Best Zoo in National City

"The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, located near Escondido, is one of the best attractions in San Diego when traveling with kids. The 1,200-acre zoo has more than 300 species of animals, especially those that are endangered in the wild, concentrating on breeding them and then reintroducing them back into their wild native habitat. Visitors can take a tram tour of the zoo or see it from above via a hot-air tethered balloon."

"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."

"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."

"Onyx Nightclub invites club-goers for them to see the reason why the nightclub is a preferred choice of San Diegans. The nightclub has a setlist of a variety of genres and multiple rooms appealing to all types of guests. It has been representing the downtown San Diego nightlife for years hosting local and international talents."

"Onyx Room is three-level dance club, one at street level and two below. This nightclub draws the ultra-cool who want to party with inventive cocktails in hand and plenty of eye candy located throughout the room. Different nights feature different music styles, from jazz to hip-hop and old-school (the schedule is online)."

"Featuring two underground levels, this nightclub is truly one-of-a-kind. Being one of the best in San Diego if not the best, the place has amazing music accompanied with world-class service. They feature both local and internationally-renowned artists and play over 4 genres of music."

"Pop into the Spanish Village Art Center so your kids can get a look at a working artist’s studio in a charming Spanish town square. Small adobe studios painted with blue walls and yellow trims host a variety of artists and even offer art classes, glass blowing lessons and even more to explore your creative side. From the studios to the flowers, this place bursts with color and reflective energy."

"The Spanish Village Art Center offers a sensational collection of art. For starters, it has a constant rotation of artists who work with felt, paint, metal, beads, photos, glass and clay. There’s always something new to see even if you’ve visited before, so the locals of San Diego enjoy it just as much as the tourists."

"Sparks Gallery exhibits and sells original contemporary artwork primarily by Southern California artists who introduce and provide excellent craftsmanship in a multitude of mediums. They showcase combined exhibitions, curated exhibitions by the gallery owner Sonya Sparks, and solo exhibitions. With a focus on surreal and impressionistic artwork, the gallery ministers towards emotive works in themes ranging from portraiture and figurative to landscape and conceptual."

"Where: 530 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 After studying art at the University of San Diego, Sonya Sparks started a career in the art business because she felt that, in the early 2000s, San Diego’s art world was very closed off to young upstarts. If the art world wouldn’t bring her in, she’d have to start her own gallery. Which is exactly why she launched Sparks Gallery in 2013."

"One of San Diego’s only outlet centers, Viejas offers everyday bargains at popular stores such as Coach, Nike and Chico."

"Glorietta Bay Park is a city park with a small north-facing beach on the San Diego Bay side of Coronado Island. The park is located in a protected spot on […]"