Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History

October 29, 2012 By

A perfect half-day pit stop off I-90 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Great Plains Zoo is manageably sized, but more importantly, carefully managed to be a high quality zoo experience in the heart of the midwest. Plus, Great Plains Zoo has a Kidscore of 66. (Learn more about Kidscore.)

Great Plains zoo

Great Plains Zoo is so open and accessible, it feels like a park that just so happens to house an impressive collection of animals, and its elevated viewing spaces and interactive exhibits allow even the youngest kids see the animal residents in an up-close and personal way. While walking from exhibit to exhibit, we interacted with geese and ducks, and found many shaded places to take a break, play on a kid-friendly sculpture, or just sit in the grass.

The zoo is in the midst of a multi-year improvement plan, during which it’s bringing in rare animal ‘families’, such as the Rare Rhinos of Africa and tiger cubs in the Asian Cat Exhibit. In the newly restored children’s zoo (now the Hy-Vee Face to Face Farm), kids can pet and feed farm animals and even ride a camel.

rhino sanctuary great plains zoo

I wished I had been at the Great Plains Zoo in time to see the opening of their Monkeys, Magic, and More, slated to open in 2013. Construction is now underway, along with construction of a new zoo entrance and seasonal flamingo interaction.

Included in zoo admission (and not to be overlooked) is the Delbridge Museum of Natural History. I suggest viewing this indoor section of the zoo first, as its 150 mounts, including 36 endangered or ‘vanishing’ species, educates kids on animal conservation. All the mounts in the display are acquired from late Sioux Falls’ resident Henry Blockhouse, who hunted the animals legally in the 1940s-60s and used to house part of his collection in his downtown hardware store. The museum does a good job of providing interactive signage and interpretive displays to keep kids engaged before they continue outside to see the live animals.

Great Plains Zoo

Date last visited:

August 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Just minutes off I-90 or I-29.

Admission prices:

The Great Plains Zoo is very affordable at $7.50 for adults and $4.50 for kids 3-12 (under 3 is free!).

Hours of operation:

April-September 9 am to 6 pm. October-March 10 am to 4 pm.

Food services:

The zoo does offer a full cafe in the heart of the property, as well as a snack station in the children’s zoo area. Outside food seems to be allowed, based on my observations, though the website does not list a ruling specifically.

Directions:

The zoo is located at 805 S. Kiwanis Avenue, Sioux Falls.

California Academy of Sciences

July 2, 2012 By

The California Academy of Sciences is by far one of the best things to do with kids in San Francisco. Ideal for school-aged kids but also entertaining for preschoolers and toddlers, the California Academy of Sciences is a trifecta of scientific fun, featuring a planetarium, aquarium, and life science museum all under one (living) roof, which is an exhibit of its own.

california academy of sciences

Families will want to devote at least a half-day at the academy: we stayed a full morning, and still never got to the planetarium (next visit!). Be sure to get a schedule of the day’s events when you enter. On the day of our visit, we were able to catch the African penguin feeding and the tropical fish feeding. Both activities included a talk from a marine biologist and lasted about 15 minutes. The docents at the door of the academy are very helpful in alerting families of the daily activities; we were glad to have them!

california academy of sciences

The academy is set up with two large domes (you’ll spot these from outside). One houses the planetarium, and the other houses the rain forest canopy, a tour along elevated walkways past plants, trees, and many animals (including lots of butterflies and birds). The rain forest canopy will end at the top, where guests can take an elevator down to the ground and basement floor aquarium. (I suppose you could do the various sections of the academy in any order you like, but it flows very well to see the rain forest followed by the aquarium, both in a logistical sense and an educational sense…the exhibits build upon one another.) I think the ‘flooded rain forest floor’ section of the aquarium was my seven-year-old’s favorite spot: he lingered at the rain forest snake section, where he could experience the (simulated) sensation of having his arm constricted by an anaconda.

living roof

Tip: it’s warm in the rain forest dome; you’ll want to shed sweaters or coats, so be sure to wear layers!

After experiencing the rain forest dome, we took the elevator to the top floor of the academy, which is actually the roof. We looked out over the ‘living roof’ exhibit, where acres of rooftop has been seeded and serves as an natural habitat to many animals and birds. It’s lovely on a nice day!

