The Top Tourist Attractions in San Diego
Without a doubt San Diego has some of the top tourist attractions for tourists in the United States. We have surf and sand and beautiful scenery, but we also have some incredible places to visit. Among the top tourist attractions in San Diego I have chosen to profile my favorite three along with some great suggestions for making the most of your tourist dollar and time.
The first of the top tourist attractions is The San Diego Zoo located at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park south of Interstate 5 to 5th Street. Make a left away from the water and then turn right on to Lauren and enter Balboa Park. This is a world famous zoo with many incredible attractions. Parking is fairly simple and it is free. The hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. up until September 5th when the closing hours are then 4:00 p.m. The zoo is open daily including all holidays. There are two ways to see the zoo. You can walk or you take the bus tour. You can decide once you arrive. First of all wear comfortable shoes. When you arrive at the zoo get a map and plan your route out before you begin your tour. Bringing a picnic lunch is a great idea. There are food and snacks available in the zoo but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for them.
The zoo offers many exhibits. My favorites are Monkey Trails and Forest Tales, The Ituri Forest, Tiger Sun and Gorilla Tropics. The San Diego Zoo is famous for its Pandas so stop by and see them. Hopefully they are not having a temperamental day. If you plan your day right you can see the entire zoo. For later starters the zoo also offers Nighttime Zoo, which is a magical experience. The San Diego Zoo also offers VIP Tours as well as sleepovers for those that are adventurous. Ticket prices will vary depending on which package you purchase. One day general admission for an adult is $32 and $19.75 for a child ages 3-11. Children under 3 are admitted free. In addition if you are planning to visit several attractions while in the city, check out the Go San Diego Card, which provides discounts and freebies for practically all of the attractions in San Diego. There are many other discounts available if visiting more than one park so do your research before purchasing a one-day ticket. Parking is free at the San Diego Zoo. For further information call 619-234-3153 or visit their Web site at www.sandiegozoo.org.
The next top tourist attraction in San Diego is Sea World located at 500 SeaWorld Drive. Take the Interstate 5 North to SeaWorld Drive and turn right toward the entrance. There is a charge of $10 for parking. Admission varies at SeaWorld and attractions are seasonal, so you really want to do your homework before planning an outing to this attraction. The park is usually open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. but that can vary with the season.
They ask that visitors check ahead of time. On an average adult ticket price for a one day is $54 and $44 for children ages 3-9. Children under 3 years of age are admitted free. So again, once vacation plans are worked as to the actual number of attractions planned to attend in San Diego, you’ll know what to start looking for. Once all the kinks are worked out, I promise it is worth every dime paid for an incredible experience. This top attraction seems to be a favorite of children. SeaWorld is made up of rides, attractions, shows and park events. Some of the rides for children at SeaWorld include Skyride, Skytower and Journey to Atlantis to name a few. A few of the attractions are the Shark Encounter, The Penguin Encounter and the incredible World of the Sea Aquarium. The shows can be anything from a 4-d movie to a water performance. This summer there was Shamu’s House of Douse and Riptide. After all what’s SeaWorld without Shamu? All in all this is a top attraction and though pricey it is worth it. For further information call 1800-25-SHAMU or visit the Web site at www.seaworld.com.
The final top tourist attraction in San Diego is a visit to the San Diego Wild Animal Park an 2100 acre wild life preserve located 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road 35 miles North of the San Diego Zoo. Opened from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily with the exception of the Fall when it closes at 4:00 p.m, the Wild Animal Park is a spectacle to behold offering Safari Tours and even sleepovers at the park. Their exhibits range anywhere from Lion Camp, to Elephant Overlook, to the Bushline Railway and many more. There is so much to see at this attraction. Imagine seeing Cheetahs, Lions and Buffalo roaming around in the freedom of the wilderness. It is an incredible sight.
If you happen to be in San Diego at the time of a special day, the park also offers a birthday party package. Part of the San Diego Zoo, if visiting both attractions there are great savings on the tickets. General admission for an adult is normally $28.50. Admission for children ages 3-11 is $17.50. Children under 3 are admitted free. The zoo offers a two-park ticket at a deeply discounted price of $54.45 per adult and $33.55 per child between the ages of 3-11 that must be used within 5 days. Parking is convenient and is $8 per vehicle. For further information call 760-738-5057 or visit the Web site at www.sandiegozoo.com.
For further information on tourist information and top tourist attractions in San Diego visit the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.sandiego.org. For directions to all attractions visit www.tripadvisor.org. For hotel information visit www.sandiegohotels.com. Just remember that good planning will get you the most for your money. Have fun in the sun!
