Day at the Zoo and Aquarium

Congrats, Broncos! You all made it to summer break, and whether you’re going to spend the next few months working, taking summer classes, or just chilling, everyone needs a day off. On those days of rest and relaxation, one way to get out of the house and explore wildlife is by going to your local zoo or aquarium. 

Keeping it local: LA and Orange County 

Both LA and Orange County boast several zoos and an aquarium just a relatively short drive from campus. For those who live near Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) or in the surrounding counties, all these locations are well within reach. 

Sitting on the Long Beach waterfront near Lions Lighthouse and Shoreline Village, the Aquarium of the Pacific is the closest aquarium to CPP and has plenty of aquatic animals within its many exhibits. 

Opened in 1998, the Aquarium of the Pacific was recently renovated and expanded in 2019, adding a new area called Pacific Visions. This wing has several interactive aspects and timely exhibits that reflect the current state of our oceans. In addition to this, the aquarium also boasts several other sections including Coral Reefs and the Baja/Southern California Gallery. There are also multiple touch tanks where guests can observe and interact with rays, sharks, sturgeons, and moon jellies. Perhaps the best and most unique exhibit within the aquarium is the Lorikeet Forest. Within the aviary, guests can walk amongst dozens of lorikeet birds, and even feed them with a cup of nectar. Lorikeets even land on the shoulders and arms of guests just to get their favorite food. 

A regular adult ticket for the Aquarium of the Pacific costs $44.95, while tickets for children and senior citizens are slightly cheaper. However, there are usually discount tickets at various grocery stores or fast-food restaurants. In addition to this, guests can pay an additional fee to add on a whale watching trip or admission to the Los Angeles Zoo, but more on that later. Parking is $8 (with proof of aquarium admission) and is also valid for the entire day. As mentioned before, the Aquarium of the Pacific is the closest Aquarium to campus, at just a 45 minute to an hour drive away. 

Los Angeles Zoo 

Located within Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Zoo has been a site of conservation and animal appreciation for over half a century. The zoo also has incredible biodiversity, housing over 270 species of animals, including 60 endangered species. 

As you can imagine, there are a variety of different exhibits across the LA Zoo’s 133 acres of land. Among them are the multi-level Campo Gorilla Reserve, which houses Western Lowland Gorillas, and the LAIR, an indoor exhibit that contains over 60 species of reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Other animals include Bornean Orangutangs, Asian Elephants, and Jaguars. The LA Zoo is also known for its conservation efforts, as it became the first zoo to breed all four species of tapir and helped replenish the population of the critically endangered California Condor. Other than the animals, the LA Zoo offers several activities such as live animal shows and bird watching using binoculars or spotting scopes. 

Tickets to the LA Zoo cost $22 for adults, $17 for children (ages 2-12), and $19 for senior citizens (age 62+). Parking is even more affordable since it is completely free. As noted before, you can purchase tickets for both the Aquarium of the Pacific and the LA Zoo. For adults, a combo ticket to both attractions is $58, while children (ages 3-11) cost $41. The package saves about $8 and $6 for adults and children respectively. In comparison to the Aquarium of the Pacific, the LA Zoo sits at a closer vicinity, around 34 miles from campus. However, you should factor in traffic and rush hour when visiting or coming back from the zoo. 

Santa Ana Zoo

Shifting from LA County to OC, the Santa Ana Zoo is located right off the 5 freeway in Santa Ana. Though it may not be as large as other zoos in the area, the Santa Ana Zoo is an affordable and unique option to explore global biodiversity. 

This zoo houses 250 animals across 80 different species. Perhaps the most defining animals of the Santa Ana Zoo are the primates. Joseph Edward Prentice, who donated the land the zoo is built on, required that it always have at least 50 monkeys. As such, species such as Howler Monkeys, Capuchins, and Tamarins populate the exhibits within the zoo. Lemurs, Ocelots, and two species of Camels are just a few of the other animals on display. Beyond looking at animals, guests can also enjoy rides on a train, carousel, and Ferris wheel at a very small additional cost.  

Admission to the Santa Ana Zoo is one of the cheapest locally, with the prices being $13 for adults and $10 for both children and seniors. Annual membership to the zoo is also available beginning at $70, which includes free unlimited visits and discounts to Santa Ana and other zoos across the country. Parking is free as well, making a full experience at the Santa Ana Zoo one of the best at its price. 

San Diego County 

Moving from local sites to some just over two hours south, San Diego County has plenty of wildlife living in its various. Many of the attractions in the San Diego area blend love for wildlife with exciting thrills and entertainment. While the drive might be a little further for local students, the trip is well worth it. 

San Diego Zoo 

Ranked the eighth best zoo in the nation by USA Today, the San Diego Zoo is more than worthy of this status, with its incredible biodiversity, conservation, layout, and activities for the entire family to enjoy. Located within Balboa Park in the heart of San Diego, this zoo is the perfect way to begin exploring the city around it. 

As with any zoo, plenty of wildlife call the San Diego Zoo home; 680 species to be exact with over 12,000 individuals in total. Across its 100-acre area, the zoo has a Western Outback Exhibit featuring Koalas, an Urban Jungle that houses Masai Giraffes and an elephant exhibit where both African and Asian Elephants reside. The zoo’s newest area is the Wildlife Explorer’s basecamp, a section catered for children with a playground, water features, and several individual smaller exhibits for you to explore. San Diego Zoo’s large footprint allows for many ways to take in the sights. The SkyFari Aerial Tram and the Kangaroo Bus are just a few of the ways to traverse the zoo’s grounds. 

For general tickets to the San Diego Zoo, the price comes in at $72 for adults and $62 for children (ages 3-11). However, for value days (majority of weekdays throughout the year,) the price drops to $68 for adults and $58 for children. Parking directly in front of the zoo and in Balboa Park is free. 

San Diego Zoo Safari Park 

About 45 minutes from the San Diego Zoo sits its sister park, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. While it may not have as many animals as the zoo, the safari park offers much closer encounters and views to the animals that call it home. With larger habitats that give its animals more room to roam around in, this wildlife park in Escondido provides a more natural setting. 

Across its grounds, the safari park has 10 unique exhibits and has 3,000 animals from 300 individual species. Between the expansive African Plains or the Asian Savannah, there are plenty of opportunities to plenty of animals. Some animals at the safari park include California Condors, Gray Kangaroos, African Lions, and the endangered Przewalski’s Horse, the last truly wild horse species. At an additional fee, guests can experience these animals up close with various safaris including flightline and cart safaris. As mentioned before, the highlight of this safari park is its vastness, allowing animals to live in a similar manner to how they would in the wild. This gives guests a true, authentic wildlife experience. 

Tickets to visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park are identical to the San Diego Zoo, with standard tickets costing $72 and $62 for adults and children respectively. Value days also stay consistent, with value day adult tickets costing $68, while children’s tickets only cost $58. As the safari park is a sister park to the San Diego Zoo, a two-visit package is offered. The package allows guests to visit both parks (either on the same day or not), or one park twice across multiple days. The pricing is $124 for adults and $114 for children, saving $20 and $10 on a standard ticket to both parks for each age group. Unlike the San Diego Zoo, however, parking costs $20 while preferred parking costs $38. 

Other Zoos and Aquariums 

With the sheer size of southern California there are many zoos and aquariums beyond those mentioned. These include the Cabrillo Aquarium in San Pedro, the OC Zoo in Irvine, and Legoland SEA LIFE in Carlsbad. For those living in northern California or those willing to take the drive up the coast, attractions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium are well worth your time.  

Are you planning a day at one of the zoos and aquariums around California? Let us know on our social media @ASICPP on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok!