|
San Diego Zoo PicturesVisit one of the world's top zoos--right here in Southern California!In the slide show above, you're viewing pictures of San Diego Zoo animals and attractions! Included are pictures of the San Diego Zoo's famous panda bears; the San Diego Zoo is the only place in Southern California where you can find them! You're also viewing pics of the otter exhibit in the Children's Zoo area, a place where you can linger and enjoy the antics of playful otters...either from above the water line, or else underwater via a viewing window. Other animals in you'll see in the slide show are primates called bonabos, plus caribbean rock iguanas...even tortoises having a fight! San Diego zoo attraction pictures include a zoo store, where you can buy animal-themed merchandise. You'll enjoy getting an aerial view via the skyride you'll see in these pictures, as well. On this page, you'll also discover practical details for planning your San Diego Zoo visit, including ticket prices, address and directions. San Diego Zoo overview
The San Diego Zoo is one of the world's foremost zoos. It is at the very center of animal research and endangered animal breeding programs. The San Diego Zoo partners with other zoos all over the country---and, indeed, the world---to help and advise these zoos with their own animal conservation programs. In addition to research, the San Diego Zoo, OF COURSE, offers a first-class zoo experience for thousands of visitors each year. At the San Diego Zoo, you'll find all the services you'd expect from a major zoo---spacious and natural compounds for the animals, informative tours, interactive exhibits, animal shows, gift shops, and "creature comforts" for humans, too (like plenty of restrooms and restaurants with tasty food.) San Diego Zoo -- Part of amazing Balboa Park
One of the the first things you should know about the San Diego Zoo, if you've never yet been there, is that it sits in the middle of huge and lovely Balboa Park, San Diego's pride and joy. You should be prepared in advance to decide how much time you will allocate to the attractions of Balboa Park before your visit; once you discover the other attractions, you will WANT to see them, too! Yet, you could spend DAYS at Balboa Park and not repeat doing the same activity twice! There are approximately 30 museums and exhibit buildings at Balboa Park, many of them built for the 1915 Pan American Exposition held in San Diego. These original buildings (featuring Spanish-style architecture) are simply stunning. You could spend several HOURS simply getting to all the buildings and admiring the their exterior architecture, without ever stepping foot inside them! Families, in particular, will enjoy Balboa Park's Reuben Fleet Science Museum, the San Diego Aerospace Museum and the San Diego Museum of Natural History. Children will also enjoy a ride on the Balboa park's carousel, romping on one of the park's spacious lawns, or heading to the playground area. San Diego Zoo -- Exhibits
When it comes to describing the exhibits at the San Diego Zoo, it would make a much shorter list to talk about the animals that they DON'T have!Giant Panda Research Station--- At the San Diego Zoo, you'll see all of your favorite animals, and then some. Of course, the pride and joy of the San Diego Zoo is their giant panda exhibit, which consists of two parts. There's the giant panda viewing area, called the Giant Panda Research Station (which features a "Panda Cam" where you can view these cuddly-looking animals from home.) Giant Panda Discovery Center--- Another great activity for families is the Giant Panda Discovery Center, which is a mini-kids museum featuring all sorts of interactive exhibits that your children will enjoy...while learning all about these attractive and interesting creatures. Other San Diego zoo exhibits have exotic-sounding names. You'll see Polar Bear Plunge, the Rainforest Aviary, the Ituri Forest, Absolutely Apes, Gorilla Tropics, Tiger River and Monkey Trails. Then there are other exhibits which don't have exotic names...but still feature great views of bears, camels, the big cats, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, koala bears, elephants, meerkats, ...and other animals that are less-familiar, as well. There are animal shows you and your family will enjoy. At the Wegeforth Bowl (an amphitheater), you can catch a Sea Lion show (which is held twice daily during the "slow" season, and more often during summer.) At the Hunt Amphitheater, you may enjoy a presentation about animal predators! (Keep your fingers and toes close to your side! Just kidding!) And in the Children's Zoo area, there's a humor-filled show aimed at the kiddies called the "Dr. Zoolittle Show." All shows at the San Diego Zoo come included with the price of admission.
