Go Wild at San Diego’s Zoos & Aquariums
From pandas to sharks to sea anemones, San Diego embraces its wild side as home to the nation’s top zoos and aquariums. The world-famous San Diego Zoo has more than 100 acres of habitat populated by wildlife from around the world, while its sister attraction, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, offers close-up encounters with giraffes, rhinos and scores of other species — many of them rare or endangered. And visitors can encounter fascinating marine life with hands-on exhibits at top San Diego aquariums, including the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, SEA LIFE Aquarium at Legoland and the Living Coast Discovery Center on San Diego Bay.
San Diego Zoo&
Come face-to-face with polar bears, hang out with a two-toed sloth, and discover your wild side as you explore the 100-acre wildlife park that's home to over 12,000 rare and endangered animals, including more than 650 species and subspecies. Immerse yourself in exciting educational experiences and learn more about how your visit helps conservation efforts worldwide.
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Set out on safari and discover 1,800 acres of sprawling savannas teeming with wildlife as well as world-class botanical gardens. Encounter rhinos, giraffes, wildebeest and large herds of wildlife roaming together. Journey through bamboo forests and come face to face with Sumatran tigers. Hop alongside kangaroos and dive underwater to meet the only two platypuses outside of Australia. And experience the awe-inspiring giants of Elephant Valley. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park offers unique up-close encounters!
SeaWorld San Diego
The world-renowned SeaWorld on Mission Bay boasts a fascinating array of aquariums and animal encounters — including the new Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience, featuring scores of stunning jellies in an immersive setting. SeaWorld, known for its marine-life rescue operations, also showcases ocean animals from dolphins to penguins to orcas to sea turtles.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Dive into the world of sharks, seahorses and coral reefs at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. As the public outreach center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, the Birch features amazing marine life, including weedy seadragons and little blue penguins as well as exhibits exploring the latest in oceanographic discovery. Get hands-on with local sea creatures while enjoying stunning ocean views.
SEA LIFE Aquarium at LEGOLAND California
SEA LIFE® aquarium is a kid-friendly interactive exploration of marine life, combining active hands-on learning with fascinating educational talks and up-close encounters with sea creatures, including sharks, octopi and rays.
Living Coast Discovery Center
Discover sea turtles, hawks, sharks and more on the shores of San Diego Bay. The Living Coast Discovery Center is a nonprofit zoo and aquarium set on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors can enjoy up-close animal encounters with endangered green sea turtles, shorebirds, hawks, owls, sharks, stingrays, jellies and more.