It’s the San Deigo Zoo!

Just over 5 miles from the Inn in Balboa Park is the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Tickets for admission run about $50 for adults and $40 for kids. The park is open everyday at 9 am, but closing times vary seasonally.

This massive zoo has over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies. That’s a lot of animals! How will you be able to decide where to start? Let the Zoo’s interactive itinerary builder help plan your day! This is great for those who like to explore on their own, at their own pace.

For those that want a “behind the scenes” feel, the park offers several guided experiences. Here are some of those activities that caught our eye:

1. Sunrise Surprise stroll
   • Walk the grounds with Zoo educators and see what’s going on before the park opens. Each month is something different and you don’t know until you get there what you will see and learn. This morning stroll also includes muffins and coffee.Upcoming dates: March 7, 8, and 28
 April 4, 25, and 26
 May 2, 3, and 30
2. Early Morning with the Pandas
   • This small group starts behind the scenes with the pandas before the zoo even opens. This two-hour adventure also includes tour around the Zoo in a shuttle cart, with stops to visit some of our other animals up close.
3. Summer Camp
   • It’s never too early to start planning summer fun! These five-day adventures include animal encounters, behind-the-scenes visits, bus rides, games, and edible food crafts! Choose one or two weeks of fun by grade level.
4. Teen Programs
   • Wildlife SleepoversThis overnight educational camping adventure is designed for school and scout groups (grades 3-12). Sleepover activities are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.
   • Zoo InternQuest
     This is a great program providing San Diego high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing careers in the life sciences the opportunity to learn from our experts. Students learn about conservation,veterinary medicine, animal behavior, and more by visiting the areas where experts in these fields spend their days. This seven-week internship meets three days a week at the Zoo, Safari Park, or the Institute for Conservation Research.