The San Diego Zoo earned its reputation with us, even during a serious heat wave…read more With a science background and a mom who's a veterinarian, I tend to look at zoos critically. Animal welfare matters, and a famous name alone doesn't settle that question. In the areas we visited, the enclosures were clean, enrichment was evident, and we didn't notice obvious signs of distress. Those observations made the visit especially meaningful, and I'm happy to support good conservation work. Seeing a condor in person has long been a life goal. One practical tip: we headed right from the entrance and worked counterclockwise. That worked perfectly that day, putting us in the sunnier sections during the morning and the shadier, jungle-like areas during the afternoon heat. Cold drinks were readily available, and food service was quick. The kids loved seeing the animals and did well considering how hot it was. Kids being free in October was a welcome surprise! We skipped the pandas because the line was huge, but still had a full, memorable visit. Would love to experience it again when the weather makes lingering a little easier. Luckily this wasn't my first time there, and I know not my last. Worth the drive from Reno.

Super fun and great zoo! We saw a lot of animals and the staff were all friendly. The animals were…read moreso fun to watch them interact with each other. We spent a couple hours there and so glad we wore really good walking shoes. There is a lot of uphill and downhill areas. I wish there was a shuttle that comes around the different parts of the zoo. They do have a bus tour that goes around the zoo but it doesn't stop. We came on a windy day so the skyfari wasn't working that day. We still had a lot of fun! I was really happy the line for the pandas moved fast but I recommend going early too. The gorillas were gone a little early and we didn't see them. Can't wait to come back next time!

loved everything they offered at this park. the best part was there was no admission fee. so great…read moreexperience our overnight stay in san diego and able to walk around this beautiful park. such great architecture. we werent able to venture the whole park but gives us a reason to come back ! highly recommend. prepare to walk use some good comfortable foot wear. i wore sandals and it was tolerable. make sure to bring water. we didn't necessarily need too as we only stayed for at least an hour and a half but i didnt see drinking fountains or anywhere to refill so id consider. depending on the time, you do pay for parking. it also depends in where you park so pricing varies. i noticed that there was a lot of runners here to! might come by to do a fun run one of these days when im back in town overall fun experience. would definitely come back and explore more!

Balboa Park is so beautiful and serene. It is filled with gorgeous architecture, historic buildings…read moreand lovely gardens. It is the most picture perfect spot and I really enjoyed walking around here. My favorite spot was the reflecting pool in front of the Botanical Building. It is so picturesque and peaceful. I even spotted a cute little turtle right by the pond. Visiting Balboa Park was a wonderful way to spend the day exploring. It is definitely a spot where I could easily spend several hours . There's plenty to discover here!

Ready to Howl-O-Scream your way into Halloween?!…read more @seaworldsandiego @seaworld @howloscreamsd transforms into a nightmare after dark with terrifying haunted houses, creepy scare zones, twisted live entertainment, and the thrilling Monster Stomp show! ‍ Sneak into haunted-house speakeasies, sip spooky cocktails at themed bars, and brace yourself for frights around every corner! Don't miss the ALL-NEW Carnival of Chaos and its chilling opening and closing scaremonies! Now through October 31 This Halloween, things are about to get scream-fully exciting!

I went to Howl-O-Scream with my 10-year-old daughter, and FIVE MINUTES after walking in, my husband…read morehad the sheriffs following us because he not-so-politely asked them not to scare our child. They made us buy a $20 "No Boo" necklace, but apparently that was a joke because we STILL ended up being escorted out to the parking lot! All because the scare actors are a bunch of little bitches who can't handle being told not to scare a CHILD. What a way to start the night! Waste of money!!!

It was a rainy weekend in San Diego. So we had to look for some indoor activities for us to do…read morebefore heading back up to LA. I found Birch Aquarium and decided this would be a great spot for the family to visit. They have free parking, which is definitely a plus. Admission to the aquarium is pretty pricey, but they do offer various discounts so check online to see if you can qualify for them! They have a variety of aquatic animals, lots of different fish, and even some cute activities for the kids. We spent about 2 hours at the aquarium, comfortably looking at the fish and enjoying its various exhibits. Lovely little aquarium located on the UC San Diego Campus!

