San Diego Zoo

California condor

I continue my-- sort of—travel log because when you travel you learn things and I like to share what I learn.

One of our goals in vacationing in southern California was to visit the world famous San Diego zoo.  If you visit the zoo you will walk, and walk and of course, walk some more.  I set my pedometer when I entered and shut it off halfway through the day at 6 miles, much of which was uphill.  Nothing wrong with exercise, but I just thought I would warn those who have trouble with walking a lot.  

The thing that impressed me about this zoo is their focus on conservation and saving endangered animals.  And they don’t only talk the talk; they walk the walk (there is that word again) because they use utensils that are biodegradable, compostable and made out of potatoes.  Can you believe that?  Potatoes!  And they look just like those plastic ones that will still be around littering the landscape when we are all dust.

If you visit the zoo don’t miss the California condor, which has gone from 175 left in the world to over 400 and are now being re-introduced into the wild.  Bravo San Diego Zoo!  

We visited in late September and the temperatures were almost 100 degrees and surprisingly quite humid.  It stayed pretty hot the whole week and here I was led to believe that California was always a very comfortable temperature all year round.  This heat rivaled any Virginia summer to me...so I guess I won't believe everything I'm told from now on.  Be sure to hydrate and bring your sun block!  At over $40 per admission the San Diego Zoo is a bit more expensive than most zoos but they do offer senior, AAA, and travel industry discounts, and after all the zoo itself is non-profit so you can feel good about spending your cash here.  Well, as good as you can when spending hard earned cash.  :-)  If haven't had enough animal interaction...well I'm talking about the San Diego Zoo Safari Park later this week, so stay tuned!