If you’re heading off to California with kids anytime soon I highly recommend that you add at least 3 days in San Diego to your itinerary. For families, San Diego boasts quite an array of attractions and activities perfect for the whole family. At the top of our list is the famous San Diego Zoo.
San Diego Zoo is set on 100 acres in Balboa Park, San Diego. Boasting more than 650 species on its grounds, we were hoping to spot some creatures that we had yet glimpsed from our visits to zoos across Australia.
We set off to San Diego Zoo with kids on a miserable December morning. The weatherman had predicted rain with an Arctic blast dropping the temperature and making things a little chilly. With a full itinerary, it was either rug up and do it or miss out. Hmmm…..flashbacks of a frigid cold trip to Pisa (I’ll tell you about that another time).
The good thing about rain is that it scares most people away from attractions. Our experience with American attractions up until this visit always started with a queue. There were no lines at San Diego Zoo. We decided to head off in a clockwise direction starting with the Discovery Outpost and Lost Forest. (You can see this all on the San Diego Zoo Map) We then hoped to make it to Panda Canyon and Asian Passage before investigating the Northern Frontier and Elephant Odyssey. All of this would be on foot.
Whilst we did walk most of the park, we did decide to catch the Alaska Airlines Skyfari Aerial Tram from the Northern Frontier back up to the entrance. From here we hopped on one of the Guided Bus Tours and headed to the top deck. By midday, the drizzle had stopped as the clouds parted and the sun beamed through. We sat back and listened as we revisited many of our favourite exhibits with a different perspective.
So what animals did we see on our visit? Oh too many to name them all but at the top would be the Giant Panda. It was our first time ever seeing these huge animals. We had read that the typical waiting time to see this exhibit ranges from 45 – 60 minutes. With the weather as it was, there was no wait and we were able to stop and observe them for at least 15 minutes or more. Typically you have moved along rather quickly so the next lot of people can move through. What an awesome experience.
Viewed as a symbol of power by Native Americans, the Californian Condors were quite the sight. It is the largest flying bird in North America and amazing to watch. Did you know that they’re also called Thunderbirds because there is a belief that the beating of their wings causes thunder? Whilst, not a pretty bird, we thought they were spectacular and grew an appreciation for the role they play as scavengers, tidying up all the mess other carnivores leave.
The Pygmy Hippopotamus was incredibly cheeky. (S)He followed Master R up and along the viewing area, pressing his or her head against the glass as if to say hello whilst swimming in the pool of water. Whilst supposedly not as aquatic as the larger hippopotamus we never saw the two pygmy hippos leave the water.
Food was available at kiosks and larger restaurant-style venues within San Diego Zoo. They actually have lots of options for every budget which boast a range of cuisines for every palate. We ate at the Sabertooth Grill which was yummy and easy. 
Interested in discovering all the animals on exhibit at the San Diego Zoo with kids? You can either go in person or click through to the San Diego Zoo Animal Finder.
I’m often apprehensive about zoos and always like to read up on their philosophy and the work they do before visiting. The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research is the largest zoo-based multidisciplinary research effort in the world and work tirelessly to help rescue endangered species from the brink of extinction. Currently, they are raising endangered Giant Pandas, Tigers, California Condors, African black rhinos, and a further 145 other endangered species. So far they have reintroduced more than 30 endangered species back into the wild and are restoring habitats, adding to their Frozen Zoo, preventing disease and so much more.
