Comply with these useful San Diego Zoo tricks to take advantage of your loved ones’s go to, whether or not you’re an area or it’s your first time at this famend wildlife conservation park. As a multi-year member and mother of two animal-loving youngsters, I’ve spent numerous hours exploring this attraction. Comply with this information and one-day itinerary to find which animals youngsters like to see, one of the best locations to eat, and the extras that make the San Diego Zoo with youngsters particular.
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Favourite Zoo Animals for Youngsters
Flamingo and Duck Pond (in Misplaced Forest)
Imitate the flamingos standing on one leg and “quack” on the geese at this bird-filled pond. That is a simple exhibit to work into your schedule because it’s positioned close to the zoo’s entrance. Regardless that you will notice many extra unique animals at this zoo, the Flamingo and Duck Pond is all the time a child favourite, particularly for toddlers and preschoolers.
Pandas (in Asia Passage)
An extended-time favourite of all ages, large pandas on mortgage from China returned to San Diego in the summertime of 2024! These oreo-colored bears positioned in Panda Ridge in Asia Passage are the zoo’s hottest residents. Notice that pandas are delicate animals, so this can be a quiet zone.
If seeing large pandas tops your precedence record, join prematurely for an Early Morning Pandas Strolling Tour for a further (hefty) payment. The minimal age to take part is 5. In any other case, get a time-stamped Panda Ridge entrance time or be part of the standby line. Learn extra about this in my San Diego Zoo itinerary.
You’ll be able to see pink pandas subsequent door in Asia Passage, too. Though large pandas and pink pandas have been as soon as considered carefully associated, scientists have now categorized pink pandas in their very own distinctive household—the Ailuridae.
Otters (in Misplaced Forest)
A number of the most energetic and playful zoo residents are otters. Everybody loves to look at these curious creatures climb, dive, slide, and swim. View Cape clawless otters alongside the Tiger Path and spotted-neck otters in Marsh Habitat in Misplaced Forest.
Penguins (in Africa Rocks)
Youngsters giggle with delight when watching San Diego Zoo’s flock of flightless African penguins waddle and play. Plan to spend so much of time with youngsters at this exhibit in Africa Rocks, close to Hua Mei Café in Asian Passage.
Koalas (within the Outback)
Youngsters love visiting cuddly koalas on the San Diego Zoo. Don’t anticipate quite a lot of motion, although. Koalas are sleepy creatures, so almost certainly, you can find them taking a nap. Take a peek at close by cute creatures like wallabies and tree kangaroos within the Outback, too.
Most Lovely Exhibit
Gorillas (in Misplaced Forest)
This lush gorilla exhibit alongside Monkey Path in Misplaced Forest is overflowing with waterfalls and greenery. Get a way of simply how large these apes are by inserting your palms in gorilla-cast imprints. Youngsters love climbing on the life-sized sculptures of the gorillas. Watch out, although — the bronze statues get sizzling in summer season.
Elaborate Animal Reveals
Elephant Odyssey
The Elephant Odyssey is certainly price seeing when visiting the San Diego Zoo with youngsters. Be taught in regards to the world’s largest land animals and their prehistoric kin, the mastodons. Then wander previous residing Indian and African elephants. Additionally, you will see such animals as camels, jaguars, and lions on this space of the zoo.
Polar Bear Plunge (in Northern Frontier)
Somedays, you may see a polar bear going for a swim and splashing about at Polar Bear Plunge in Northern Frontier throughout your loved ones’s go to to the San Diego Zoo. You’ll be able to view this huge mammal from an underwater viewing space or from above. The tutorial shows right here present youngsters how a lot polar bears must eat every day (quite a bit!). There’s additionally a crawl-through polar bear cave made from fake plastic ice.
Uplifting Views
Alaska Airways Skyfari (in Wildlife Explorers Basecamp & Northern Frontier)
Board SkyFari Aerial Tram East in Wildlife Explorers Basecamp or SkyFari Aerial Tram West close to Polar Bear Plunge in Northern Frontier. The experience will ship your loved ones hovering above the treetops for a birds-eye view of the animals under. It’s additionally a useful option to get from one aspect of the zoo to the opposite.
There’s a further payment to experience this attraction however San Diego Zoo members experience free of charge. Youngsters underneath age 8 have to be accompanied by an grownup.
Particular Animal Actions
Feeding Giraffes (in City Jungle)
Come on Friday by means of Sunday mornings to take part in my favourite zoo exercise: giraffe feeding! Your youngsters gained’t quickly overlook handing treats to those candy, towering animals. This chance prices a number of additional bucks and runs 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, or till the giraffe treats run out. This interactive expertise is accessible on the sister property, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, too.
Upgraded Experiences
San Diego Zoo presents a wide range of Upgraded Experiences with charges, from a deluxe tour in a particular cart to a multi-hour (costly) hands-on VIP expertise with a non-public information and particular animal interactions. I’ve by no means finished any of those personally, but when your loved ones has a deep love of animals, try the choices!
