15 Best Things to Do in San Diego With Kids
Go wild
San Diego Zoo
One of San Diego’s most popular attractions is the San Diego Zoo. And for good reason: Located in historic Balboa Park, this sprawling 100-acre park is unlike any other zoo in the world. With over 700,000 species of plants in its botanical gardens and habitats, the zoo is home to over 3,700 rare and endangered animals. It’s best to tackle the zoo like you would an amusement park: Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, patience and cash. While there, you can take a double-decker bus tour, watch a 3D movie at the on-site theater, stop in and play at one of three playgrounds, ride the train or the exhilarating aerial tram, and get up close and personal with so many unique animal experiences.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
San Diego Safari Park, a wildlife sanctuary located in nearby Escondido, California, is a satellite site of the San Diego Zoo. The 1,800-acre park is home to over 3,000 animals and offers several daily safari-like excursions, hands-on animal experiences and exhibits.
Both the zoo and safari park are owned and operated by the not-for-profit organization San Diego Zoo Global. This means that joint tickets are available for both experiences at a discounted rate, but be aware that there’s an estimated 50 minutes of driving time between the two destinations (in the most merciful of traffic). Still, both excursions are worth the splurge — maybe just plan not to tackle them on the same day.
Next up: play ball
