im popping my san diego zoo cherry this week
i am signed up for a caravan tour with the family on sunday the 16
and am free to roam the parks for the rest of the day
i know that the park is big and can me overwhelming
so i want to know what not to miss and mabey where to eat
thanks yalls

You don't want to miss the Pandas. Make sure you hit the Heart of the Zoo exhibit, the monkeys are really cool.

As far as food, well your options are pretty bad and really really good. Inside the zoo,near the gorillas is a sit down restaurant called "Albert's", food is fantastic. THe rest of the food at the zoo, mediocre at best.

If your have a few hours after the caravan you should have no problem covering the sections that the bus can't get to.