San Diego Zoo
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98 Reviews for San Diego Zoo
2
00 families found this helpful
"Great and a Great Workout"
They have an abundance of animals and alot to see. Alot of up and downs and passage ways through the trees, my boys had a blast exploring. Walking the zoo is the best route. The bus tour is just an overview. I would pack a lunch or snack and spend the afternoon there.
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'10, '11
0 families found this helpful
"We loved it!"
I haven't been to the San Diego Zoo since I was the age that my son is now (3 years old), so I had no idea what to expect. I'd heard great things, and this zoo did not disappoint! It's the best zoo in the US for a reason- what a fabulous place. We went with our 3 1/2 year old and 2 year old, and had a great time today.
We came via trolley and bus, but parking is free if you have a car. Access was easy on public transport and we arrived from our hotel in Old Town fairly quickly. Buying tickets just took a moment, and we were inside picking up maps before we knew it. The admission desk person recommended starting out with the 35- minute guided bus tour that is included in the One Day Pass. My son was desperate to see monkeys, so we did the short Monkey Trail first instead.
After seeing a few animals and stopping to have a snack at one of the lovely and spacious eating areas, we did ride the bus around the zoo. If you're traveling with little kids who might not have the stamina to walk around the whole zoo, I hugely recommend doing the bus tour! We saw so many animals from a great vantage point and really felt that we got a good feel for the zoo.
After the bus tour we took the tram to the top of the zoo and walked downhill back to the start line. We saw more animals on our way, then ended up at the Children's Zoo area. Our kids loved the petting zoo and all the small displays- it was a great way for them to be able to see the animals at a level that worked for them.
We were using two strollers that we brought from home to transport our kids. For the bus tour we parked the strollers and for the tram we folded them up and brought the strollers along. Everything was very accessible all day and having the two strollers didn't slow us down a bit.
This is such an amazing place to visit- I can't wait to go back someday!
0 families found this helpful
"Very Fun Place!"
This has to be by far the funnest zoo that I have ever been to. There are a countless number of activities, exhibits, and animals to see. There is no way that any person of any age could get bored here. They have the cutest koala exhibits that you can go and see, and not to mention the sea lion exhibit. There's always something new going on that will no doubt attract your attention. There's great food and lots of places to just relax and enjoy the view if you need to rest.
0 families found this helpful
"BEST zoo ever!"
This is the best zoo I have ever been too. HUGE and it has everything.
Perfect for kids too, everything is geared toward the kids being able to see the animals. Strollers are a MUST for younger kids as it is a BIG park, lots of walking.
Snacks and food were surprisingly not too badly priced either, so that was a plus.
Another bonus is that it is in San Diego so nice to visit all year around.
0 families found this helpful
"Best Zoo We've Been To"
The San Diego Zoo is the best zoo we've been to! It's really big, so it can keep your family busy for a whole day. One of the best things about this zoo is that they have some pretty unique animals, such as pandas and koalas. We haven't seen those animals in any other zoos!
0 families found this helpful
"Great zoo! Need more than one day to see it all!"
This is a world-class zoo but it is so big and so spread out that you need more than one day to see and experience it all. It has every kind of animal that you can think of to enjoy. I haven't been here with my own kids since they are so little but I went with my older nieces and nephews and they had a blast. Great place!
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"One of the BEST zoos in the WORLD!"
No visit to San Diego is ever complete without a trip to the world famous San Diego Zoo. The sheer variety and number of animals is unbelievable. Had visited many years ago but took the kids this time. Some things never go out of style. This is one of those places: FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART!
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"Best Zoo I've Been To"
What doesn't the SD Zoo have? Everything is there from reptiles to lions to polar bears to pandas to elephants. You can take the bus tour, however, I don't think you can see as much from it, so I would only do that if for health reasons you can't walk around the park. Bring a lunch for the kids and definitely bring a stroller since the place is so big.
0 families found this helpful
"This is the coolest Zoo ever!"
If you are thinking about going to this zoo, I would definitely recommend it. The animal enclosures are larger and nicer than most zoos I've been to with lush foliage and a natural feel. Get a good look at all of your favorite animals, with awesome viewing opportunities at each animal enclosure. A ton of fun! Bring your camera and some good tennis shoes and enjoy trekking around this huge zoo. Or hop on a tram, overhead skyway gondola, or a tour bus. Fun for everyone.
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"So much to see!"
When we went to the San Diego zoo it was pouring down rain all day but that didn't stop us from having fun. There were so many different types of animals to see that everyone found their favorite. We also went on the bus tour around the zoo (mostly to get out of the rain but it was also a great way to see a little bit of everything before we started wandering around the exhibits.)
The zoo is super close to the downtown area of San Diego so it is really easily accessable. When my husband and I were there once we actually walked from our hotel but I would NOT do that with children.
This zoo is one of the best that I have ever been to and our family would love to go back!
