Adventure Tip #1: For a More Exciting Zoo Tour
It is one thing to just look at the animals and to squeal 'oh how cute'. But a Zoo Tour Adventure
is a lot more interesting when you get the guided tour with a zookeeper to share remarkable life stories unique to
individual critters and to answer your questions. Frequently the animals perk up and 'come to life'
in anticipation of their zookeepers regular visit for feeding time.
Ask the front gate about group tours, feeding times, animal shows, camp programs, etc.
Adventure Tip #2: Zoo Camp
Probably the best zoo adventure is to participate in a zoo summer camp or similar animal interaction program
where you get to be a zookeeper or animal trainer for the day. This is where you could get hands on experience to
touch, feed and train with animals in ways that the general public never sees. Some marine parks feature a similar
'swim with the dolphins' interaction program.
The San Diego Zoo
Located in beautiful Balboa Park, the
100-acre World-Famous San Dieog Zoo cares for more than 4,000
individual animals representing 800 different species. Its collection,
as well as its collection of over 6,500 species of plants, is acknowledged
as one of the finest in the world.
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Tour Wild Animal Park
Large 2,200 acre
cageless exhibit north of San Diego that displays some of the
larger animals of the San Diego Zoo in natural habitat.
Sea World San Diego
Giant marine zoological park and aquariums.
Home of Shamu the Killer Whale and other great adventures.
Santa Ana Zoo
1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92702; (714) 835-7484;
Open Daily: 10AM-4PM; Admission: Adult $3.50 / Child (3-12) $1.50;
Collection of exotic birds, monkeys, mountain lions
and other animals. Located at Prentice Park in
Santa Ana.
Tour La Jolla
San Diego Resort community home of the Birch Aquarium, UCSD
and Scripps Institute.
Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Exhibits protraying life in the Lower Mojave Desert, including ancient American Native artifacts, mineral collection,
and mini-zoo featuring small desert animals.
San Dimas Canyon Nature Center
Located near the Angeles National Forest, this park offers visitors a variety of nature trails that traverse over
one thousand acres of chaparral and riparian vegetation. There is also a natural history museum and a zoo.
Throughout various times of the year, the park sponsors wildlife fairs that include animal exhibits, crafts, native Indian dance programs, and food booths.
Tour Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Over 150,000 acres of rugged mountain, parkland, beaches and
hiking trails overlooking the L.A. Basin and Pacific Ocean.
Tour Channel Islands National Park
Accessible only by boat, these islands are a primary home for
marine mammals and nesting sea birds. Also a prime place for whale-watching.
Primitive camping, diving,
sportsfishing and boating opportunities abound.
Tour Los Padres National Forest
Large wilderness preserves covering coastal, desert and alpine
terrain and sanctuary for the California Condor.
Abundant camping, picnic grounds and hiking trail opportunities.
Death Valley National Park
3.3 million acre preserve of the most inhospitable and also
scenic terrain in the continental United States. Many historical
landmarks and several species of plant and fish unique only to the
parkland.
Joshua Tree National Park
Large 870 square mile scenic preserve of desert wildlife.
Abundant camping, picnic grounds and hiking trail opportunities.
Tour Santa Catalina Island
Private Recreation and tourism resort on the largest of the
Channel Islands. Boating, Camping, Wildlife and Watersports.
Moonridge Animal Park - Big Bear Lake
Also known as the Big Bear Zoo, this facility is combination of zoo and animal rehabilitation center
that rescues injured or orphaned wildlife that is unable to survive in the wild.
Over 80 animal species live at the zoo including bear, wildcats, reptiles, coyotes, porcupine, skunks, deer,
bison, eagles, owls and more.
Los Angeles Zoo - Griffith Park
The 113 acres of landscaped hills are home to more than 1200 mammals, birds and reptiles, including
many rare and endangered species. See Adventure Island - the Children's Zoo that showcases animals native to the American Southwest.
And Mahale Mountain, the Chimpanzee Exhibit, is another popular exhibit.
