SAN DIEGO VACATION RENTALS, CALIFORNIA

San Diego is exceptionally famous for the extensive range of attractions it offers for the tourists as well as for local visitors. As this popular vacation spot is home to many sights and attractions that cater to the whole family, vacationers in San Diego are often torn between what to see and what can be missed. To help you in this arduous task, we have listed some of the most popular attractions that the town of San Diego has to offer:

San Diego Zoo is centrally situated, adjacent to downtown San Diego, in Balboa Park. With a collection of more than 4,000 animals from 800 different species and a variety of exotic plants from over 6500 species, the San Diego Zoo is one of the finest conservation organizations in the whole world. Some of the rarest animals and plants can be seen here in a recreation of their natural environment.

Spread over more than 100 acres, the zoo offers visitors and especially kids a unique experience with its remarkable exhibits. There are exhibits specially dedicated to 10 bioclimatic zones including rainforests and arctic tundra. Among the animals that call San Diego Zoo their home are giant pandas, koalas, and Malaysian tigers. The San Diego Zoo also holds special programs, events, shows, and activities such as the Sea Lion Show – It Began with a Roar, ENTCO Wild Earth Safari Ride, summer camps, and sleepovers regularly which when complimented by facilities such as the Skyfari Aerial Tram further enhance the experience for visitors.

Tickets to the San Diego Zoo are sold in various packages. A ticket for just the San Diego Zoo is approximately $23 for an adult and $15.50 for a child between 3-11 years of age. You can also avail packages that combine tickets to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Tickets once purchased are neither returnable nor refundable. Ticket package and prices are subject to change without notice. Zoo remains open 365 days in the year. However, the visiting hours are different according to the seasons. From March 15th  to September 3rd, the zoo is open from 9 AM to 8 PM  and the grounds close at 9 PM. During the fall, the timings change, From September 4th  – 28th,, the zoo’s operating hours are from 9 AM to 4 PM with the grounds closing at 6 PM and from September 29th  to March 14th, the San Diego Zoo operates from 9 AM to 4 PM and the grounds close at 5 PM. Parking at the Zoo is free which makes it perfect for vacationers driving in from their San Diego vacation condominiums.

Sea World in San Diego is one of the most popular attractions of San Diego and attracts huge crowds. One of the must visit attractions, the San Diego Sea World is where you, along with your family, can enjoy a new experience and make unforgettable memories touching and feeding dolphins, counting the teeth on a shark, and plunging down 60 feet to visit the long lost sunken city of Atlantis.

A must visit for every vacationer, the San Diego Sea World loses no time in winning you over with its remarkable exhibits, shows, and activities. You can enjoy a helicopter ride (simulated, of course) to the North Pole and watch the polar bears, beluga whales, and walruses from the hell of two shipwrecks; and attend Shamu Adventure – the most popular show of Sea World San Diego. You can also meet the cute penguins at Penguin Encounter (just remember to get a jacket or a light sweater along as it can be cold in this exhibit). You should not miss the mind-blowing show of summer nights either.

Ticket prices are subject to change without notice and the tickets are non-refundable after purchase including but not limited to lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed tickets.

A unique adventure awaits you at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. Spread over 1,800 acre, this one-of-a-kind park offers a home to over 3,500 animals from around the world. The main attraction of this park is that unlike traditional zoos, this park doesn’t believe in confining animals in small spaces, and allows them to roam freely in a replication of their natural habitat. Visitors to the Wild Animal Park can view the animals from the pathways and a quiet railway.

You can also get to know more about the various animals, their habitats, and the importance of conserving them from the different activities, shows, summer camps, and sleepover programs held regularly to educate the visitors and make your visit to the Wild Animal Park more fun. A popular attraction here is the Conservation Carousel that features 60 ride elements ranging from zebras, giraffe, and cheetahs to rhinos. Other attractions include the Journey into Africa tour, Discovery Station, and Balloon Safari.

San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is located near the city of Escondido about 35 miles to the north of the Zoo. Parking is not included in the price of the ticket and it is $8 per vehicle for nonmembers and $6 for members. General Admission costs $28.50 for an adult and $17.50 for a child aged between 3 to 11 years. The Park remains open 365 days a year, with hours of operation varying with the seasons. During the fall, the Wild Animal Park opens at 9.00 AM and closes at 4.00 PM. During the rest of the year, the park opens at 9.00 AM and closing by 8.00 PM, (grounds close an hour later).

While at San Diego, one of the places that you must visit is the famous Balboa Park. The nation’s largest urban park, Balboa Park offers a multitude of attractions ranging from the world-famous San Diego Zoo to widely acclaimed museums, art galleries, and beautifully landscaped gardens. Combining San Diego’s exquisite nature’s creations, its Spanish revival architecture, its rich culture, and numerous attractions, Balboa Park showcases  San Diego’s true spirit.

At Balboa Park, you can enjoy a tour of the San Diego Art Institute (SDAI): Museum of the Living Artist, which exhibits works of art of various artists; visit the educational and interactive special-interest museums such as the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center; and enjoy theatrical performances, at internationally acclaimed theaters like the Tony Award® - winning Old Globe Theater.

Apart from being a center of attraction for the artistically inclined, the Balboa Park is where you can have a great time with your near and dear ones. Be it exploring the attractions like the San Diego Zoo; enjoying a ride on the Balboa Park Carousel; savoring the beauty of the Alcazar Garden and the other gardens dotting Balboa Park’s landscape; playing golf, tennis, or enjoying hiking and mountain biking; you will find it at Balboa Park.

Balboa Park is located just minutes from downtown San Diego and is easily accessible from the majority of the San Diego vacation rentals. Admittance to the Balboa Park and its gardens is free, though the attractions including the museums and cultural shows have their own separate charges. All the attractions within the park have separate operating hours.

While vacationing in a San Diego condo, you can easily make a daytrip to LEGOLAND® California, in Carlsbad. With more than 50 rides, attractions, and shows to choose from, you are bound to have a great time. Set sail through the pirate-infested waters, armed with nothing but water cannons to beat the pirates in Splash Battle, LEGOLAND® California’s newest addition. You can enjoy track-free robotic arms that give you unforeseen twists and turns, in case you are bold enough for Knights Tournament. At Fun Town Fire Academy, man the fire trucks and hose down a fire. You can also become an excellent driver at the Volvo Driving School.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego is a family oriented attraction that offers a world-class adventure for the entire family. With one of the finest collections of historic ships, this museum is a must visit for anyone with even a passing interest in nautical history.  The museum exhibits six expertly restored ships including the Star of India, the oldest member of the Maritime Museum’s family and the oldest iron-sailing active ship. Don the role of Russell Crowe in the Academy-Award winning movie “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” as you strike a pose at the helm of the H.M.S Surprise, an impressive replica of a Royal Navy frigate from the 18th century and the newest addition to the Maritime Museum of San Diego.

Of these six ships, three still set sail and offer vacationers in San Diego with some of the most memorable moments of their vacation and an experience unlike any other. Set sail at the Maritime Museum of San Diego on any one or all three of the museum’s sailing ships including the Pilot and the Californian, which regularly set sail on educational cruises. The Star of India sails just once every year and the Medea sets sail about twice a month with celebrities and VIPs onboard.