If your family travels include the southern California coastline this vacation season, you won't want to miss sunny San Diego! Aside from its white sandy beaches, historic Old Town, and Fisherman's Wharf, San Diego is packed with fun destinations such as LegoLand, SeaWorld, the world famous San Diego Zoo, and the Wild Animal Park. There is definitely something for everyone here.
Wild Animal Park
Now this is definitely a sight to see and one that this editor highly recommends. This is not your run of the mill ordinary zoo. In fact, this park is located about 40 minutes east of the coast, in Escondido wine country. Why so far from the rest of San Diego's family attractions? Imagine Jurassic Park for non-fictional animals.
The Wild Animal Park owns acres and acres of countryside. Wild animals roam land similar to their natural habitat, a world of difference from the smaller exhibits at traditional zoos. Visitors can take a guided tour on the Wgasa Bush Line Railway through the huge park and observe these beautiful animals as they live and play in their natural surroundings. Exhibits include Indian rhinos and large antelope in the Asian Plains, while over in the East Africa section you will observe Uganda giraffes and Cape buffalo. You'll also travel through North and South Africa, an Asian Waterhole, the Mountain habitat and more. The Wgasa Bush Line Railway is a 60 minute guided tour that covers 5 miles and is included with your park admission.
The Wild Animal Park offers several other exhibits outside of the massive field habitats. A visit to the amazing Lorikeet Exhibit will provide you with up close and personal contact with these beautiful, colorful birds. Buy a cup of nectar before entering, walk through the doorway, and you'll be greeted by several Lorikeets looking for a sweet treat. These parrot sized birds rest on your shoulders and forearms as they drink the nectar straight from the cup in your hand. An incredible experience for children of all ages!
Other incredible exhibits include their new Lion Camp, Condor Ridge, Heart of Africa, Elephant Overlook, Africa Aviary, and several more. This park is incredibly unique and is doing amazing things to help save endangered species. Be sure to take the tour to learn more about the steps they are taking to save the animals of this planet.
The park offers special services for an additional fee such as their Photo Caravan Safari where visitors are taken down into the heart of the field exhibits for an up close and personal visit with some of their exotic animals. Also available is the Cheetah Run Safari, Group Tours, and even a kid's camp. Be sure to check out their extensive website and plan your visit.
Sea World
If this is your first trip to one of Busch Gardens' Sea World locations, you are definitely in for a treat! Sea World, home to the world famous Orca, Shamu, and more recently, Baby Shamu, will knock your socks off with a day filled with entertaining shows, fun rides, and amazing attractions.
When you arrive, be sure to grab one of the park maps which includes a wealth of information to help you plan your day. One side gives you an aerial view of the entire park, while the other side includes a complete show schedule, interaction times for live exhibits, park rides, a list of exhibits, and other helpful information including reservations, safety, lost & found and more.
General admission includes all shows, park rides, and exhibits. Aside from the shows, you can visit various individual exhibits to view penguins, manatees, and dolphins. Be sure to check out the interactive exhibits as well. Hold a sea star in the palm of your hand at the Tide Pool, feed bat rays and interact with moray eels at Forbidden Reef, hand feed the seals and sea lions at the Feeder Pool, and visit the sea otters and dolphins at Rocky Point Preserve.
Kids will giggle with delight as they watch Sea World's newest show, "Clyde & Seymour in Deep Deep Trouble". This slapstick comedy show stars two charming and funny sea lions that are sure to capture your child's heart. The park offers an array of shows including "Dolphin Discovery", "Pet's Rule", and "Shamu Adventure". Be forewarned though, if you want to stay dry, be sure to find seats past the first 10-15 rows! Part of the fun in Shamu's show is watching this massive killer whale scoop his tale through the water, creating a huge wave that drenches those watching from the front!
You will definitely want to stay all day so you can fit in the aquarium exhibits. Aquarium de la Mer houses fish and colorful invertebrates from all over the globe, while four-eye fish, piranhas, and upside down catfish are just a few you will encounter in the Freshwater Aquarium. The World of the Sea Aquarium contains coral reefs, kelp beds, and schooling fishes, while the Shark Encounter holds one of the world's largest shark exhibits, viewable while walking through a huge underwater tube tunnel.
Kids of all ages will enjoy Sea World. Young kids (and some parents!) will love Shamu's Happy Harbor, a playground of climbing ropes, tubes to crawl through and even some opportunities to cool off with a squirt of water! For the big kids, Sea World offers several rides including Journey to Atlantis, Shipwreck Rapids, Wild Arctic, and of course, R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse 4-D.
Throughout the day you can satisfy your appetite and quench your thirst under the San Diego sun or inside at many of their cafes and restaurants. Be sure to visit the gift shop to take home your own Sea World souvenir and postcard. Before you leave for the night and say good-bye, don't miss the spectacular fireworks display held every night between 8:30 and 9:00 pm.
San Diego Has More
There are several other family parks and adventures to be found in the San Diego area. Be sure to check out LegoLand, a family fun park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. Here kids of all ages can dig for "dino bones", play in the Water Works fountains, tour the Lego making process in their mini-factory, play in Knight's Kingdom, and check out the incredible Miniland USA made entirely of Legos! Legoland offers a variety of rides for all different age groups, including roller coasters, spinning fun and water rides. Visit Legoland California here
You can also visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau to find out more about their beautiful sun drenched California beaches, historical museums, downtown, Old Town, and plenty more. Be sure to add San Diego to your itinerary this vacation season, you won't regret it!
About the Author:
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial mother of four children. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com Magazine. Subscribe to her free newsletter by clicking "sign up" below
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The Wild Animal Park owns acres and acres of countryside. Wild animals roam land similar to their natural habitat, a world of difference from the smaller exhibits at traditional zoos. Visitors can take a guided tour on the Wgasa Bush Line Railway through the huge park and observe these beautiful animals as they live and play in their natural surroundings. Exhibits include Indian rhinos and large antelope in the Asian Plains, while over in the East Africa section you will observe Uganda giraffes and Cape buffalo. You'll also travel through North and South Africa, an Asian Waterhole, the Mountain habitat and more. The Wgasa Bush Line Railway is a 60 minute guided tour that covers 5 miles and is included with your park admission.
The Wild Animal Park offers several other exhibits outside of the massive field habitats. A visit to the amazing Lorikeet Exhibit will provide you with up close and personal contact with these beautiful, colorful birds. Buy a cup of nectar before entering, walk through the doorway, and you'll be greeted by several Lorikeets looking for a sweet treat. These parrot sized birds rest on your shoulders and forearms as they drink the nectar straight from the cup in your hand. An incredible experience for children of all ages!
When you arrive, be sure to grab one of the park maps which includes a wealth of information to help you plan your day. One side gives you an aerial view of the entire park, while the other side includes a complete show schedule, interaction times for live exhibits, park rides, a list of exhibits, and other helpful information including reservations, safety, lost & found and more.
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