BIOLOGY AND LIFE SCIENCES
San Diego

San Diego Zoo

Sea World San Diego

San Diego Wild Animal Park

We spent some quality time at the zoo, starting first with a guided bus tour. Tours are always a great way to start. It gave us the 'lay of the land' so we were ready for on foot exploration later in the day.
Although a lot of the human animal was on display, there were many quite corners to visit and explore. The panda exhibit was popular with the entire family and the kids loved watching the great orangutans, gibbons, siamangs and bonobos.

We recommend the zoo for children of all ages.

Interested in learning more about the zoo? Follow the link below.

On a par with the zoo is another world-famous San Diego destination, SeaWorld San Diego. Here the emphasis is on 'wet' with marine mammals, fishes, mixed with performances and amusement rides. It has the best elements of a zoo and a nature preserve. Unlike the zoo or animal park, it is definitely a for-profit business and is owned by Anheuser-Busch. But that didn't bother us. The care put into the animal displays and the animal shows was evident throughout. It was hard to pick our favorite as it kept changing as the day progressed. My personal favorite was the beluga whales habitat. The exhibit starts off with a simulated helicopter ride through the Arctic and leads to the tanks housing two beautiful beluga whales.

Speaking of cold, we also loved the penguin environment. These guys were great.

And you can't negligent a mention of the great Shamu, the killer whale. These magnificent orcas put on quite a show.

Don't miss this park.

Need a peek? Follow the link below.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park, like the zoo, is operated by the zoological society of San Diego. Like the zoo, there are hundreds of animals, but unlike the zoo, there is an effort to place animals in a habitat that resembles their own. The park is located northeast of the Zoo near the city of Escondido, and is twenty times as big as the zoo. That's a lot of real estate, over 1,500 acres) for the animals to stretch out in. The park is a relative newcomer to the San Diego scene opening to the public in 1972, but it has quickly become a top draw in Southern California.

Our favorite exhibit at the zoo was the lowland gorillas. The gorillas are in clear view and we spent time observing this family of gentle giants. Another favorite, especially for our kids, was Lorikeet Landing. With nectar available for feeding, the birds will land on your arm, your shoulder, even your head, for a drink.

The Wgasa Bush Line Railway gave us a detailed view of the entire park. This leisurely one hour tour was a great way to see many herd animals from Asia and Africa.

This is another must-see if you are in the San Diego area.

Want to find out more? Follow the link below.