Visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo, home to over 4,500 rare and endangered animals, and experience their worlds at the Polar Bear Plunge, Elephant Odyssey, and other areas. The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is known for its naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters. An urban paradise for all ages, the San Diego Zoo is a must-see in Southern California. Winding paths through the tropical oasis of a botanical garden bring you to the zoo‘s rare and fascinating animals, including koalas, Galápagos tortoises, tigers, eagles, flamingos, great apes, and more. Other exotic animals you may encounter include Sichuan takins, Buerger’s tree-kangaroos, arctic foxes, pangolin, and Visayan warty pigs. Explore Africa Rocks to discover penguins, baboons, the mysterious fossa, weaver birds, and other unique creatures. The festive, lively atmosphere makes the San Diego Zoo a great place for family fun and gathering friends. Discover the wonders of wildlife with animal encounters, interactive experiences, and exciting animal presentations and shows. The Zoo’s 17 Galápagos tortoises are now at home at the Fetter Family Galápagos Tortoise Exhibit. When keepers are present, you can pet and occasionally feed the tortoises over a short rock barrier. At the Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge, you can get closer to polar bears than ever before. Climb aboard an Arctic research helicopter, crawl into a bear den, or measure yourself against the size of a polar bear. The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey is a 7.5-acre habitat and a first-of-its-kind experience. This area combines the fun of a zoo with the experience of a museum by creating an untamed landscape of animals from the past and present. A leader in animal care and conservation, the San Diego Zoo is at the heart of the San Diego experience.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is an adventurer’s safari paradise in Southern California. The 1,800-acre Safari Park is home to more than 3,000 animals representing more than 375 species—many living in wide, open field enclosures. So jump onto one of our thrilling array of tours and create memories of adventure for you and your family – all while benefiting the conservation of species here and in more than 35 countries across the globe. Welcome to a land of volcanoes, tropical rain forests, a treasure trove of biodiversity—and tigers. Sumatra is home to the critically endangered Sumatran tiger, along with other endangered species such as orangutans, rhinos, and elephants. Tiger Trail provides a journey to discover tigers and their current struggles within their island world. Lion Camp - Get nose to nose with our African lion pride—literally! Bring the kids up close to see lions that may come right up to the glass to check you out. Heart of Africa - The winding trails take you through an African forest and savanna to a serene lake. Stop and cool off at Jamison Research Island. Elephant Overlook - An elevated walkway takes you out where you can get a closer look at our Elephant Cam stars. Don't miss the youngsters born right here! Hidden Jungle - Enter our tropical greenhouse and experience a habitat of exotic birds, insect, and plants, home to our annual Butterfly Jungle event. Wings of the World Aviary - Everything in this free-flight aviary is designed to approximate the natural turf for over 140 birds of 40 species. Condor Ridge - Follow the trail of North American habitats and animals to see bighorn sheep and learn the great conservation story of the California condors. Other activities included in your admission: Elephant Enrichment - Watch our elephant herd enjoy morning treats. Discovery Station - This kid-friendly area is filled with musical instruments, puppets, books, craft activities, and wildlife “toys” and is designed to give children and their adult companions a playful space for animal-themed fun. Savanna Cool Zone - Walk through palm trees offering a gentle mist to three slippery critters that spout water: a turtle, a lion, and a crocodilian. Jameson Research Island Interpretive Center. Africa Tram Safari - Guided tour rides depart 10 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. daily (The Africa Tram Safari is an exciting expedition with brightly colored tour vehicles and our diverse animal collection creating a relaxing adventure. Lorikeet Landing - Watch our colorful rainbow lorikeets swoop down to enjoy nectar offered by guests. Exhibit entrance if free; lorikeet food is available for purchase to experience the thrill of feeding these birds by hand. Petting Kraal - Touch gentle deer and antelope. Have you “herd”? with Robert the Zebra - Robert the Zebra lives in digital, animated form on a large screen, where he can see the people who have come to visit. He asks questions, cracks jokes, talks about zebra life, and is very curious about humans. Frequent Flyers® Bird Show - An East African crowned crane in flight is a stunning sight viewed by only a privileged few, until now! The crane is one of the stars of the Park’s bird show, Frequent Flyers. The program lets you witness birds in full flight and focuses on a variety of birds from around the world. Animal Encounters - This interactive program gives you an opportunity to have face-to-face contact with the Park’s animal ambassadors like a cheetah, alligator, serval, and other rare and exotic animals. You may interact with trainers and ask questions about the species. Cheetah Tales - Come meet our cheetah ambassadors in Heart of Africa. Note: Schedules may vary or be canceled due to weather or animal health needs.

Visit the first west coast Sesame Street theme park during your San Diego vacation. Explore the interactive Sesame Street Neighborhood, cheer your favorite characters at a parade, and get wet in the wave pool. Explore this fun theme park with kids of all ages. Try out all the 18 Sesame Street-themed rides. Ride the Super Grover's Box Car Derby or see the park from above on the Sesame Street Soar & Spin. Cool off with a dip in one of the largest wave pools in Southern California or splash down Big Bird's Rambling River tube ride. Visit the Sesame Street Neighborhood and get a photo with Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Grover. Listen to Big Bird tell a story and enjoy the many interactive games. Stop in the Sesame Street Theater to see the all-new show, Welcome to Our Street! Watch as each character welcomes you and your family in their own way. Dance along with the characters as they parade down Sesame Street. Choose the 1-day ticket to Sesame Place or extend your theme park visit with the 2 park ticket. Visit Sesame Place one day and SeaWorld San Diego anytime in the next 6 months.