What doesn't come included with your admission ticket? Well, that depends on what "level" ticket you've purchased. The least expensive ticket includes ONLY admission to the zoo. This BASIC admission ticket does NOT include the 40 minute, double-decker tour bus ride. Concerning the bus tour...I'd strongly like to recommend it! Well, of course, the bus guide gives you all sorts of interesting information about the zoo's animals and exhibits...but even more than that, this tour really saves your FEET! I need to warn you that this zoo is HUGE. You WILL be tired after your visit if you don't carefully guard your energy from the moment you enter the park! Taking the bus tour is one of the best ways you can do this.Another foot-saver is the express bus, which makes stops at various exhibits around the park. With an express bus pass, you can get on and off again however you please. There's also a sky ride called the "skyfari," which can be purchased either separately or as part of an admission "package" ticket. Riding the Skyfari will give you a totally different look at the zoo's animals from overhead...and can help you decide which exhibit's you'll want to explore in the most detail. There's one more little attraction that your kids will enjoy---a cute little mini-train ride. The cost of the train ticket isn't included in any of the park's admission plans...but only costs $1.75 per person (any age.) San Diego Zoo -- Discount Tickets
There are a number of different admission plans at the San Diego Zoo---1.) The "Admission-to-Zoo Only" plan: For the price of $24.50 adults/$16.50 children ages 3--11, you'll be admitted to the San Diego Zoo, and be able to enjoy all the animal exhibits and shows. You save money on the zoo's other ticket plans because this is a "bare bones" package with no extra activities included. This ticket is not offered online at the zoo's website, so you'll have to get it at the gate. If you've already seen the zoo and taken the bus tour, this may be the best plan for you. You know how the zoo is laid out and what your favorite exhibits are...and you can make a simple beeline for them. One foot-saving idea if you purchase the basic admission ticket is to spend $3 (each person, all ages) on a one-way Skyfari ticket to the far end of the zoo. That way, you'll be able to stroll in only one direction...back to the entrance again. If you do purchase the basic admission ticket and decide that you want to take the bus tour later, you may purchase a bus tour ticket for $10/adults or $5.50/child inside the zoo. San Diego Zoo military discount: The cost of this basic admission ticket is FREE to military members in uniform! 2.) The San Diego Zoo Best Value Admission 3.) The AAA (American Automobile Association) offers a discount on the Best Value Admission Package to its members. If you're a member of the AAA, you can show your AAA membership card at the San Diego Zoo ticket office for a 10% savings.
5.) The 3-for-1 Discount Ticket 6.) The Southern California CityPass 7.) The Best of Balboa Park Passport The San Diego Go Card includes not only the San Diego Zoo, but other major attractions, as well. Included are the San Diego Wildlife Park, Legoland, Knott's Berry Farm, Knott's Soak City Water Park, Wild Rivers water park, Hornblower Cruises, Belmont Park at Mission Beach, Whale Watching tours, Temecula Wine Country tours...and there are plenty more attractions on the list. You may use the following link to see the Go San Diego Card 9.) ARES Travel discounts: ARES Travel is a company that has permission from the San Diego Zoo to sell its tickets at discounted prices. You can purchase the Best Value Ticket for $31 dollars from ARES (vs $34 from the zoo itself,) and $22 for kids (vs. $24 from the zoo.) ARES Travel is able to offer this discount because it sells in bulk to many Convention & Visitor's Bureaus and travel agencies. (ARES Travel also offers some zoo ticket/hotel combo packages, as well.) If you'd like to discover the details, you may visit the San Diego Zoo Tickets page of the ARES Travel website. 10.) Entertainment Coupon Book: If you have a San Diego edition of the popular Entertainment Books, you will find a coupon for $4 off of the San Diego Zoo's Best Value Package. This discount is good for up to 6 people in your party. For 2008, it's Entertainment's Coupon #G56. The Los Angeles edition does not have an SD Zoo coupon. The Entertainment books...which run $25 - $45 dollars each depending on the edition you choose...are stuffed with dozens of coupons to local restaurants, stores and attractions. To discover more about them, use the upcoming link to check out the www.Entertainment.com website. San Diego Zoo -- Address, Map, and Directions
The San Diego Zoo phone number is---(619) 234-3153 San Diego Zoo hours of operation: The San Diego Zoo's hours for the spring season (March 31 thru June 20) are as follows: San Diego Zoo opening time is 9 am , last admission time is 4 pm, and zoo closing time is 6 pm. Summer Hours at the San Diego Zoo are more generous. Juring July and August, the SD Zoo opens at 9 am and closes at 9 pm. On September 2, Fall hours begin...with the zoo opening at 9 am and closing at 6 pm (with last admission at 4 pm.) The above address is the zoo's street address that you'll use to actually visit the zoo. However, if you need to write to the zoo, use the San Diego Zoo's mailing address--- Take I-5 heading south. You'll pass the exit to SeaWorld...and then the exit to the San Diego airport. Next, Interstate 5 will enter the Downtown San Diego area...and you'll want to start watching for the zoo exit. After you've passed through the tall buildings, you'll find the exit clearly marked for Balboa Park and the zoo. That's your exit--take it and follow the signs! Backwards Links: Back HOME :: Back to top of "San Diego Zoo" Select a different zoo/aquarium page: Los Angeles Zoo Long Beach Aquarium :: Jellyfish & Sea Nettles ::
|
Southern California has several interesting zoos...but by far the most popular zoo with both visitors and locals alike is the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California's huge Balboa Park.
8.) The "Go San Diego" Discount Card
