Critters & Deserts - A Week in the San Diego Area

The WILD ANIMAL PARK is the BEST place to see and interact with animals.

Visiting JOSHUA TREE National Park is like visiting Mars. It's a must-see.

Quick Tips:

If you want to visit any of the major animal parks and save time and money, call them or visit their websites several weeks in advance. There are a variety of ticket and membership options available, including combo site tickets, but some require you to pay online and then bring vouchers (that are sent by snail mail) with you when you visit.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around to major sites is by driving.

The room and hotel lobby were clean, pleasant, and well-appointed. The hotel was extremely convenient to Sea World, Old Town, and the zoo. All that was lacking in our room was bath soap and shampoo (we always seemed to have 2 bottles of conditioner waiting for us.) Unfortunately, the staff should have been better trained as well. When asked about purchasing discounted Sea World tickets as advertised on a sign at the front desk, the person on duty couldn't verify that the tickets included a second day. Furthermore, she didn't even think she had any left, but she didn't bother to check. We also were charged incorrectly for one night and the front desk person seemed to have trouble understanding what we were complaining about. The best service came from a bell boy who surfed the net to get us printed directions to the nearest bagel shop. By the way, directions to the hotel on the Ramada website were incorrect when we visited, so be sure to have a map on hand.

My husband insited on returning to Casa de Bandini within the week after our first visit.

The chips were piping hot and the salsa was unusual--it was spicier and had more garlic than what I'm used to. On both my visits I ordered from the healthy menu (calories, grams of fat, etc. are noted by each option). I had the Fiesta Fajitas (vegetarian) on our first night in San Diego, and for lunch on our final day I chose the cod-filled burrito. Both were tasty and were truly healthy. Red cabbage was in each dish, so be prepared for out-of-the-ordinary ingredients.

Alas, since we were both driving, the enormous margaritas were not to be. Many other diners sitting near us seemed to enjoy theirs immensely. We did try the non-alcoholic frozen drinks which were excellent.

Waiters and waitress in traditional garb provided pleasant and efficient service, with the exception of those who handled the wait list--getting their attention often took a bit of work.

Before each meal my husband and I vowed to leave room for dessert, and on both occasions we failed miserably even though we are renown for our healthy appetites.

A word of caution: be prepared for a lengthy wait if you arrive during peak meal times. You will be given a pager to alert you when you table is ready. However, if you decide to kill some time by walking through the nearby Old Town marketplace, you will have to check back periodially since your pager will be out of range.

Where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet, there lies Joshua Tree National Park. We loved the park's flora and fauna--miles of medium-sized cacti as far as the eye can see in one place, then drive a couple of miles and view a Joshua Tree-covered landscape. Enormous rocks and piles of rock give you the impression that you've landed on Mars...until you see the petroglyphs, that is. Lizards and small chipmunk-like animals abound, and in a five hour visit we encountered two coyotes; one seemed unimpressed by us, the other made a beeline for our car, undoubtedly in hopes of getting some grub.

Bring plenty of water, $10 to enter the park (good for 7 days), camping or climbing gear if you're brave, and your SUV if you want to have access to all paths open to visitors.

This is by far the best animal park I've ever visited, and I've visited many. The Wild Animal Park consists of approximately 800 acres of the 1800 owned by the San Diego Zoo in Escondido. Much of the park can be reached only by monorail, the Wgasa Bush Line Railway, so be sure to allot an hour to glide through East Africa, North Africa, and Eurasia where you can watch an enormous variety of animals behaving as they would in the wild. Narration is provided by the enthusiastic, knowledgeable drivers. Since the park is a breeding facility, there are countless babies to be seen in the spring and early summer months, guarded by their animal mothers who seem unaware that they need not fear preditors--except the stealthy veterinarian. There are also more traditional zoo-like exhibits in the walkable sections of the beautifully landscaped park. Splurge a little on nectar for the lorikeets and biscuits for the giraffes since feeding them is an experience to remember. Human food is decent and reasonably priced.

Note: Become a member of the San Diego Zoologial Society if you plan to visit both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. A year-long membership is $84 for a couple.

As you might expect, the zoo is a wonderful place for just about everyone. However, after visiting the Wild Animal Park, I felt that nothing else quite compared. I must admit that the zoo has better aviaries and seems to house more simians (perennial favorites of mine). However, many animals were off exhibit, many exhibits had animals we could not see, and some exhibits were closed due to blacktopping of the walkways--without forewarning I might add. I was particularly disappointed that I didn't get to see the hummingbird exhibit that was closed two days in a row due to the blacktopping. Furthermore, some members of the staff were a bit terse when asked when exhibits would re-open.

As a side note, consider becoming a member of the San Diego Zoologial Society if you plan to visit both the Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. A year-long membership is only $84 for a couple, includes unlimited visits, and comes with many discounts. If you join online, however, do so a few weeks in advance of your visit so that you receive your coupons in time.

Sea World has enough to keep a person busy for two days if you see all the shows, so consider buying a 2-day pass. Most daytime shows were excellent, with Pets Rule! being the exception. (There was little that surprised the audience.) Dolphin Discovery is probably the best show, although Shamu Adventure is considered the big event and is certainly worth your time. Pirates 4-D is fun--if you don't mind getting wet.

The schedule for night shows varies, so plan your visit accordingly if you want to see some of them. Except for Shamu's House of Douse, they have a more carnival-like feel to them than the daytime shows.

The opportunities to touch and feed animals including dolphins, batrays, and starfish are worth their weight in gold. SeaWorld evidently knows that because 4 miniscule fish for the dolphins cost $3.50, and they tend to be stolen out of one's hand by seagulls.

The penguin exhibit, manatee rescue, and shark tunnel are among the best sites in the park and deserve second or third viewings, or just a nice long rest on a seat in front of one of the tanks.

Most of the smaller aquariums are lovely and well designed, although most don't contain all the fish listed on their signs, and many contain unidentified fish.

Consider taking the behind-the-scenes tour, especially if Melissa is your guide. You'll see some sea mammals and turtles who are enjoying a day off or being nursed back to health. You'll also have the opportunity to pet a baby shark.

The rides may be the least interesting attractions in the park. Shipwreck Rapids requires a warm day to be remotely enjoyable, and enemies, friends, and strangers alike can buy the opportunity to squirt you with a water cannon when you are at your most vunerable on the raft. The Wild Arctic hydraulic ride offers you the option of motion-filled or motion-free transportation to the arctic, followed by a wonderful opportunity to view wildlife native to the area. Unless you have a cast-iron stomach, take the motion-free ride and then enjoying viewing the animals.