Turn Balboa Park into a giant game board on a small-group, interactive scavenger hunt. Combine the thrill of the race with a sightseeing tour of this popular San Diego destination. Guided by any smartphone, you and your group will make your way to well-known and some overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning about local history. Begin at the Veterans Museum, and take in the iconic art and impressive architecture, and admire historical theaters and hidden gardens. The activity involves around 2 miles of walking and generally takes between 2-3 hours to complete.

Explore Belmont Park in San Diego with unlimited access to a variety of rides right by the beach. Experience the carefree summer spirit all year round as you try a variety of historic and modern rides. Benefit from access to 13 rides at the park. Feel a rush of adrenaline as you take on rides like The Giant Dipper, a classic wooden rollercoaster that dates back to 1925. Ride on modern attractions such as Beach Blaster, Control Freak, and Zero Gravity. Enjoy group-based activities like Tiki Town mini-golf and laser tag as you challenge your friends. Test your balance on the sky ropes or on the rock wall. Kids can have fun on the Krazy Kars, Tilt-a-Whirl, the Belmont Express, the classic Liberty Carousel, or with a variety of other family-friendly activities.

Explore the Gaslamp Quarter and discover the true crime past of San Diego on a guided walking tour. Hear about the Stingaree era, horrible crimes, and serial killers, and see the infamous side of San Diego on a tour with a difference. As you walk the streets of San Diego, learn how downtown San Diego first came to be and about the era of the Stingaree. The Stingaree was an area in San Diego famous as the home to the city's undesirables. Petty thieves, drug dealers, gamblers, and sex workers used the area to turn a dodgy profit, making the neighborhood infamous for criminal activity. At a historic hotel, hear about the death of a man whose ghost is said to still haunt his room. Continue back in time to the roaring 1920s, a time of murder, revenge, and slavery. Fast forward a decade and hear the unfortunate story of the 3rd victim of a San Diego serial killer. Lastly, your entertaining guide will share details of one of the most horrific crimes to take place in downtown San Diego. This San Diego crime tour includes discussion of assault and murder, along with gruesome details that some may find offensive.

Interact with marine animals at a safe distance and spend the day on this beautiful reserve with experienced snorkel experts to guide you. You will see marine life such as sharks, exotic fish, dolphins, seals, turtles and a multitude of sea life swimming amongst them. With four microhabitats to swim through, you will find a wide variety of underwater flora and fauna. With a small group, you’ll get a much more intimate experience of life underneath the water, with one of our guides and local lifeguards accompanying you while you swim. Guests must have a basic level of swimming to participate in this activity. As this is an introductory tour, families with younger children (age 5+) are also welcome, as well as people who feel more comfortable being guided in their snorkeling.

Join this murder mystery scavenger hunt through downtown San Diego and solve a mysterious crime.  Visit famous sights in the Gaslamp Quarter’s most popular destinations while solving a murder mystery. Explore this city as you play this interactive game. Hear evidence, find clues and solve riddles to crack this case. Start your game at Henry's Pub. You Get the case information from your Lead Detective and play. Enjoy an interactive game and bond with your loved ones; this is the perfect opportunity to solve a mysterious murder, see sites and spend time with your friends or family.

Challenge your mind and see the best spots in San Diego's Balboa Park as you follow clues on your phone while playing this exploration game. Be gripped by a story unfolding with your every step as you make your way to Rex's Roar, passing by landmarks like the Botanical Building and the San Diego Museum of Art. Make your way into Balboa Park and find the Carousel to start your game. Play on your own or team up with your friends to form one big group or race against each other to reach the final spot. Load up the app and start figuring out your first challenging puzzle using hints in the immediate area. Feel the rush of excitement when you work out the answer and follow the directions on your phone to the next location in the park. You'll visit the following locations: • Balboa Park Carousel • Spanish Village Art Centre • Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden • Bea Evenson Fountain • Botanical Building • The San Diego Museum of Art • The Old Globe • Founder's Plaza • Cabrillo Bridge Dedication Plaque • Alcázar Garden • Zoro Garden • Rex's Roar

Explore San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter in a different way: by solving puzzles and following clues on an app on your phone. Every time you solve one puzzle, the clues to the next location will be revealed to you. Simply follow your live-tracking GPS map along your route. Start at the Gaslamp Historical Sign and click Play on your smartphone's explortation game app to start your self-guided walking tour of the historical quarter. Then, you're off! Kick up the competition by competing against your friends or family on separate devices or complete the exploration game as one team — the choice is yours. Best of all, explore the area at your own pace, pausing the game at any point and resuming from the location where you paused it. Solve challenges and see history unfold in front of your eyes, learning about the area as you have some fun. Simply follow the exact directions on your phone and you will be guided to the next location.