Finest Place for Youngsters to Play
Wildlife Explorers Basecamp
Previously Discovery Outpost, Wildlife Explorers Basecamp is the San Diego Zoo’s model of a youngsters’s zoo. The Tree of Goals construction right here offers a enjoyable spot to climb, cross rope bridges, slide, and play. Subsequent door is a Water Play Space with a waterfall, splash pad, and water jets for cooling off on a sizzling day.
Tastiest Meals at San Diego Zoo for Households
Youngsters’ meals can be found at eating places all through the zoo. Relying on the restaurant, anticipate requirements like rooster strips, sizzling canines, or quesadillas.
Jungle Java (in Misplaced Forest)
For surprisingly good espresso drinks and teas, try Jungle Java in Misplaced Forest, close to the zoo’s entrance. Youngsters will like sizzling chocolate, juices, and treats like popcorn or cookies, muffins, or seasonal loafs.
Hua Mei Café (in Asia Passage)
My favourite eating spot is Hua Mei Café, close to the pandas in Asia Passage. Take pleasure in Asian delicacies like orange or teriyaki rooster, Szechuan beef, or lo mein noodles.
Busy Bee Café (in Wildlife Explorers Basecamp)
The most recent restaurant on the San Diego Zoo, Busy Bee Café makes a good selection for households. Come right here for kid-friendly fare like honey corn canines, connoisseur burgers, pizza, wings, pizza, and Nathan’s Well-known sizzling canines.
Albert’s Restaurant (in Misplaced Forest)
For those who’d prefer to bask in a sit-down meal with desk service at San Diego Zoo, you possibly can! Make reservations prematurely or pop into Albert’s at Treetops Plaza, the place Monkey Path and Treetops Manner meet in Misplaced Forest. The meals is sweet, the setting is gorgeous, and there are some respectable wines on the menu. Nevertheless, I personally would slightly spend my time exploring the zoo than consuming a prolonged meal.
Exterior Meals Guidelines
Though your personal meals and drinks from exterior are usually not allowed moreover child meals, San Diego Zoo is fairly lenient with regards to packing youngsters’s snacks. For the reason that zoo is positioned inside the stunning Balboa Park, you might simply deliver a cooler full of meals to maintain in your (rental) automotive, however you possibly can’t deliver the cooler into the zoo. Take pleasure in your meal at a picnic desk exterior after which reenter the zoo as soon as your loved ones’s bellies are full.
Easy methods to See Most of San Diego Zoo in One Day
Bus Tour (Close to Zoo Entrance)
If you wish to see a lot of the zoo (about 75 %) throughout a brief timeframe, cough up a number of additional bucks for the San Diego Zoo guided bus tour. (It’s free for members.) You’ll view a large number of animals with the additional advantage of the driving force’s instructional commentary. Plus, most children love sitting on the highest degree of the double-decker bus. You probably have a baby aged 3 or youthful, although, I counsel skipping it. The tour takes 35+ minutes, and also you’ll spend most of your time placating your infant slightly than having fun with the experience.
Kangaroo Bus (All through the Zoo)
For a free, non-narrated expertise, hop on the Kangaroo Bus at stops all through the zoo as a substitute. It arrives about each quarter-hour or so at stops designated by yellow indicators formed like kangaroos, that are unfold all through the zoo. Even in the event you take the bus, ensure all members of the family put on comfy strolling sneakers since you’ll be doing quite a lot of strolling regardless.
San Diego Zoo with Youngsters Itinerary
If you wish to observe this itinerary, I counsel printing it earlier than you go or pulling it up in your smartphone to observe when you’re within the park. Obtain a map from the zoo’s web site or observe alongside on the San Diego Zoo app.
This itinerary doesn’t cowl each single animal on the San Diego Zoo. In spite of everything, it’s an enormous zoo protecting 100 acres that’s dwelling to 12,000 animals and 680 totally different species! But it surely does embody one of the best issues to do on the San Diego Zoo with youngsters, with choices for shortening or lengthening your go to to fit your household’s wants.
Morning
Very first thing while you arrive, scan the QR code on Panda Ridge indicators positioned all through the zoo, and choose an accessible time. Then you possibly can go to the large pandas at your designated time. If you’re visiting on a slower day and also you don’t wish to wait on your designated panda-viewing time, get within the standby line to go to Panda Ridge. In any other case, you could be ready a really very long time.
Then, cease by Jungle Java close to the doorway that can assist you deal with the zoo. Whilst you take pleasure in your breakfast treats, check out the day’s schedule and observe instances of any animal interactions or reveals of curiosity. Now that folks are sufficiently caffeinated, make fast rounds by means of the Outback to view koalas and different cute animals from Down Below.
Now, you may have a alternative: elephants AND lions OR bears (oh my!). Your loved ones can discover Elephant Odyssey to view the pachyderms and find out about their ancestors earlier than reaching large cats like pumas and leopards. Alternatively, head to Higher Middle Avenue (a.okay.a. Bear Canyon) in City Jungle, the place you possibly can spy on bears of all types.
Lunchtime
For those who’re hungry, cease for an Asian lunch at Hua Mei Cafe, named for the zoo’s former matriarch resident panda. In any other case, pause to eat at one in all 9 informal eating places or the full-service Albert’s Restaurant when handy. There are much more snack stops accessible with fast bites like ice cream, churros and even domestically brewed beer for mother and pa.
Afternoon
Subsequent up, deal with the Northern Frontier, the place the polar bears play. Then, board the Skyfari West for an uplifting option to view the zoo and attain the kid-pleasing Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.
For those who’d slightly stroll, take Bashor Bridge earlier than winding by means of Monkey Trails. If taking this route, then be sure to cease by the beautiful gorilla exhibit.
In Wildlife Explorers Camp, discover reveals dwelling to such animals as prairie canines and crocodiles. Then, relaxation your toes whereas youngsters discover the Tree of Goals play construction and Water Play Space.
Lastly, hit up the Flamingo and Duck Pond earlier than you head out, in the event you didn’t already see this exhibit on the finish of your Monkey Trails tour.
For those who’re feeling very, very bold, you might attempt to squeeze in penguins and different Africa Rocks reveals, the Misplaced Forest with its Tiger Path and Hippo Path, or the amphibians within the Reptile Stroll positioned close to Wildlife Explorers Basecamp.
Late Afternoon
Positioned simply exterior the zoo entrance, the Balboa Park Railroad Miniature Prepare and Balboa Park Carousel are fantastic methods to high off a full day on the San Diego Zoo with youngsters. (Actually, this was usually my youngsters’s favourite half!)
The Balboa Miniature Prepare sometimes runs daily from 11 am to six:30 pm, however this could differ relying on the time of yr. The experience lasts 4 minutes and chugs by means of the grassy park and a tunnel. If sharing a prepare with a gaggle of school-aged youngsters, beware that field-tripping youngsters scream in unison by means of the tunnel. It’s finest to attend for the subsequent prepare.
Balboa Park Carousel, in-built 1910, is among the few carousels on this planet that also presents the brass ring recreation. Huge youngsters and adults who wish to play ought to select an out of doors horse. Then attain out to know the small rings on every spin. Iron rings don’t rely; solely the rider who nabs the brass ring wins a free experience. The merry-go-round runs daily, 11 am till 5:30 pm in summer season and San Diego college breaks, however solely on weekends throughout the low season.
Save Cash on Your San Diego Household Trip
Wish to lower your expenses on the San Diego Zoo and extra? After all, you do!
Get Away Immediately
Discover San Diego Zoo gross sales and offers, together with ticket reductions and lodge bundle reductions, from our associate, Get Away Immediately. Use low cost code TravelMamas to get $10 off any two-night or longer Southern California bundle (lodge and two-ticket minimal).
Youngsters Free San Diego Month
Households visiting in fall are in luck! The whole month of October is Youngsters Free San Diego Month, with over 100 offers only for younger youngsters, together with free admission to the San Diego Zoo for teenagers aged 11 and youthful.
Go San Diego Card
It’s effectively price investing in a Go San Diego Card. You’ll save as much as 55% on enjoyable issues to do in San Diego, together with the San Diego Zoo!
Groupon
It makes good sense to examine Groupon for one of the best deal on actions and eating places in your vacation spot, and San Diego isn’t any exception. View Groupon San Diego offers now.
Extra to Issues to Do in California with Youngsters
Learn my picks for the finest issues to do in San Diego with youngsters. (Are you able to guess the place the San Diego Zoo ranks?)
Animal lovers will wish to learn my insider ideas for SeaWorld San Diego with youngsters and San Diego Birch Aquarium in La Jolla.
Craving good meals in San Diego? Learn my picks for the finest kid-friendly San Diego eating places.
A superb San Diego trip requires fabulous lodging. Check out my picks for the finest lodges for households in San Diego. (I’ve personally stayed at each lodge!)
For those who appreciated this story, then I wager you’ll love my picks for the finest locations to go to in California with youngsters!
Hold These San Diego Zoo Ideas
For future reference, remember to save these high ideas for visiting the San Diego Zoo. Merely pin the picture above or under to Pinterest. Go forward and observe Journey Mamas on Pinterest whilst you’re at it!
What animals would you prefer to see on the San Diego with youngsters (or with out)? Tell us within the feedback under!
A Notice from The Journey Mama: I didn’t obtain any compensation associated to this story. All opinions are mine, as all the time. Help the non-profit San Diego Zoo by donating now.