The steep admission price might seem like it disqualifies the San Diego Zoo from a blog about cheap things to do, but a student membership is a great way to enjoy this amazing park, and it's quite affordable too! As of 2008, 42.oo could get you a year-long pass to the zoo, and the Wild Animal Park as well. Since the zoo is one of our favorite places, we've sprung for the membership two years in a row now.
You might also protest that the San Diego Zoo is a place to see attractions, not to hike. There you would also be wrong. It is quite difficult to resist the urge to stop and see your favorite furry friends, but if you can manage it the zoo can provide a nice hike. Unlike many zoos, ours has very nice landscaping (officially, it's a botanical garden as well as zoo), and it's situated in a hilly area, which keeps the train interesting, and challenging if you walk at a reasonable speed. While there are many paths through the zoo, there is at least one perimeter path that almost forms a loop, esp. if you are willing to double back once in a while. We walked most of it in about 2 hours, but we couldn't help but stop once in a while to ogle some of the cuter animals. I'm sure you could do it in 1 hour if you had more discipline.
It would be good to plan this hike on a weekday, especially early in the morning. The zoo tends to be less crowded then, whereas on the weekend you will find yourself tripping over children left and right. We would also recommend picking up a map even if you are a return visitor- it can help you plan out your hike (we got lost a couple of times trying to follow our own route).
Also- it is the law that you have to say the words World Famous before saying San Diego Zoo. Ask anyone who works there.
Shade Index: Plenty of shaded places to stop and rest- 35% shade.
Bathroom Opportunities: Lots. If you don't watch your step you might find it hard not to end up in a bathroom.
No Gorp today- Jymm is currently experiencing technical difficulties that make consumption of Gorp hazardous.
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