San Diego... still with me? The Wild Animal Park

We wrapped up our San Diego weekend with a visit to the Wild Animal Park. We actually hadn't planned on making it here this time around, but we got a good deal on tickets that included all three parks and it was on our way home (about a half hour north of San Diego). I'm SO glad we went because it was a really neat experience.

Much of the Wild Animal Park is set up like an African safari. The setting was just beautiful and would have been an attraction even without the animals.


We went on a tram ride that took us out into the park and right up close to the animals. We saw lions, rhinoceroses, antelopes, wildebeests, ostriches, zebras... you name it. Here's a picture of a giraffe coming right up to say hello to Annie and Patrick.


We also hiked up to see the elephant exhibit. It was fun to see the elephants in a very natural setting and especially to see this mother with her newborn baby.


By far, the coolest thing we did at the park was a visit to the "Lorikeet Landing". Lorikeets are these colorful little birds (a type of small parrot) that are also very social. We bought small cups of nectar before we went in and the birds landed right on us the moment we entered. It was so cool and, needless to say, Annie was in HEAVEN! We got some great pictures - including one the park took of the three of us in which I have one bird on my hat and two on my arm and Patrick has one on his arm too (...and Annie's just beaming). I'll have to scan that in when we get home...




We left on an animal high after that experience and headed 'home'. There was still so much to see and do in San Diego... I think we would have needed at least a week to do it all. But it's a great city and a place we'd definitely like to visit again. :)