Date last visited:

May 2012

Distance from the interstate:

Located in Golden Gate Park, an easy drive past the bridge from Highway 101.

Admission prices:

General admission the the California Academy of Sciences is not cheap at $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for youth ages 12-17, and $19.95 for children 4-11. A much more economical option is to purchase your tickets through a San Francisco CityPASS or Go San Francisco Card.

Hours of operation:

Mon-Sat 9:30 am to 5 pm. Sunday 11 am to 5 pm

Dining options:

There is a cafe on-site, with both indoor and outdoor seating (with play areas in the outdoor space). Instead of trying either option, however, we had brought a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed in the Music Concourse directly outside (while listenening to a free middle school outdoor concert!). On warm-weather days, this is the way to go. (Food trucks also assemble between the Music Concourse and the nearby Japanese Tea Garden.)

Directions:

The academy is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park. It’s easily accessible via MUNI bus lines. If you drive, street parking is available, or better yet, try the parking garage near the De Young museum.

Note: California Academy os Sciences has a Kidscore of 92. Learn more about Kidscore.

San Francisco Pier 39 attractions for kids

June 21, 2012 By

Families touring San Francisco could easily dedicate a full day to the busy, touristy region of Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. And while not to replace visiting other parts of the city, a day here is well spent. We definitely suggest beginning your day with a family tour of Alcatraz Island, but this still leaves you with an afternoon and evening to fill at the wharf. Here’s our picks for how to spend a day at Fisherman’s Wharf with kids:

pier 39

Pier 39 and Aquarium of the Bay:

Pier 39 is bright, busy, and filled with fun (kids especially love the many street performers), and families could certainly wile away an afternoon browsing the shops and riding the carousel. If you have young children (whose attention span may not warrant to trip to a larger aquarium) and/or have San Francisco CityPASS booklets, make a stop at the Aquarium of the Bay. Not as large or professionally undertaken as the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park (if you plan to go there, skip this one), the Aquarium of the Bay is still a nicely done exhibit for kids. It can be toured in an hour, and features fun hands-on touching pools for young kids and a pretty darn cool shark tunnel. Housed primarily under the bay, museum staff ushers families into elevators for each section of the aquarium. This means you need to be sure to hit bathroom stops when you see them!

shark tunnel aquarium of the bay

General admission is $16 for adults and $10 for kids 3-12, and is only worth the ticket price if you don’t have plans to visit any larger aquariums. Admission is included in CityPASS and Go San Francisco Card offering by far the best deal. (Warning: there is a gift shop at the end, and it’s full of enticing plush marine animals.) Afterward, stroll to the end of the pier to check out the seals and sea lions in their natural habitat.

The Embarcadero and National Maritime Park:

The Embarcadero runs many blocks from the Alcatraz cruise dock past Pier 39. On one side will be the new location of the Exploratorium, one of the best hands-on museums for kids in the country (it’s currently located in the Presidio). The Exploratorium is an CityPASS option, and will easily engage kids for hours. Kids will want to stop en route to watch the sourdough bread being made at San Francisco’s famed Boudin Factory, and shop for trinkets along the street. Further down, toward Ghiradelli Square, it’s fun to stop at the fish markets and see (and smell!) the fresh seafood offerings.

aquarium of the bay

The San Francisco National Maritime Park makes for a great place to stop just as legs start to get tired, and kids can walk the pier to see the USS Pampanito submarine and other historic vessels.It’s located at Pier 45, and the visitor’s center is open 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. What’s nice is that families can opt to buy tour tickets for the Pampanito, or just view the vessels from the dock.

ghiradelli square san francisco

Ghiradelli Square:

Directly above the Maritime Park is Ghirdelli Square, where families can (must?) stop for ice cream at the famed chocolatier. (At the information booth in the square, ask for coupons if you plan to purchase sundaes.) We opted for sundaes for lunch (such a healthy choice…not!) but Ghiradelli makes for a great evening choice, too.

Between the Maritime Park and Ghiradelli Square, you’ll see the San Francisco Cable Car turnaround. This is a great place to hop on-board and take a ride, though you’ll likely wait in line. (Elsewhere in San Francisco, particularly along California Street), it’s easily to jump on and jump off cable cars.

