For a fun, fascinating adventure featuring feathers and fur, embark on this full-day excursion to see the world-renowned San Diego Zoo!

Board an air-conditioned motorcoach at your pier and set out on a brief drive to the breathtaking Balboa Park, the nation's largest urban cultural park. At a lush 1200-acres, it is home to 15 major museums, renowned performing arts venues, beautiful gardens and of course, the San Diego Zoo.

Step off the bus and step into a world of natural wonder! Reptiles, birds, mammals, amphibians, insects and plants - the San Diego Zoo has it all! Home to over 4,000 rare and endangered animals representing more than 800 species and subspecies as well as a stunning botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants, this 100-acre zoo is a living classroom that entertains and educates.

With so much to see, you have several options as to how to take it all in. Enjoy a leisurely, guided double-decker bus tour past major highlights. For a bird's eye view, ride the Skyfari aerial tram above the lush treetops and open-air exhibits. And of course, you can always stroll through the verdant grounds, observing the animals and reading about them at your own pace. How else will you learn exactly what a tamandua is?

Not only will you see animals that are living amongst us today, you will also learn about animals that lived in Southern California 12,000 years ago. Then meet their living counterparts at The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey. Marvel at the new 7 1/2-acre multi-species habitat which features elephants, California condors, jaguars and more. Learn about the zoo's conservation efforts to prevent wildlife from becoming extinct.

At the Wegeforth Bowl and Hunte Amphitheatre, watch animals such as sea lions and wolves show off their natural behaviors. Visit the specially designed viewing areas in the Children's Zoo built to ensure that even the smallest guests get in on the action!

No tour of the San Diego Zoo is complete without a visit to the internationally famous giant panda family. Three of these magnificent black and white bears make their home here. Giant pandas first came to the zoo in 1987. A female named Bai Yun has since given birth to five cubs, including the cub she is raising now.

Though the zoo is known for its stunning array of animals, exotic plants are the Zoo's most valuable collection. They are featured in exhibits created to mimic the native habitats of the animals. From polar bears in the Arctic tundra to okapis in the Ituri Forest and bonobos in the jungles of the Congo, these realistic enclosures give you a sense of how these magnificent animals live in our world.

Take time out from animal adventure to indulge in a meal or snack at one of the many zoo restaurants (from gourmet to casual). Browse for souvenirs at the gifts shops and remember, your purchases support the zoo!