Torrey Pines Hilton Resort
The four diamond Torrey Pines Hilton Resort is located atop the bluffs of Balboa Park overlooking the legendary Torrey Pines Golf Course and the majestic Pacific Ocean.

.

Gaslamp Quarter Marriott Resort
Marriotts newest resort in San Diego is this stylish San Diego Gaslamp Quarter property. Ideally located with 306 elegantly appointed guestrooms & suites featuring luxurious bedding, state-of-the-art technology, flat-screen televisions, & High-Speed Wireless Internet access throughout the hotel.

.

San Diego Zoo
Located in beautiful Balboa Park, the 100-acre World-Famous San Diego Zoo was founded by Dr. Harry Wegeforth in 1916. The colorful and extremely enterprising San Diego physician started the collection with a handful of animals left over from the Panama-California Exposition. Today, the 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.

The San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Drive, PO Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112; (619) 234-3153;
Gates Open Daily at 9AM-5PM (9AM-9PM Summer Hours);
Two Park Combo Admission also available that includes Wild Animal Park
Group discounts available for 15 or more; (619) 718-3000; School Groups (619) 557-3962;
Operated by The Zoological Society of San Diego;

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.

Recommended Tours:

Guided Bus Tour: 35-minute tour on double-decker bus provides a quick easy way to see most of the best features of the park. The excellent guides usually share some great trivia and special secrets about the more exotic creatures along the way. You must purchase the deluxe admission for this feature. Highly recommended for all first time visitors.
Skyfari Aerial Tram: Airborne shortcut up and over to the opposite end of the Zoo.You must purchase the deluxe admission for this feature.
Themed Tours: - There are a variety of seasonal and themed tours. Most are designed for ages 12 and up. Call (619) 557-3969 for latest info. Themes Include:
• It Began with a Roar
• Breakfast With The Big Guys
• Walk On The Wild Side
• Passport to Asia

Parking
Parking is Free and also many public bus routes pass through Balboa Park.

Best times to visit is in early Spring (Jan-April). Also try for Sept-Nov when the school year starts, the crowds are thin and there are next to no crowds for the more popular features.
Note: The best time to visit a zoo is either early in the morning or late in the evening when the animals are most active.

La Jolla Hotel Parisi
Resting amid palm trees and Pacific breezes and the rustle of shoppers and sun seekers is the Hotel Parisi. This romantic lodge is located in the heart of La Jolla at the corner of Herschel and Prospect Streets.

.

Ituri Forest
Opened Summer 1999 - This is the most complex, multi-species habitat developed yet by the Zoo. In an African rain forest setting - guests see okapis, hippopotamuses, forest buffalos, otters, monkeys, and colorful birds. Four acres of winding trails cross through dense rain forest.

Scripps Aviary
Walk through aviary - African rain forest setting for over 200 colorful African native species. This free flight enclosures sstands 90 feet high and 150 feet long.

Gorilla Tropics
2.5 acre simulation of an African rain forest. Centerpiece is an 8,000 sq.ft. enclosure for a troop of western lowland gorillas. One of the most popular exhibits of the zoo lets you readily observe natural primate behaviours.

Polar Bear Plunge
Large 2-acre exhibit recreates the Arctic tundra - Siberian reindeer, arctic foxes, northern birds, native plants and a 130,000 gallon aquarium for the Polar Bears cooled to 55 Degrees F. The polar bear aquarium recreates summertime tundra habitat.

Owens RainForest Aviary
New walk through 65-foot high aviary with over 200 birds. Simulates the sights and sounds of a Southeast Asia jungle habitat. One of the largest such exhibits in the world, it cost nearly $4 million to complete.

Bonobo Road
6,000 square foot enclosure is home to the bonobo chimps, which are considered to be the most intelligent primate in the world (after humans of course). Watch the playful bonobos roam the giant rock outcroppings and twisted palms of their oversized enclosure.

Giant Panda Research Station
Only pair of Giant Pandas in the USA - Shi Shi and Bai Yun. They are here on a 12 year loan from China and located in a special conservation research center. Limited viewing hours.
New Panda Cub now living in public display area. Only giant panda pair and offspring anywhere in the US. This exhibit will end sometime in late 2002.

Tiger River
10 exhibits with over 100 animals in a Asian rainforest habitat. Tigers, crocodile, tapirs, fishing catss, pythons, mousedeer, and many more exotic creatures.

Sun Bear Forest
Home to the Malayan sun bears - regarded as the smallest bears in the world. They are very agile, comical and a regular great entertainer for the guests.

Reptile House
There are over 869 reptiles and amphibians at the zoo - including six endangered species.

Children's Zoo
Youngsters can interact with common and exotic farm creatures.

Koala Bear Exhibit
Only albino Koala on public display anywhere in the world.

Coronado Island Marriott Resort
This sixteen acre bayfront vacation paradise is an exotic island retreat located on the San Diego Bay near the bay bridge and downtown Coronado. Water taxi ferry service makes for a fun, easy trip to downtown San Diego. Hotel services includes banquet facilities and watersports equipment.

.

The main reason to catch some of these shows is for the opportunity to see some of these nimals in action.

Wegeforth National Park Sea Lion Show
Special feature on some unique creatures of our world. Live shows daily.

The Wild Ones
Exhibition of predators and prey from around the world display their natural behaviours. Live shows daily at Noon and 2PM.

Hunte Amphitheater

Nightime Zoo - Mid-June to Labor Day
Enjoy an evening filled with educational and entertaining performances and upclose animal encounters.

In addition to the traditional fare of "fun foods" (i.e., cotton candy, ice cream, hot dogs and soft drinks) The San Diego Zoo offers the following diverse and healthier choices:

Albert's Restaurant
Full service fine dining establishment with open-air deck overlooking the zoo's scenic waterfalls. Menu includes specialty salads, New York steak, salmon fillets and teriyaki chicken kabobs. Located in the Treehouse complex near Gorilla Tropics.

Other Dining Locations


Treehouse Cafe -Sandwiches, salads, soups and desserts.
Canyon Cafe -Featuring authentic Mexican cuisine -
Sydney's Grill -Hamburgers and broiled chicken sandwiches
Flamingo Care - Soups, sandwiches and Asian rice bowls