Which zoo is better la or san diego

This is a one-time-only email. You are NOT signing up for a million emails, or ransoming a Nigerian prince. San Diego Zoo tickets are a better deal. It feels more spacious. Parking is free at the San Diego Zoo. I suggest you get there early in the morning because otherwise, you might be parking rather far out in the free parking area. If for some reason you are arriving later maybe the Summer Nighttime Zoo? A free shuttle will take you from that location to the Zoo and back to your car.

Go any day. Go straight to the gate. Click HERE to buy. Enter code at checkout. This code is only good at aRes Travel , the San Diego-based authorized ticket seller. I highly recommend the guided zoo bus tour. It takes 25 to 35 minutes. It will give you a quick overview of the zoo. The first is if you have a very active toddler. The second is if you have a favorite animal that you want to photograph first thing in the morning.

In that case, run over to the animal that you want to take pictures of and then return for the bus tour. The Kangaroo Bus is a time and energy saver. It starts running at AM. It goes in a loop through the middle and along the outer edge of the park closest to Hwy The route goes from Urban Jungle down the steep Center Street hill where the bears are.

Then from stop 2 by the snow leopards, it will take you up the steepest section of Park Way to stop 3. Between stops 3 and 4 by the meerkats, the terrain is flat. These free with entry talks are given by the keepers and cover many species from polar bears and lemurs to giraffes. You never know what type of animal will appear. These presentations take place in two spots. The other is at the Rocks Box stage within the Africa Rocks exhibit which takes about minutes to walk to from the entrance.

Outback — the stars of this zone are cute koalas. Go there to see the red pandas which are like upscale, fashionista raccoons. And then spend some quality time admiring the beauty of the Amur and snow leopards. They nap a lot as all cats do. Africa Rocks This exhibit really does. I love the lemurs and their fossa predators.

Plan to spend lots of time watching the penguins zoom around the local leopard sharks in the underwater viewing area of the aquarium in their Penguin Habitat at Cape Fynbos. The space is cool and shaded with plenty of benches. And sometimes the penguins are curious enough to stop and watch the children. But my favorites are the orangutans. My favorite in this section is the Masai giraffe herd exhibit. As you tilt your head back, and back, you realize just how TALL these gentle giants are.

You can also feed them and their rhino neighbors for a very reasonable cost. Northern Frontier The west Skyfari boarding point is here. They enjoy diving off rocks and surprising each other, batting around enrichment items, and eating junk food. The arctic foxes are adorable too. Some died out here but thrived elsewhere. See how elephants, lions, jaguars, condors, secretary birds, condors, camels, and capybara are all connected by their ancestral roots here in San Diego.

There are great opportunities for unique photos of your kids or you riding a foot long ancient lion or about to be eaten by a huge predatory bird. Discovery Outpost — This is the most varied section of the zoo. View entertaining and informative animal shows at the Wegeforth Bowl.

Many more reptiles can also be found here. The 4D Theater is a paid experience that many think is not worth the price. The 4th dimension is smells, temperature changes, and getting water squirted on you worth it on hot days? And the wait can be up to an hour on peak days. Go directly to the gate. Enter the code at checkout. You will get your tickets by email.

Here are some of my favorites:. Lion Camp — I love watching the lions watching the antelope watching them from the large field enclosure next door. I spend way too much time here. This exhibit requires a bit of patience and careful observation. Best Classes for Kids in Los Angeles in We've Got Some Reopening Dates.

Los Angeles Visitors' Guide for Families. Previous Next. The Los Angeles Zoo While the LA Zoo is a must-see destination for holiday lights , it's also a pretty great place to visit with the family year-round. Orange County Zoo.

Photo courtesy of Santa Barbara Zoo San Diego Zoo This is considered, by many, to not only be the best zoo in California, but maybe even the entire world. San Diego Safari Park It's as close to an African safari as you're going to get in SoCal, and not only is it a lot cheaper and easier, it may even be better. Places featured in this article: Map All Locations.

List All Location Details. America's Teaching Zoo Orange County Zoo LA Zoo Santa Ana Zoo Santa Barbara Zoo San Diego Zoo Safari Park This Week In Los Angeles.

Neighborhood Guides. Activity Guides. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Use. I f your cousins want to spend some time getting to see SD then the zoo might be part of that trip. Plus, much of the Wild Animal Park is under construction -- there is some construction going on at the Zoo, but it is not as intrusive. You will also be able to visit Balboa Park , with it's many restaurants and museums, if you wish later in the day. Overall the Zoo is worth the drive!

I've been to the LA Zoo and it simply isn't that great. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.

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