Wildlife Safari

May 7, 2012 By

Every once in a while, a potential pit stop surprises me. We’d traveled Oregon’s I-5 stretch countless times before we took the opportunity to visit Wildlife Safari outside Winston, Oregon. Why the delay? I tend to be suspicious of roadside animal attractions: as a card-carrying PETA member, I want to be sure the zoos and preserves I support are in the best interest the animals. I’m glad to say that Winston’s Wildlife Safari is a first class operation and a truly fantastic zoological park.

wildlife safari winston oregon

Located just a few miles off I-5 south of Roseburg, colorful billboards will direct you to the park (don’t be fooled by the somewhat less classy looking animal ‘ark’ attraction located nearby…this is a separate operation). Upon entering Wildlife Safari, you have two options: begin with the driving tour of the safari grounds, where you’ll cruise slowly through various sanctuaries housing free-roaming zebras, giraffes, elephants, and everything else you can imagine (lions and tigers and bears oh my!), or park and walk through the center safari square, where you’ll find the gift shop, surprisingly decent food, and some smaller animals, like reptiles, turtles, a very loud monkey, and a small train ride. Intuition would tell you to start there–get out and release your own monkeys from the confines of the car–but my suggestion is the driving tour, because with admission, you get to go through twice. It works well to drive through, park and visit the walking grounds, then drive through once more on your way out.

Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours here to see it all (1.5 to drive through, and at least one more to tour the grounds).

Tip: If you have very small children, they’ll probably only have the ability to sit in the car for one drive through the grounds. Depending on how crowded the tour is, this loop can take as long as an hour. We let our kids unbuckle to see better (you’re only driving 5-10 MPH), but of course that’s a parental preference.

Pets: If you’re traveling with your pets, they are not allowed in the park, but very nice kennels are available on-site for only $5. This is a great option to avoid leaving your pets in a potentially overheated or cold car.

Distance from the interstate:

Ten minutes from I-5.

Admission cost:

Adults are $17.99, and kids (ages 4-12) are $11.99. Depending on the size of your family, a family (annual) membership might be a better option. The membership is only $99, and gets two adults and up to five children into the park and drive-through safari for unlimited visits. This is also a great choice if you think you might traverse I-5 more than once a year.

Hours of operation:

Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The cafe closes slightly earlier (usually 4:30 pm).

Food services:

There’s a nice cafe on-site, which serves the usual burger and fries, but also healthy sandwiches and veggie burgers. It’s not cheap (think theme park pricing) but the kids’ meals are a good deal. Families can also picnic in an designated area.

Directions:

Wildlife Safari is located at 1790 Safari Road, Winston Oregon. From I-5, visitors will take Exit 119 west onto Highway 42 to Lookingglass Road. Follow signage from there!

Photo credit: SpringfieldHomer.

Wildlife Images, Grants Pass OR

October 18, 2011 By

A Southern Oregon gem, Wildlife Images is an animal rehabilitation center located off I-5 near Grants Pass. If you have an animal lover in your car, this is a pit stop that’s not to be missed! Open year round, the facility is beautiful, peaceful, and very educational. Animals are viewed through scheduled tours only (more information on that below), but don’t let that deter you, even if you have young kids. Tours are 1-1 1/2 hours, and are very well done. The guides are knowledgable and interesting, and allow for lots of up close viewing and hands-on experiences with kids.

Because the facility is a working rehab center, the only animals on the tour are the ones which can never return to the world. There is a nursery and charts that show what other animals they have, where they got them, and when they are due to be released. The most interesting part may be hearing the stories behind how these animals (badgers, bears, racoons, wolves, mountain lions, and more) came to be in the facility. It is made very clear that wild animals cannot be pets.

Distance from the interstate: Eight minutes off I-5.

Admission prices: Ages 4-17: $5, Adults $10

Hours of operation: Wildlife Images is open year round, and access is available through scheduled tours only. Call 541-476-0222 to schedule a tour. A day’s notice is best, though tours are often available same day.

Food services: No food services (aside from ice cream sales in the gift shop), but nice picnic facilities are available.

Directions: Wildlife Images is located eight minutes of off I-5 just north of Grants Pass at Merlin exit. Follow signs!

The Minnesota Zoo

September 19, 2011 By

The following pit stop submitted by Jessie Voigts of WanderingEducators.com.

