I didn't know were to put this so i decided to put it here,

When my father gets back from Haiti we have decided to go to the San Diego Zoo, since my family has never been, and since we need a break from the cheap one here in Tucson (Reid park zoo). I was just wondering what attractions (besides animals) were there, how big is it (for both the Wild Animal Park, and the Zoo {two, three, four days?}) and is it a fun experince for a 14 year old, a 16 year old and parents?
Thank you!

I can not tell you what it is like . I can say im working on planing a trip in may and have ask a few people i know. They are saying the bus tour is good and get the season pass if you are going to both parks. Cause it will take a few days to really see everthing there is. I am getting the diamond pass you get free parking and both parks with other stuff. If you go on there sit you can get an extra 2 months free ( thats 14m pass) i hope this helps alittle.

You can do each park in a day. We tend to do one or the other, but not both in the same trip to SD, because we get zoo'd out. there is plenty of other things to do in San Diego, so I might pick wither the zoo or wild animal park and make time for other activities. How long will you be in San Diego?

THe WAP is a full day, Not only is it a ways out from SD, it is quite large. The Zoo is another full day activity. It's a beautiful zoo and one not to miss. There's aren't really any "rides" other than the skyway, which is cool. They also have a bus tour which is a good overview of the soo, but doesn't allow lingering moments with the Hippos or the Polar Bears.

If I were to choose one over the other, I would go to the zoo rather that the WAP. There are more animals and a better range of animals to see. However, if you go to the WAP, make sure you watch them feed the cheetas and the giraffs.

jrad- we don't know my dad is currently in Haiti fighting the war over there and will be back in about two more weeks. So we are just waiting until he gets back. But around the summer in late june-ish, early july.


Not Afraid- feed the cheetas?! can anyone do that!

Not Afraid- feed the cheetas?! can anyone do that!
Anyone can watch, but only the professionals get near the actual big cats. They are still very dangerous wild animals.

I hope for your dad's safe return. I'm a newspaper reported and have done many stories over the last year involving the familys of deployed service men and women. Thank him for everyone when he gets back.

As far as San Diego, it's one of my favorite places. Along with the animal attractions, some other fun places to visit include...

Balboa Park - Home to the zoo, but also to about a dozen museums and some great archetechture. The museums are pretty cheap and there are a variety of topics.

Coronado - Head over to this "island" and enjoy the best beach in San Diego in my opinion. Coranado Beach is usually less crowded than mission beach in my experience, plus you have the Hotel Del Coranado as background.

Point Loma - Great views, and an old light house that is fun to explore.

Old Town - Fun shops and history, plus a great Mexican restaurant, The Old Town Cafe.

Baseball - The Padres open their new stadium in downtown San Diego next week. You can't beat a little afternoon baseball.

Seafood - I like the Fish Market and Point Loma Sea Food two great spots.

Seaworld - More expensive than the zoo or Wild Animal Park, but a relaxing park.

The WAP is huge but there's a tram for most of it. There are two walking trails, one is 3/4 of a mile and one is over a mile. They're both cool trails but if you're planning on going in the summer, escondido gets HOT. you might have trouble walking with the steepness and the heat, that being said, the zoo is VERY steep, get the bus tour, as it gives you information on the animals.

If you're going to both, the membership mentioned above gives you two adult passes for a year plus two guest passes to both parks, but no train ride or skyfari for the 3rd person, but with the membership the bus costs 8.50 instead of 10 dollars and the skifari is about 3 or 3.50 each way, so if you add that up, i believe it's 126 + 8.50 + 7 (two ways on the skifari) that's not too bad comparing that to 3 adult tickets at 32.50 a piece for the zoo and i'm not sure but it's at least 20 dollars per adult at the WAP.

I think it's great entertainment for anyone, esp animal lovers. The cheetahs are fed by a truck at a specific time of day, i think maybe 1? You can ask at the front, but they're all the way at the end of the heart of africa walk (i think) and it's a trek, so don't show up at the front of the zoo at 1 and expect to see the cheetahs.

You CAN feed the giraffes, you can buy carrots or something for a dollar or too, but unfortunately feeding the cheetahs is not something you can do at the WAP, i've petted a cheetah, but i had to go all the way to a petting zoo in Mt. Kenya in the real Kenya to do it.

have fun it's a blast, I have to say that even though i've done a real safari i still love the zoo and the WAP
jt

I love both WAP and the zoo. That said I would agree with jrad32 that doing both in one trip leaves you pretty zooed out. I also agree w/ NA that if you choose one, I would choose the zoo. The WAP can be done in a day but it is a very long day if you want to see it all. Both are a tough walk (and both are hot hot hot in the summer-- especially the WAP), so if you plan an walking, bring comfortable shoes.

Also, during the summer, the zoo is open late (I'm not sure whether it's every night though) and often has special entertainment like a children's regee band (for children, not a regee band made up of children).