Best Zoo in Old Town

"Spread across 100 acres, the San Diego Zoo is home to 3,700 rare and endangered animals, with some 700,000 plants creating the lush habitats surrounding them. Well known for its animal care and conservation efforts (the zoo employs 300 animal care staff!), the zoo is a top priority for most San Diego-bound travelers. Given its sprawling size, it can be a lot of ground to cover, especially for little legs."

"A top tourist attraction in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is one of the largest and most famous zoos in the United States. Visiting this family-friendly attraction is also one of the top things to do in San Diego with kids. Plan at least a whole day here to really get the most out of your visit."

"The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is just as impressive as its more well-known sister property, the San Diego Zoo. It encompasses a whopping 1,800 acres, compared to the zoo’s 100. The African Tram is the park’s king attraction."

"This not-for-profit aquarium and zoo connects kids with the animals and plants of the California coast. Located on the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista, the Living Coast Discovery Center offers family-friendly activities and events such as shark, ray, turtle, and eagle feedings; guided trail hikes; Overnight Adventures; and VIP Animal Encounters. Seasonal exhibits promote wildlife conservation and educate young visitors about their impact on the environment."

"This nonprofit discovery center is there to provide environmental education related to coastal resource conservation. You park in a parking lot and bus takes you over to the center. Once there you can see the sharks, visit the sting ray touch tank, and see the bald eagles they have there."

"This is located in the Sweetwater Marsh Unit of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista and is a popular choice for school trips. The experience here is pretty unique. You get to feed bat rays and have meet-and-greets with reptiles."

"The Lost Forest is a fun little area packed with extensive trails that wind through exhibits and aviaries. These trails are home to animals from the rainforests of Asia and Africa, and wind their way up into the canopy as well as along the forest floor, with arboreal animals displayed above and ground dwellers below. You’ll find monkeys, barbirusas, tigers, great apes, okapis, and several various species of exotic birds."

"Guests will feel like there are in the rain forest when they enter the Lost Forest. The Lost Forest is in the northeast corner of the Zoo. Some animals in this area include hippos, tigers, okapi, otters, birds and primates."

"The Asian Passage is south of Panda Canyon and is a simulation of a tropical Asian rain forest. This scenic passage includes grizzly bears, snow leopards, and sun bears. This spectacular area also features the Sun Bear Forest, which resembles a southeast Asian rain forest, and the Hawaiian Native Plant Garden."

"The Asian Passage area includes the Sun Bear Forest, Grizzly Bear exhibit, and more. It’s a fun area to explore, and isn’t quite as big as Africa Rocks."

"Elephant Odyssey is one of the most well known parts of the park. It’s a huge area that’s dedicated solely to several beautiful African and Asian elephants. The Elephants are free to roam among large areas, and it also includes the Elephant Care Center where you may see a zookeeper caring for one of them."

"The Elephant Odyssey is home to the African and Asian elephant habitat. This area includes the majestic elephants along with the Elephant Care Center and Fossil Portal. Guests can also see lions, jaguars, California condor, camels, and the Malayan tapir."

"Coronado’s beloved family-owned and operated restaurant, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, just introduced new items to its summer entrées, happy hour, dessert, and cocktail menus. There’s a tagliatelle Adriatico with fresh tomatoes, shrimp and scallops and a portobello mushroom-stuffed ravioli with sun-dried tomato and a dill cream sauce. Every Thursday Primavera runs a date night special too that includes two entrées and two glasses of wine for $60 per couple."

"One of San Diego's finest Italian restaurants located in the heart of Coronado, the Primavera Ristorante offers a unique blend of Northern Italian cuisine amidst the quaint island community.[Learn more]"

"You’ll never see a more heavy-metal, exclusively vegan restaurant, and that’s not just because of the Black Sabbath and Misfits playing over the sound system. The decor blends the aesthetic of a 1920s Parisian cocktail bar with that of European comic magazines like Heavy Metal and 2000 AD right down to a custom cocktail menu where the drinks sport names derived from mythology, horror, and science fiction. It also has some of the most unique and delicious food you’ll ever eat."

"When it comes to Kindred, you can forget your preconceived notions of vegan restaurants. The South Park spot features killer cocktails, filling food, and an edgy design, complete with a coffered ceiling, a white-marble bar, and a demon-wolf-head..."

"Kindred is a gem of a spot — serving delicious vegan fare, weekend brunches, and smooth cocktails. The décor here is eclectic and fun. Its feel is a blend of modern, feminine, and vintage, with fun art pieces mounted on its colorful walls."