1 family found this helpful
"not what I expected"
I've heard of this zoo all my life, so I was excited when our friends wanted to take us. First off, it was very packed. I don't think February is peak season, but the attractions all seemed very busy for that time of year. Second, there are a lot of steep hills. Prepare for a lot of walking (it is a huge zoo) and a work out going up and down steep climbs. Third, the animal habitats are large, so it was very hard to see some of the animals.
0 families found this helpful
"San Diego Zoo, CA"
This is by far the best zoo ever! It has a real-like wild safari tour and it is amazing. People of all ages will love this zoo. If you are in the San Diego area, this is a must see! It has so many animals - everything you can think of. The lions den is one of my favorites. There are many baby lions and they are very active and so fun to watch. This is a great fun zoo.
1 family found this helpful
"Huge Zoo"
This zoo was awesome. It is very big with lots of hills to walk up and down. It took us all day to go through and we could have easily spent 2 days there.There are lots of hills and a lot of walking so wear comfortable attire. There are some trams that go around the park which are wonderful since the park is so big. There is so much to see. They have a large variety of animals that seemed to be organized pretty nicely like all the bears are together, all the cats, and so on. It appeared to be pretty clean and well kept. The pandas were a favoirte. Overall wonderful.
0 families found this helpful
"what a zoo!"
This is a phenomenal zoo! And it was huge. I would even say you could take 2 days to see this zoo. They have everything…from panda bears to polar bears. When we went we stopped at the big animals that you don’t necessarily get to see at other zoos. We could have spent another day looking at the animals we have had the opportunity to see before. The kids had a blast. It was one of those trips that I hope they remember forever. And I think it will be. I mean how often do you get to see a polar bear? Sadly probably not much longer:(
The cages and exhibits were also wonderfully clean. You get the feeling that the animals are really well taken care of and respected. When we saw the hippo tank…you actually get to go under the ground so you can really see the hippo…and the tank was sooooo clean and clear…not like at other zoos when the water is all murky and brown…The whole was a really wonderful experience!
And of course there are plenty of opportunities inside to spend a lot of money…so maybe leave your credit cards at home…lol.
0 families found this helpful
"Lives up to its reputation!"
This zoo is wonderful. With small children, it would take a day or two to cover the whole zoo. The bus ride around the zoo is a great way to see the zoo without having to walk all over. The pandas are a special treat. When we visited, there were baby pandas.
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"World's best zoo"
The San Diego Zoo is quite possibly the greatest zoo you could ever go to. Your kids will discover some animals they didn't even know existed and how these animals live in their natural habitat. Throughout the park, there are fun activities to do and animal statues to climb on, and a great, long walk!! The variety and selection of the usual and uncommon animals makes for a fun , educational day out. Make sure to bring your own lunch though, as you will be paying a pretty penny for a burger and fries. Try the tram tour, it will give you new insights and info.
0 families found this helpful
"Awesome zoo!"
This is the ultimate zoo! Be prepared for lots of walking and do your research ahead of time so you can be sure to get to the exhibits that you really want to see. The first thing we did was visit the panda exhibit in the morning and we didn't have to wait in line at all. However, around 11am the line for the exhibit was at least a 30 min. wait! There are plenty of nice benches for sitting and relaxing, so that makes it a little easier to take a break during the day with small children. Great zoo!
0 families found this helpful
"Definitely need more than one day to see it"
This zoo is huge. We were there all day for 2 days and I felt that we could of spent even one more day to see everything. There are so many different kinds of animals and they are spread out throughout the zoo. There are a lot of natural boundaries instead of fences. There are. Lot of exhibits as well. A bus will take you to the next spot if you get tired but bring your most comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot.
0 families found this helpful
"We LOVE this place!"
This is a great place to walk and talk with your children and girlfriends. There are always many interactive things to do with the children. The elephant park and polar bear area are our favorites! The hike up the hill sure gets your heart pumping. It's a great place to meet up with friends during the week and the parking is FREE!! We love visiting the zoo!
0 families found this helpful
"It's Hard to Beat this Zoo"
If you are going to the zoo, it is hard to find a better one than the San Diego Zoo. They have an amazing range of animals -- you could spend the whole day here and maybe not see everything. Wear your walking shoes and bring your jogger stroller, though. The terrain is very hilly and kids will tire out easily. Also be prepared that there are a number of things inside the zoo that cost extra money. There is a bus ride that takes you around the zoo. We did it once, but I did not find it to be a very good value when paying for a family of six. Lots of people love it, though. There is a sky ride that is $4 each way -- that would be $24 each way for our family!-- that can take you down to the polar bear and artic exhibit. Last time we were at the zoo we saw the polar bears playing together in the water (there is a viewing area where you can see above and below the water) and it was amazing. You can also walk down to this area, which is what we do. Every October (in the past few years -- I can't promise for the future) the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park are free for kids 11 and under. I buy a membership for me and my husband in October, which will last until the next December. Memberships here are individual, not for the whole family. Then we visit both parks in October each year, for only the one year cost of the membership for me and my husband. Not a bad deal!
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