, and pet the deer, and that's just cool.

[Darkbeer]

Don't forget the great deal on the SoCal CityPass...

3 days at the DLR (with one Early Entry), one day at Knott's, one day at SeaWorld and one day at either the Zoo or WAP...

Best price is from Costco ($165 for adults, $113 for kids 3-9), you can order online...

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&cat=4835&hierPath=111*&Browse=

[BoneDaddy]

The Wild Animal Park is truly a unique experience. I very much recommend a trip there. The Zoo is also fabulous.

If you can only do one, I'd recommend the Wild Animal Park over the Zoo. It's quite different than other zoos, and if you ante up and take the photo safari, it's a great day.

Sea World is worth a half day... I'd compare it to Knott's Berry Farm, but much less fun.

I don't know. A long distance visitor would probably want to take in all of the shows, and that would be tough to do in half a day. Not to mention the umpteen animal exhibits that deserve more than a simple "drive-by". It's not a multiday park, that's for sure, but you're not going to get your money's worth by spending half a day here.

Seaport Village == expensive stores (that are along the bay) that sell absolute crap. Really, go up the coast into north county and go to a beach instead. Seaport Village is a waste and an eyesore, the epitome of a trashy tourist trap.

Wasn't Seaport meant to mimic Ports O' Call in San Pedro? It's a 70s throwback and hardly worth attention. But judging by the attendance, it is popular. Best bet here is the view across the bay.

Gaslamp Quarter == no parking, lots of stores that really aren't open much of the time, "quaint" where the young gentrified yupsters can schmooze and hobnob with the homeless. And again, expensive. (gotta pay for the expensive downtown rent, I guess) Go to La Jolla instead, if'n you want expensive stores - at least they have plausible hours. (and fewer bums!)

Some great restaurants are found in the Gaslamp. You don't have to be young or yuppy (I'm neither) to enjoy good food or drinks with friends. There *are* homeless, but they're not much of a problem. Parking isn't a problem either if you take a second to orient yourself and find a nearby lot or use valet. Or, simply use the trolley if you're staying nearby a line.

La Jolla has nice restaurants as well, and is generally more upscale (and stuffier), but parking isn't any easier (actually tougher depending on where you're trying to get to). The upside here is the proximity to the ocean.

and Horton Plaza... umm, don't they have malls where you come from? OMG Becky!

Yeah, who's the fool who thought that the Mall of America would be popular?

/sarcasm

Besides, Horton Plaza has lots of parking that can be used while visiting the Gaslamp.

San Diego also has the Embarcadero with the Maritime Museum, Midway aircraft carrier, and bay tours, Balboa Park, Old Town, Petco Park (yup, some people like to visit different ball parks), Scripps Aquarium, Belmont Park, and more.

[SoCal]

Seaport Village == expensive stores (that are along the bay) that sell absolute crap. Really, go up the coast into north county and go to a beach instead. Seaport Village is a waste and an eyesore, the epitome of a trashy tourist trap.

You could not be more wrong even if you tried to be. Seaport is a great place to visit - even for locals like myself. The views of the harbor are great. The views of the HUGE military ships going in and out is an amazing experience. The restaurants are very good, and not overly priced at all. And the souvenir shops are actually some of the better shops I have seen for this type of shop. Plus it is a very well kept area, not an eyesore in any way. I would recommend Seaport Village to anybody, it is really a nice area to spend a few hours, relax have some good food and just experience.

If you truly want a waste of time and an eyesore, go visit Marina Del Ray up in LA. When you do that then you come back and try to tell me Seaport is a waste and an eyesore. You have noooooooooooo idea my friend, no idea at all.

PLUS while you are at seaport you can shoot over to the Midway and check that out.

Like I said, what is worth seeeing in Petco Park?

ummm... Petco park. If you are a baseball fan (read that not a fan of a team, but a fan of the game) then this is a great place to visit. A new and amazing park that has things NO other ballpark has. The 100-year old Western Metal building that is actually part of the playing field is really cool to see. The sand areas in the bleachers for the kids to play (right up along the outfield wall) is something you will not see at any other park. I have been to many, many ballparks in my time (my Dad and I took our own ballpark tour and saw every ballpark in the northeast starting from Detroit a few years back) and can say Petco is an amazing park to watch a game, even if you do not care about the teams who happen to be playing that night.

You really have a nice day right here in this post - start out over at seaport, have lunch and spend 2 or 3 hours there (easy to do). Then shoot over to the Midway and spend some time there then catch a Padre game at night. All great experiences, and alll truly unique to San Diego.

[winniepooh]

I love the zoo, in fact we will be driving from LA to Las Vegas via San Diego this summer just to visit the zoo.

[BoneDaddy]

I love the zoo, in fact we will be driving from LA to Las Vegas via San Diego this summer just to visit the zoo.

I suppose if you're from Denmark, that's not much of a detour...

[Zimbubba]

We just bought a Zoo membership for $98.00. Unlimited admission to both parks, free skyrides, etc. and it is tax deductable!

[Dustysage]

I also prefer the Wild Animal Park to the SD Zoo. However, I love them both!!! One thing to check before you go: They seem to be having trouble with the Monorails and may shut them down for a long while while they are being rebuilt and the paths changed. It was reported that they will be splitting the track into two circuits rather than one huge one. This will make it much more family friendly as each one would be about 25 minutes rather than the current 55-60 minutes (a long time when you are a toddler who has to go potty). If the monorail is going to be down, you might want to go to the Zoo instead.

While in SD, don't miss Old Town. I love it there. Sea World is fun too (if you haven't been to the one in Orlando)

[Dutchman]

The Monorail(the "Wgsa Bush Line", and there is a interesting story how it got this name, but can't talk about it here) is thirty years old. Originally built by a subsiderary of WABCO (Westinghouse Air Brake) the firm was sold to Chula Vista based Rohr Industries at the time of the Wild Animal Park installation. At the time Rohr was expanding into the rail transit business, eventually building trains for BART in San Fran,MARTA in Atlanta, and the WAMTA in Washington DC, as well as several sets of gas turbine powered trains for AMTRACK. However the bailed out of the transit business by the early 80's and orphaned the equipment at the Wild Animal Park. The mechanics there have done a great job keeping the system running under the circumstances. However during the Winter Holidays they had two trains go down at night out on the line, with a lot of negative publicity surrounding how it was handled. Rumours are flying around that it's going to be replaced with what sounds like propane fuel parking lot trams.