Located off 35E and Highway 77 in Apple Valley (just south of Minneapolis), the Minnesota Zoo is a destination in and of itself. The Zoo has both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and also boasts an IMAX theater. There are plenty of educational programs–just call ahead, or look online. There are strollers and wheelchairs for rent, a gift shop, and food available. The restrooms all have diaper changing areas, and there is a nursing area as well.

Minnesota Zoo_ Wandering Educators

Special Events include:
dolphin Training Sessions (10, 12, 2 & 4)
Biodiversity Puppet Adventure (Mondays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. until September 5, 2011)
Coral Reef Dive Show (10:30am)
seasonal cow milking demonstrations at the Wells Fargo Family Farm
seasonal splash pad with animal sculptures in an interactive water fountain
World of Birds Show
Shark Feedings (3pm daily)
Woodland Adventure (play area)

But let’s say you just want to walk around and explore! You can take the monorail through the outdoor part of the zoo, and see animals from Russia’s Grizzly Coast (sea otters, brown bears, tigers, leopards, and wild boar), takin, gazelle, prairie dogs, bison, Bactrian camels, Asian wild horses, moose, caribou, and musk ox. You can also walk the trail. There are benches along the way, restrooms, and occasionally a kids’ play area.

The Minnesota Trail is my favorite part: you can see lynx, cougar, wolverine, timberwolves, and beavers. There are educational stations and even places where you can get rubbings of tracks. This is outdoors, as well.

Heading there in the winter? Spend most of your time inside, and be warm in the Tropics Trail and Discovery Bay. You’ll see animals from tropical rain forests, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific, such as tamarin, red panda, lemurs, and gibbons. Also inside are penguins, bees, sharks, dolphins, snow monkeys, dolphins, and more. It’s a welcome relief from the cold!

Tip: Want to prepare your kids before you go? Spend a few weeks watching their live webcams (http://www.mnzoo.com/animals/animals_liveCam.asp) of beavers, dolphins, or gibbon. Be sure to take your camera: there are SO many opportunities to see such a wide variety of animals! And, there are so many kid play areas throughout the zoo, you’re sure to get good photos of your own critters!

Distance from the interstate: Minutes from I-35E

Admission cost: Kids 3-12 are $12, adults $18. Kids under three are free. More ticketing information can be found on the website.

Hours of operation: The zoo is open either 9 am to 4 pm or 9 am to 6 pm, depending on the season.

Directions:: The Minnesota Zoo is located at 13000 Zoo Boulevard in Apple Valley, MN just minutes south of Mall of America. Take Interstate 35W south to Highway 62 east. Exit taking Highway 77 south and follow it to County Road 38 east. Follow the brown-colored “Zoo” signs. For more information, visit mnzoo.org.

 

Polar Caves Park

September 15, 2011 By

My favorite stop during our family trip through the New Hampshire lakes district was the Polar Caves Park in Rumney, New Hampshire.

I admit I was skeptical at first: the park looks a little funky with giant (and somewhat weather-worn) polar bear statues and a cheesy gift shop at the entrance. But once we entered the park and started up the wooden walkway to the caves, I took back every snide comment. The scenery is beautiful, the caves are dark and refreshingly cool, and there’s even a little zoo at the entrance with some surprisingly exotic pheasants.

The cave tours are unguided, but you can bypass any one of them if it looks a little too cramped for your comfort. They are surprisingly fun to navigate, with a good number of tricky spots and tight quarters. We managed all but one cave with a three year old, and part of the fun was letting him figure out how to scramble up and down the boulders and explore each nook and cranny.

A few tips will help you get the most out of your visit. First, the website says that the park opens at 9am, when actually, the gift shop opens at 9 and the rest of the park opens at 10. We’re early birds, so we showed up well before the park opened and had to spend about 45 minutes wandering around a gift shop with a toddler. Enough said. Second, strollers and baby backpacks are not allowed in the caves and they mean it: there is no way you’ll get through the caves with a stroller, and there’s only one or two where a backpack might fit. That being said, we had a 10-month-old in a front carrier and went through all but one or two caves.

Distance from the interstate: Five miles off I-93.

Date last visited: August 24, 2011

Hours of operation: Polar Caves Park is a seasonal park, and is open until October 16. Hours are for ticket sales; the park is open a little later, but tickets must be bought during the following hours: summer hours are 9am–5pm, and fall hours are 10am¬–4:30pm.