While on a trip in California, we stopped by Birch Aquarium when they happen to be having an Animal…read moreCrossing event. First things first, if there is an event like that happening, I would highly recommend getting there early to get parking. We ended up driving around for quite a while and parked very far. The aquarium is located in quite a hilly area too so wear some comfortable shoes and clothing. The Aquarium itself is very beautiful and clean with a wide variety of marine life to look at. It isn't the largest aquarium, but there is plenty to look at and, at least when I visited, they had a good amount of things to do such as the Animal Crossing event, local university students showcasing their post grad research, touching starfish, etc. They also had very cute baby penguins that you can identify using a board with their names on it. If the weather is nice, there are a couple of outdoor areas with some seating and a beautiful view of the ocean. The Birch Aquarium is a great place to visit for both children and adults. I would highly recommend checking this place out and enjoy some delicious seafood in the area afterwards!

A park with a 100 year old coaster?! Sign me up!…read more As an amusement park aficionado, I was thrilled to check out this landmark. Full of ride options, dining, games and sites; Belmont Park has a little of something for all ages. While here me and a few friends split the 60 buck card option. We were interested in several rides. We rode the Giant Dipper Rollercoaster, Krazy Kars and Tiki Typhoon to name a few. All rides were fun and wait times were minimal. We did go at night though. I think one of the cool spaces at this park is the imported snacks store. They had several snacks not readily available here in the US. Be forewarned, you will also pay the price for sad scarcity. They also have a designated drinking area for those who imbibe. Want to save some money? Check Groupon for deals!

Belmont Park sits along the Mission Beach boardwalk, close to everything, with parking lots nearby…read more It's a fun tourist attraction, and we especially enjoy the mini golf and pineapple Dole Whip. The rides can feel rough and jerky, but the kids love them. An all-day pass is usually the best value, since individual tickets add up; some attractions cost extra. Other activities include an elevated harnessed obstacle course, rock-climbing wall, roller coaster, laser tag, arcade, food, and a large indoor pool. Overall, it's a fun spot, though the area can feel sketchy at night due to reports of gang fights and shootings.

Africa Rocks is a beautiful area. The entry shows a big…read moresign with all kinds of plants and rocks. The whole area is so well maintained and preserved. The trail takes you to see an awesome waterfall! It may be man made, but it's still fun to see. The trail takes you through to explore the baboons, leopards, penguins and more. There's birds of all sorts all around. They are very interesting and beautiful. It's a nice walk in this area. We preferred the early morning views. When we came back through a few hours later, it was a very hot walk! Overall, we loved this area!

Located inside the San Diego Zoo, this area of the park represents all things Africa!!!…read more Upon entering this section, you're greeted with a magnificent waterfall, with an aquarium located underneath it! I saw plenty of birds here, along with Baboons, Leopards, crocodiles, penguins, and Lemurs!! This area was definitely a major highlight in the San Diego Zoo!!!

Living Coast Discovery Center is such a hidden gem in Chula Vista! It's tucked away on the bay near…read morethe new Sweetwater Park and Gaylord hotel. There's plenty of parking, and then you take a short shuttle to the entrance. You're greeted by a sea turtle outside, and inside there's a smaller area with local fish, reptiles, and other animals. My favorite part with kids is how interactive everything is. You can pet and touch the friendly rays and sharks, and the indoor touch pools let kids touch starfish and sea anemones. It's really fun, hands-on, and educational. All the volunteers are very helpful educational, good with kids. Outside, you can walk around and see local birds, hawks, and eagles while enjoying beautiful views of the bay. Bring lunch or snacks and you can easily make a whole morning out of it. Another huge plus is the discounted admission for WIC or CalFresh families, and they offer discounted memberships for up to four people. If you live nearby, the membership is definitely worth it for popping in for an hour or two with the kids.

