answer

We are going to SD in March with 6 year old, we have been several times to Toronto Zoo and with so many things to do in SD since we are only there for 3 full days was wondering if we would be missing much by going to Sea World instead. I am sure its a wonderful zoo but not sure if we have time this trip.

Thanks for your help.

sunshine

The San Diego Zoo is great. If I were you, I'd skip Sea World. Have a great time.

Syv

If you've been several times to the Toronto Zoo (which is a great zoo & has it all), I agree to skip San Diego zoo. A zoo is a zoo is a zoo.

See the things your 6-yr-old won't be able to see at home.

Patrick

I'm curious Syv, if you have actually been to the San Diego Zoo? If so, I find it hard to imagine your saying a zoo is a zoo is a zoo. I'm a sort of zoo nut and have been to the Toronto Zoo which is nice, but comparing it to the San Diego Zoo is sort of like someone saying "I've been to Detroit, so should I go see New York?" and having someone answer, "no, a city is a city is a city."

There are two zoos in this world I'm aware of that are don't miss -- San Diego and Singapore!!!

LN

To be very honest there's a number of great zoos and I find the Washington DC zoo to be great. Like you, I've been to a number of zoos but I have found, in the states anyway, that it's hard to be the National zoo in DC. I've spent many a school field trip there and loved each and every trip. Yes, I've been to the San Diego zoo and I think that if I were going for 3 days there's a wealth of marvelous things to be seen in San Diego. The key does seem to be three days which is not very long in any great city.

sardog10

We went to the San Diego zoo and thought it was great, but we loved the San Diego Wild Animal Park so much more!

Syv

Patrick - sorry I guess I'm not a "zoo nut"

Just like other replies are saying - if they only have 3 days, there's so much else to see & do that will be different than anything they could get near home.

I also agree with the other reply about how great the Washington DC national zoo is.

To "answer" --- if your 6-yr-old has never seen the ocean, be sure to drive along the coast!

Barbara

The one thing you should not miss in San Diego is the Zoo and for a 6 year old, the Zoo is better than the Wild Animal Park.

MikeB

I'm a big fan of San Diego. If I took my 6 year old and 4 year old, I'd not miss the zoo nor SeaWorld. Why not ask the 6 year old what they want to do?

Lori

I don't know if the Toronto zoo has pandas but the SD zoo does and they are well worth seeing. I was there recently and it's a great zoo. We han't been there for about 12 years and we enjoyed it greatly. Go early tho,it gets crowded and lines for the skytram and panda area get long. Food is also very expensive at the zoo, I'd take a snack with me if I was going with kids.

Louis

From the viewpoint of a 6 year that has had a lot of zoo experience, by all means go to Sea World instead to give him an experience that will be hard to duplicate. This is not about who has the best zoo but how to expand the mind of a 6 year old. I think the adult will enjoy walking through an area surrounded by sharks for example and the six year old will get a thrill out of petting a dophin.

Clifton

Patrick,

If you ever have the chance, check out the Melbourne (Australia) Zoo. I think you might add another to your list.

They took out all the asphalt and filled in every bit of space with palms and tree ferns, creating a rain forest with all the "open" enclosures suddenly appearing around each bend on a winding path.

Not appropriate for the US forum, I know but I usually see & enjoy your posts on Europe so I know you get around!

ltt

the zoo is great, no doubt about it. but, most 6 year olds that i know would pick a day at the beach, playing in the water over the zoo. i also think that if he/she hasn't seen a similar thing, i'd recommend sea world. be sure to go to la jolla, down by the cover in the "children's pool". always lots of sea lions on the rocks.

BELLA

I WOULD GO TO THE SAN DIEGO ZOO.
IT IS DESIGNED SO THAT YOU CAN GET UP
CLOSE TO THE ANIMALS . IT WILL TAKE A WHOLE DAY TO SEE IT BUT YOU WILL LOVE IT
KIDS LOVE THE TIDAL POOLS. YOU CAN FIND THEM IN LAJOLLA AND NEAR THE CABRILLO MONUMENT. BALBOA PARK HAS MANY MUSEUMS. I REALLY LOVED HIKING THE TORRY PINES STATE PARK . THE TRAILS ARE GREAT.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN THE DESERT
BUT THEN YOU END UP AT THE CLIFFS AND OCEAN. THE TRAILS ARE NOT THAT LONG.
GO TO CORNADO ISLAND AND VIST THE HOTEL DEL CORNADO. BEAUTIFUL BEACH.