Ticket prices: Ages 11 and up: $15, ages 4–10: $11, under 4: free

Food services: Food can be bought in the main lodge, but there is also a nice picnic area with barbeques available (the website even mentions that you’re welcome to borrow barbeque tools if needed!).

Contact info: http://www.polarcaves.com/ (603) 536-1888

Directions: Polar Caves Park is located at 705 Route 25, Rumney, NH 03266. From I-93, take exit 26 for New Hampshire 3/New Hampshire 25/Plymouth/Rumney, then merge onto New Hampshire 3A S/Tenney Mountain Hwy. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto NH-25 W, then turn left onto Old Route 25.

The New England Aquarium and Boston Children’s Museum

July 2, 2011 By

Both The New England Aquarium and the Boston Children’s Museum are perfect half-day activities, especially if the day in question is as cold and rainy as ours was! We decided to spend one afternoon at each, and could have easily spent more time!

rays and sharks

My nephew and niece joined us for our time in Boston, so we had kids aged 8 months to 12 years touring both attractions. We loved the aquarium because it was comprehensive without being overwhelmingly large; only a few signature exhibits dominated, allowing plenty of time to explore the additional dozens of smaller tanks and displays. The aquarium is famous for their penguin habitat, but the highlight for our family was the hands-on sting ray and shark petting tank. This feature gets crowded, but the staff does a good job of monitoring the number of visitors at any one time; all our kids got plenty of chances to touch the marine animals.

At the Boston Children’s Museum, kids enter to see a three-story rope and plank climbing structure twisting its way toward the ceiling, and from there, they hit the ground running. In addition to the New Balance Climb, our older kids spent the most time at the Kid Power exhibits (aimed at kids age 8-12) where they played games of dodgeball on a computer-powered light-up floor, lifted themselves upward by their own power on pulleys and levers, played basketball on funky courts, and challenged themselves on climbing walls.

childrens-museum

The younger members of our group (8 months old, two years old, and five years old respectively) loved the Construction Zone with working mechanisms, building toys, and structural bridges, the community area complete with corner market and barber shop, and the infant play space.

Tip: If you have fair weather, you may want to pair the aquarium with a whale watch (which departs right from the entrance)!

Hours: The aquarium is open 9 am to 5 pm, and the museum is open 10 am to 5 pm, weekdays. On Friday evenings, the museum offers extended hours and discounted prices, and is only $1 from 6 pm to 9 pm!

Admission: Admission to the aquarium is $22 for adults and $15 for kids. The children’s museum is $12 per person (adults and children). If you hold a children’s museum membership card to any museum, be sure to present it! We were given free admission for two adults and two children thanks to our ScienceWorks card from Oregon. Both attractions are also available for discount through Smart Destinations’ using their Go Card USA: Discount Attraction Passes, or with CityPASS (see below for a deal).

Save up to 43% on Boston’s 5 best attractions with CityPASS. Shop Now!

Websites: www.neaq.com and www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org

Directions: The aquarium and children’s museum are located within blocks of one another, on opposite sides of the bay. The aquarium is located at 1 Central Wharf (there’s an easy T stop directly to its door), and the children’s museum is located at 308 Congress Street (right over the Congress Street or Seaport Blvd. bridges).



Oregon Sea Lion Caves

April 25, 2011 By

The Oregon Coast’s famed sea lion caves (91560 Hwy. 101 N., Florence) can be found eleven miles north of Florence, Oregon on scenic Highway 101. A great pit stop for families traveling this windy, windswept stretch of coastline, the caves offer not only a chance to get out of the car, get some sea air, and explore, but also to experience a true rarity: the world’s largest sea lion cave.

sea lion caves

Home to sea lions as well as sea birds, visitors descend to the cave (which opens up to the Pacific at the base of a bluff) by elevator, then overlook the sea lions in their natural habitat. In spring and summer, you’ll find the sea lions on the rocky ledges just outside the cave (their rookery while breeding). During the fall and winter, they are usually inside their cave.

If you have anyone sensitive to smells, give them fair warning that the cave has a very strong odor of sea, fish, and sea lion. It’s not exactly pleasant, but it bothers some more than others! And there is some physical effort required (though not strenuous). in order to make the trip, you must go up and down stairs and climb about 400 yards of paved trail. You then reach the elevator that takes you down to the cave. There are also 63 steps in the cave in order to access a lighthouse viewpoint. Visitors can go all the way down to the cave, or stop and turn back at any point.

