San Diego’s miles of sandy beaches make this region a family fave. But these two spots will delight every child — and grown-up, too.
1 San Diego Zoo
This phenomenal zoo has always been a popular spot with tourists and locals alike. But if you’ve already crossed it off your vacation bucket list, un-cross it now. This summer the zoo celebrated its centennial by opening a $68 million Africa Rocks exhibit, the largest zoo expansion in its history. The first stage opened in July and included a South African beach environment with 20 African penguins. A dozen leopard sharks — whose diet does not include penguins — found a home in a 200,000-gallon seawater pool. By September, the zoo had unveiled its new Madagascar section, complete with lemurs. It’s a must-see.
Details: Tickets $42-$52 for a one-day pass. Open daily at 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park, San Diego; www.sandiegozoo.org.
2 Birch Aquarium at Scripps
This educational museum and aquarium in La Jolla is the public face of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and there’s something here for everyone. The aquarium offers a peek at more than 60 sea-creature habitats along the Pacific Coast, from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest. Explore Tide Pool Plaza, and gawk at the leopard sharks and moray eels in the two-story, 70,000-gallon Giant Kelp Tank. You can even take a virtual ride aboard Scripps’ research vessel, the RV Sally Ride, and see what seafloor mapping is all about.
Details: Tickets are $14-$18.50. Open daily at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla; www.aquarium.ucsd.edu.
