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Desert Chica

Southern Arizona Blogger

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Our San Diego Zoo Visit!

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December 13, 2011 · Karen · 5 Comments

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We love the San Diego Zoo, and were excited to take the boys on their first adventure there recently. Check out our experience with little kids on their first trip to the San Diego Zoo.

Panda bear with green leaves
Panda on loan to the San Diego Zoo

The boys loved the huge elephant standing guard at the entrance. They also loved the Reptile House which is located near the front of the zoo. They could have stayed there much longer checking out the slithering creatures but the San Diego Zoo is huge and there was a lot more animals to see.

giant elephant hedge at entrance to San Diego Zoo
A giant elephant greets you at the entrance to the San Diego Zoo.

From there we rode the Skyfari to the back of the zoo. The boys loved flying over the top of the zoo, even if it made Peter a little nervous. Elliot wouldn’t stop wiggling around. 😉

I love that admission to the San Diego Zoo includes access to the Guided Bus Tour, the Kangaroo Express Bus and Skyfari Aerial Tram. The San Diego Zoo is very large and these attractions help when visiting with little kids.

Two boys with heads popping out of an ice den exhibit with a fake seal
There are lots of fun photo opportunities near the Polar Bear exhibit.

The Polar Bear exhibit is close the Skyfari stop so we popped over there to see the polar bears and play with some interactive features. The boys loved exploring the polar bear snow den.

Playground with little boy standing on edge of green slide
The playground is an excellent way to let little ones burn off their energy at the San Diego Zoo.

The children’s zoo area was another big hit with the boys. There is a large jungle gym and petting zoo that are perfect for little kids. Plus they had a kid sized hand washing station and wipes dispenser.

child in red sweatshirt petting a goat
The goats are very friendly at the petting zoo.

After a little more exploring on foot, we caught the guided bus tour. It’s really the only way to see a lot of zoo easily with one day tickets. The boys loved sitting on top of the bus because they could see everything really well. Thankfully it was an overcast day, so the sun wasn’t too hot on us.

two kids looking through the railings of a bus at a flock of flamingos
Get a birds eye view of animals and rest your feet while on the Guided Bus Tour

How to Save Money at the San Diego

  • Bring your own water, snacks, and lunch. There are picnic areas outside the main entry or you can venture a little further into Balboa Park.
  • If you’re a soda addict, definitely invest in the refillable mug. It was the best $8.99 we spent. Free refills all day with your receipt and $1 refills on return trips.
  • Sometimes you can find zoo admission deals on Groupon or you can invest in a Southern California City Pass which offers admission to multiple attractions.
blue refillable cup from the San Diego Zoo
Food and drinks can get pricey at the San Diego, a refillable drink can help you save money.

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  1. Shondra says

    June 14, 2012 at 10:39 am

    Wow…looks like you guys had a blast! And congrats on surviving…I have an almost 3-year-old and an 11 month old, so I know how it can be without naps.

    I’d love to feature this on our San Diego-based site. Email me if you’re interested…

    shondra (at) dwellable (dot) com

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Karen.

I'm a mom to two boys, Arizona native, and travel lover. Desert Chica is my place to share a peek into our life and the easy and inexpensive costumes, crafts and desserts I like to make. “If I can do it, anyone can!” Learn more about me here.

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