I've been 3 times here hoping it would get better but unfortunately I've been disappointed every…read moretime. Firstly, you have to take a shuttle over. If you have a stroller you have to take it apart and try to fit it in the front seat. No area to load equipment for kids. Which is wild. I have 3 kids and a wagon now and couldn't bring them. Next - The place is small. You can see everything in less than an hour. The exhibits lack attention. They are dirty and boring with little to no information on each animal. Every time I've gone lots of bird exhibits were under maintenance. I'm really unimpressed overall with this facility.

Amazing experience with Zovargo for my daughter's birthday this past weekend! Communication for…read morebooking and pre-event confirmation was amazing and the staff was great with the kids, and put on a great program for our event. We booked the larger party option for 16-35 kids and when the date was approaching and we thought we may end up with a few more than expected, they were flexible and communicative about our options. Come game time, it turned out we didn't exceed the limit so the team remained flexible and delivered the original plan with ease. Set up and break down was insanely fast. They kept the birthday girl completely engaged and loving every minute of the program. They made her feel like the star of the show while keeping her guests engaged as well. When some kids got a little squirrely, they were gracious and patient and kept the program rolling. We throughly enjoyed the fun, different element that Zovargo brought to our party. We highly recommend!

Zovargo is such an amazing organization with people who genuinely care about educating kids and…read moreencouraging conservation during their programs. There are so many different and exciting animals at their zoo to learn about and meet up close and personal. Highly recommend booking an event with them because animals truly make everything so much better and they bring a unique experience!

Our son Cruz has been going to Sugar Sweet Farm since he was 6 years old. Last summer, as he was…read moreapproaching 12, we thought it would probably be his final camp season. We were wrong. He signed up again this year, and when we picked him up today, he couldn't stop talking about all the fun he had--just like he did when he was 6. Seeing that kind of excitement after all these years truly melted our hearts. Now, Cruz is already looking forward to becoming a counselor one day. Elizabeth, Farmer Bubba, and the entire team are simply the best. You've created a place where kids make memories that last a lifetime. Parents, if you're looking for an incredible summer camp experience, Sugar Sweet Farm is the place to be. Thank you for all the memories.

I brought my 16month old nephew to here. We had so much fun and had an amazing day here…read more Sign up and sign the prior visit. Lots of animals and activities for kids. Turtle, chicken, snakes, lizards , dogs, bunny, horses, rabbits.. etc For activities; play grounds, face painting, art class, play room I would definitely bring him here again.

We had such an amazing experience at Free Flight for my partner's birthday! We were able to…read moreinteract with the birds, feed them, take pictures with them, and simply enjoy their presence and cheerful chirping. There were many different varieties of birds, and each one added to the experience. My partner and kids had a wonderful time, and we especially loved the beautiful koi pond as well. It was a peaceful, fun, and unique outing for the whole family. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys birds and wants a more interactive experience with them. One thing to keep in mind is that visitors are not allowed to hold or pet the birds. However, you can feed them, and if they choose to land on your arm, that's perfectly okay. One of the birds even hopped onto my son's arm, which was a highlight of the visit! Overall, a fantastic experience that we would happily do again.

Was looking to start out my birthday doing something a bit different and this was the perfect place…read moreto start! Located in Del Mar near the festival, if your eyes are peeled open, it can be quite easy to miss. There's a few parking spots available. I came at 10am to see if I can register and walk in right away. They told me to come back at 11am. So I went across the street for a drink and then returned. It was a neat experience. You walk in and use hand sanitizers and get the instructions. If you're not a member you can handle the birds directly. You get a bowl of food and later can circle back to feed the fish. Some birds are outside their cages which is fun and you get some nice photos with them. The ones who ate from my bowl seemed to only really want the apples. The bowls had a mixtures of fruits and vegetables. The ones in the cages they tell you not to take out. Why? Don't know. Flight risk? For 15 bucks a person, it was a nice way to spend a hour and hear why some birds are the way they are (you'll have to ask the workers there why and they'll gladly share stories otherwise it's mostly a independent stroll through the sanctuary). Memberships are available if interested.