Distance from the interstate: Right off Highway 101.

Date last visited: July 2009

Admission fee: Adults are $12, kids 3-12 are $8. Under 3s are free. Note: we thought the admission price was a little steep for what you get; after all, for our family of five, we paid over $40, which was pretty high for a spur-of-the-moment stop. However, if you plan ahead, we’ve found that knowing what you’ll be paying takes some of the sting out of it. In addition to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, which we highly recommend, the sea lion caves are one of the best exhibits out there.

Hours: Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm.

Food services: There is a gift shop attached to the attraction which has quite a large selection of snacks, ice cream, and the like. No actual meal service is offered, however.

Website: http://sealioncaves.com/home/

Directions: From Florence, Oregon, drive eleven miles north on Highway 101.

San Diego Zoo

March 30, 2011 By

A San Diego institution and for good reason, the San Diego Zoo offers visiting and local families alike an escape from the city into an extensive and beautifully maintained animal kingdom. If San Diego is your family’s vacation destination, you won’t want to miss this featured attraction.

Note: The San Diego Zoo has a Kidscore of 100. Learn more about Kidscore.

Given Southern California’s temperate climate, there’s really no bad time to visit this world-class zoo. Visitors will want to try to avoid summer’s warmest days, but due to the layout of the exhibits and the lack of ‘rides’ or other attractions, crowds are usually a non-issue. We’ve visited on a mid-summer weekend and haven’t had a problem.

We love not only the wonderful (and world-famous) array of exhibits, animal habitats, and expert programs at this zoo, but the ease (and fun!) of transportation through the park. Your admission ticket includes unlimited use of the guided bus tour (for when you’d like park guides to show you around) and the express bus (for when you know exactly where you want to go), and the Skyfari Aeriel Tram (my kids’ favorite mode of transportation in the park!). Less time hoofing it (pun intended) makes for more time and energy spent on making new animal friends (and for far less whiny travel companions…and I’m not just talking about the kids).

What you won’t want to miss: No trip to the San Diego Zoo would be complete without a visit to the Giant Panda exhibit in Panda Canyon (but there are days when they can’t be disturbed, so prepare your young panda lovers beforehand). While there, be sure to tour their panda research center as well!

In Asia Passage, the Sun Bear exhibit is one of our favorites for its meandering trail through dense forest. You’ll leave the sun of San Diego behind as you explore this awe-inspiring area!

Discovery Outpost features the Children’s Zoo (no, there are no children on display), reptile house, and insect exhibits. (The entrance to the ariel tram is nearby, too).

san diego zooTravel Tip: A good way to beat the heat, crowds, or tired feet is to take in one of San Diego Zoo’s animal shows. Most are only 30 minutes or less, giving kids just long enough to rest and rejuvenate before hitting those exhibits again.

Date last visited: August 2009.

Distance from the interstate: Just a few minutes off I-5!

Admission Fee: Ticket prices vary by age and number of days, and whether you want to add admission to San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park. Current pricing information.



A word on the San Diego Safari Park: When purchasing tickets, families have the option of adding entrance to this partner park to the price of admission. It’s well-worth the money, but bear in mind that it’s not located on-site, but 35 miles (1 hour driving time) from San Diego Zoo. Be sure you have an extra day to devote to it before purchasing!

Hours: The zoo is open every day of the year, from 9 am to 6 pm (seasonal nighttime hours extend closing time by three hours to 9 pm on select summer days).

Dining: There are a lot of restaurants to choose from within the park, but our favorite is the Treehouse Cafe. Located in the Lost Forest section, the cafe’s multi-level decks offer great views of the park, entertaining the kids while they wait for their food and orienting adults as they plan the afternoon.

Directions: The San Diego Zoo is located at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, just north of downtown San Diego. From Interstate 5 (Los Angeles and Orange County), take the Pershing Drive exit and follow the signs. From Interstate 15 (Escondido and Riverside), take State Route 163 south to the Park Blvd./I-5 South exit. Exit at Park Blvd. Turn left on Park Blvd. and head north; Zoo entrance is off Park Blvd. at Zoo Place.

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