My suggestion is to get there early. We were there about 15 minutes before they opened and it was gloriously uncrowded for the first hour or so. I think there was a special opening ceremony with birds, similar to the one at AK. It was fun!
A day at the zoo and a day at Safari park is one of our favorite things to do when we travel to SD. We consider the Zoo to be a 1/2-full day, depending when you arrive and what you want to see. But I could easily spend more than a day at the Safari Park (just my personal love of that park)! If you opt for the Safari Park, be sure to get a lunch reservation at The Watering Hole Overlook - the food is good but the view is priceless.Following along. We are headed to San Diego in April and looking for any and all recommendations! I wrote down all of the restaurant recommendations above!
Is the zoo a full day experience if you like zoos? Is it worth doing both the zoo and the Safari? (on different days obviously)
Thanks! I will def look into that.be sure to get a lunch reservation at The Watering Hole Overlook - the food is good but the view is priceless.
The zoo is definitely a full day experience, especially if you like zoos. It’s also located in Balboa Park which is in and of itself a destination that could fill days, should you tire of the zoo for some reason.Following along. We are headed to San Diego in April and looking for any and all recommendations! I wrote down all of the restaurant recommendations above!
Is the zoo a full day experience if you like zoos? Is it worth doing both the zoo and the Safari? (on different days obviously)
Thanks for all of that!!! I am looking at La Jolla Mom now! I have thought all of the things you just said. I was thinking just 1 of the zoos but they both sound great and I don't think we will be back to San Diego, so it is kind of now or never.Enjoy your trip whatever you decide
Oh I absolutely understand - my 13 year old tagged along yesterday but he was way more interested in doing the zipline (have to reserve ahead of time/additional cost) than seeing the animals.But I am also worried about choosing "fun" things for my girls. They are 12 and 14 right now and rapidly becoming "those" typical teens... so 2 zoo days might be too much. But then again, driving to see the ocean might be boring as well.
A day at the zoo and a day at Safari park is one of our favorite things to do when we travel to SD. We consider the Zoo to be a 1/2-full day, depending when you arrive and what you want to see. But I could easily spend more than a day at the Safari Park (just my personal love of that park)! If you opt for the Safari Park, be sure to get a lunch reservation at The Watering Hole Overlook - the food is good but the view is priceless.
Sounds like you'll be near both locations! I can tell you the San Diego Zoo itself has free parking and is a lot of walking. The San Diego Safari Park charges for parking and is A LOT of walking. If your family has done zoos before, the Safari Park is a unique experience - it's so large and so spread out - intentionally, for the sake of the animals co-existing in a more natural environment. From our experience, if you have the opportunity to be in Escondido and are so close to this unique park, I would highly recommend it. But read up online regarding the tram tour (you'll definitely want to take), and also some of the additional tours that are extra money, but can include up close experiences with giraffes, rhinos, elephants, etc. If you read up before you go, you can focus on the things your family will enjoy most. One thing to be aware - the climate in July is likely to mean it will be 10-15 degrees hotter at the Safari Park than it might be by the water in San Diego - not for certain, but the Safari Park is a more desert like area. We've also done that DL/Safari Park trip before and enjoyed it a great deal! It's not a bad drive from DL to Escondido, unless it's rush hour! Have a great trip!We are traveling west for a wedding in July. Doing 3 days at Disneyland, then we head to Rancho Bernardo for the wedding for 5 days. Planning to do one of the Zoo's. We are a family of 8 (four family members in their late 50's) 2 in mid 30's and a 4 year old and 2 year old. If you had to pick one of the 2, which might you pick for this zoo? We are currently leaning safari park because it is actually very close to where we will be staying (staying in escondido) Also we will be there for the 4 years (turning 5's) birthday if that factors into anything. However, we do plan to go into downtown San Diego at some point anyways, to tour the city/balboa park area and gaslight quarters.
Thank you so much for all the information, weather differences might impact our decision with the little ones and the grandparents in the group. If it's going to be a scorcher, we may opt for the 10-15 degress less at the main zoo.Sounds like you'll be near both locations! I can tell you the San Diego Zoo itself has free parking and is a lot of walking. The San Diego Safari Park charges for parking and is A LOT of walking. If your family has done zoos before, the Safari Park is a unique experience - it's so large and so spread out - intentionally, for the sake of the animals co-existing in a more natural environment. From our experience, if you have the opportunity to be in Escondido and are so close to this unique park, I would highly recommend it. But read up online regarding the tram tour (you'll definitely want to take), and also some of the additional tours that are extra money, but can include up close experiences with giraffes, rhinos, elephants, etc. If you read up before you go, you can focus on the things your family will enjoy most. One thing to be aware - the climate in July is likely to mean it will be 10-15 degrees hotter at the Safari Park than it might be by the water in San Diego - not for certain, but the Safari Park is a more desert like area. We've also done that DL/Safari Park trip before and enjoyed it a great deal! It's not a bad drive from DL to Escondido, unless it's rush hour! Have a great trip!