Ever wonder what to do when you’re touring San Diego? It’s a huge city with plenty of downtown nightclubs, malls, and hotels. But where do you look for some good, wholesome, family entertainment? Keep reading for the best places to go if you have children or just want to act like one. =)

The San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park

Since October 2^nd, 1916, The San Diego Zoo has been a much loved park by children and adults everywhere. It is the largest zoological association in the world with over half a million members. They strive to protect endangered animals and wildlife and exhibit some of the most beautiful and exotic creatures I have ever seen. Over 100 acres of land and home to over 4,000 different animals AND 700.000 exotic plants, it’s truly a sight to behold. With special events through the season such as The Mother’s Day Garden Festival where children can make lavender sachets for their mothers or grandmothers and the adults can ride a tour bus through all the botanical wonders of the Zoo. With crafts, magic shows, and plenty of exhibits, the festival is sure to be a crowd pleaser. If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift and you live in or near San Diego, perhaps this is something you might consider.

The Wild Animal Park is also a great place to visit, housing more than 3.500 different animals and 1.5 million botanical wonders. Half of the 1800 acres of park land has also been reserved for protecting native plants. With plenty of things to see and do, The Wild Animal Park is an amazing place to visit. Journey through Africa or Asia with a thrilling bus tour and discover the native animals and plants of these two continents. The cost is $35 dollars plus admission if you’re a nonmember. Children under three years travel free as long as they sit on an adults lap.

Membership to both the Zoo and Wild Animal Park can be pricey but worth it if you are a frequent visitor. For a dual-adult membership (2 adults in the same household) its $94 ($84 with a $10 online coupon) and $75 for 1 adult member ($65 with coupon). Children’s admission is $28 for children between 3-11 years and $32 for 12-17 years of age. For more information or to purchase membership and/or tickets visit http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

Sea World

Sea World is an extremely awesome aquatic world with fish, sharks, and of course, Shamu! With three locations in the United States, Sea World has much to offer in the way of fun and entertainment. Admission is $65 per person 10+ and $55 for children 3-9. With their Sea World Fun Card promotion however, you pay for a day and can come back all year for free! It’s the best theme park offer (and the cheapest) I’ve found so far. San Diego Sea World has some of the coolest shows around, like Pets Rule, a show featuring rescued dogs, cats, pigs, birds, and other amazing creatures. It’s the cutest thing and something adults and children alike will enjoy. They also have the amazing Journey to Atlantis water ride, a thrilling rollercoaster that takes you on a trip through an underwater world so vast and amazing; you’ll come back wanting more. However, if you have back or neck pain, I wouldn’t recommend this ride as it can aggravate your condition. Wild Artic is another fun simulation ride that takes you on a journey though, well, the artic. You’ll encounter Polar Bears, fish, and all sorts of beautiful creatures on this simulation helicopter ride. Also, if you have severe back or neck pain, this ride will definitely worsen your condition.

If you’re visiting Sea World of San Diego, be sure to check out the awesome Shamu Rocks show. It’s the coolest Shamu Night Show to Rock N Roll Music. It’s definitely a fun experience for the whole family. Of course, while visiting, you can’t miss the thrilling Shark Encounter. This is a walk-through exhibit and it’s absolutely incredible. You’re on a moving walkway looking up and around at beautiful sharks in this 280,000 gallon tank. I know whenever my boyfriend and I go to Sea World he can’t stand this exhibit because he’s not too fond of sharks. But, he can appreciate the thrill and majestic qualities of this exhibit. It’s definitely something you need to experience to really understand where I’m coming from. If you’re planning a trip to San Diego, make sure Sea World is on your itinerary. For more information, visit http://seaworld.com/default.aspx

The thrilling Journey To Atlantis

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