bubski

Hello,
We are an Australian family of four (including five year old twins) who will be visiting San Diego in mid September for 6 nights. We had planned to visit the Safari Park, rather than the zoo, but are starting to rethink that plan for a few reasons: Park is further away, and some say that unless you pay for the expensive add-ons you don't get close to the animals. Should we go to the zoo instead? We are from Sydney and have a great zoo here (Taronga) but most say San Diego zoo is one of the best. We also plan on visiting SeaWorld and Legoland.
Should we do the zoo or the Park?
Is there anything else that is a must do?
Thanks alot.

tchoiniere

I agree that the Safari Park isn't worth it unless you do the close-up tours. I really like that zoo and its much closer.

I would list the Midway Aircraft Carrier as a must-do, but with 5 year olds, I am not as sure.

Melissa5

bubski: You will see more animals close up at the San Diego Zoo. I do recommend the San Diego Zoo. The Wild Animal Park is ok but you generally won't see as many animals close up. Since your children are 5 they will like Sea World.

September can sometimes be good beach weather, with fewer crowds. How about the beach? I recommend La Jolla Shores for swimming... For viewing the seals, visit La Jolla Cove area and then keep walking to see the seals. It's a nice walk along the coast.

Have a fun trip.

bubski

Thank you! We are actually staying in La Jolla so will spend some time at the beach!

spirobulldog

I think at the age you indicate your children would appreciate the zoo more. We like the Wild Animal Park better, but we did do one of the extra tours and it was expensive for what you get. And really you need to do more like 2 extra tours.

egnolive

I like both, but the Safari Park is really weather dependent. It is inland and can get extremely hot, even in September. If its hot during your time here, skip Safari Park.

I agree 5 year olds would like the zoo better. More animals and shorter distances between them. Don't miss the Children's zoo there.

The zoo is in Balboa Park. There are other kid friendly places there; a merry go round, little train, space musueum, etc. If you go on a Sunday, they have the Houses of Hospitality that give a little flavor of countries around the world that might be fun. Also an aerospace musueum.

The beach is always a hit in San Diego. Spend some time at the cove and/or Coronado Beach.

There's also a Children's Museum downtown.

Have fun.

lcuy

Another vote for the Zoo. If you are in La Jolla, the distance isn't that much to be a factor, but the heat can be. Sept is San Diego's hottest month, especially if there are Santa Ana wind conditions. The Safari park area is a lot warmer than Balboa park.

Make sure you allow time to ride the carousel outside the zoo, Fun for kids and adults as you try to catch the brass ring! The IMAX theatre at the Space center nearby often has really good films.

SusieQQ

Since you have a great zoo in your hometown, I would do things that you might not do at home. (BTW, I've been to many zoos and wouldn't rate the San Diego zoo as that great!)

Out of six days you will want to spend one day at the beach, another at Legoland, and are you going to go up to DisneyLand for the day? We always did that when we were visiting family in Sand Diego.

that doesn't give you a whole lot more time....

check these out:

Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater

1JAR

bubski, we visited your Toranga Zoo... loved it and loved staying at the Sydney Park Hyatt.really had alot of fun with friendly Aussies.Want to go back again and again...

Re: if you like Zoos, San Diego Zoo and animals are held in the highest regard. Consider if you can going as soon as possible in the moring as the animals will usually be as active as possile.

I do agree w/the other posters re: Safari Park..too hot and unless you can buy extra close up encounters you won't see much.

Seaworld has a brand new Turtle exhibit that is really talk of the town right now.. We went sailing in Whitsunday Islands when we went to Australia and loved all the Turtles that would pop up in the bays we anchored in.

dbdurand

This thread is getting a bit old, so it needs to be rejuvenated.

First, I endorse your initial thought of visiting the Safari Park rather than the Zoo, since you have a good Zoo at home. But the Safari Park is a different animal (get it?). It's 1800 acres vs. about 100 for the Zoo, and the activities, shows, and tours are more involving than at the Zoo. Because of your post, I went to their web site to see what they currently have to offer. Wow! a lot has changed in the 5 years since I was last there. I'm ready to go back. Seriously. The web site is a little confusing to negotiate, but if you work at it, you can find out everything you need to know. Looks great to me.

http://www.sdzsafaripark.org/planyourtrip/index.html

With regard to driving times, since you are in La Jolla, you are not as close to the Zoo as you might think. I get 24 minutes on Google maps. Legoland in Carlsbad, which is in your plan, is a little less than 40 minutes, and Safari Park, just outside Escondido, is about 46 minutes. Carlsbad direct to Safari Park is 35 minutes. Does that suggest anything?

Now, for temperature at the Safari Park. I strongly recommend that you not cross it off your list because of such comments as "hot", "too hot", or "extremely hot", all of which popped up in several responses to your post. Escondido, being inland, does indeed have a higher peak temperature during the day than San Diego. But in September it's quite acceptable, 86 high and 57 low. Source: http://www.weatherbase.com/

nanabee

> SusieQQ can you mention some of your favorite zoos? When my husband and I travel we do enjoy visiting other zoos, especially since we live in San Diego.

I have been to the Birch Aquarium often and I would not make a special effort to visit the Birch Aquarium as there are in fact many other cities that have much better aquariums (Sydney being one). The Marie Hitchcock puppet theatre is ok but nothing special I would go out of my way for.

I agree with egnolive's advice: >>The zoo is in Balboa Park. There are other kid friendly places there; a merry go round, little train, space musueum, etc. If you go on a Sunday, they have the Houses of Hospitality that give a little flavor of countries around the world that might be fun.>>

SusieQQ

nanabee,

My other suggestions were to give them some ideas of attractions that they might not see at home....

As far as zoos, I would rate the Bronx Zoo in NYC as #1 then the Singapore Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando and the Berlin Zoo,(off the top of my head) far above the San Diego Zoo....but IMHO the very best place I've ever seen wild animals was in Kenya and Tanzania....that kind of spoiled me as far as zoos are concerned....