Let's Review! -San Diego Zoo

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5/5 stars great place to visit. Must See!

Website:  Plan Your Visit | San Diego Zoo

Kid Age Range: All

Time: All Day/Multiday experience

    Truly the largest Zoo I have ever been to.   Prices and tickets vary, we purchased season passes.  Living in San Diego for this tour means we will have plenty of opportunities to go and seems to make the most sense to us as a family.  We have been to this zoo about 5 times this year, and still have not seen everything they have to offer (it is that big!).

Important preparations for those with littles.  Definitely bring a stroller for little feet, unless you plan on riding the bus throughout. (I use a large side by side double stroller; it has fit through and into everywhere in the park so far with only a few tight squeezes) There is ALOT of walking.  There are some hills that are very steep.  I wish they would have the hills marked on their maps, especially the direction of the up/down for those of us pushing kids about.  When headed to the back of the park it will be mostly downhill, but when heading back out to the front depending on if you're coming from the polar bears or the apes it's an uphill struggle.  There are some routes you can take that will make it less/more difficult.  There is an elevator close to the worst offending hills that will help you to avoid them if used properly.  

On the African Animal side of the park, I had no problems finding bathrooms or rest stops for the kids. The roads are very open, with multiple little paths leading you throughout the animals. Steep hill down to the polar bears, which I would avoid visiting in the summer months.  The bear tends to hide in the shade (I don't blame him) and the path bottle necks throughout that area causing the crowds to get backed up.  Though visiting him during the winter months, he's been out and about, and its much less crowded with visitors.  

 The Rainforest, ape and monkey route (to the left side of the park) I found the path to be more scrunched and bathrooms not as easily accessible) Also the path to the apes and tiger is narrow and steep/wet (difficult with the crowds and a double stroller.)  But this side very much reflects a rainforest and most if not the entirety of this path is covered by shade making it much cooler to walk through during the summer.  while I mentioned the path being narrow, I was still able to walk through it with my side by side double, I just had to navigate past others with strollers and larger groups of people.  

The new kids' area is pretty amazing.  We haven't been able to explore all of it yet, but the splash area is spacious. has a little waterfall, lots of jumping waterspouts, some that are simple for littles an area with big rings of water older kids and braver littles would enjoy.    a small stream indention kids were laying in (and if you brought any tiny boats could probably float down it, though with all the kids that may not be a good idea)- Most were barefoot, some had water shoes on.  There was also a variety of swimwear, fully clothes, to one little girl running about in her undies.  I was able to push my big stroller all the way down to and right up against the water areas.  some moms had their strollers parked, and while some areas were a little squishy it was mostly very open and easy to navigate.  seating available for parents, and on our second trip there I saw a few park staff hanging around keeping an eye on things.  The bathrooms by the new kids' area are by far the best the park has to offer, big and spacious, clean.