Explore the San Diego Zoo, the most visited zoo in the United States. It was a pioneer in open-air, cageless exhibits that recreate natural animal habitats, and it is also one of the few zoos in the world to have successfully bred the giant panda. See the more than 3,500 animals on a guided bus tour of the zoo or from the Skyfari gondola lift overhead.

Explore Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre urban cultural park in San Diego that is a National Historic Landmark. Balboa Park hosted the Panama-California Exposition in 1915 and the California Pacific International Exposition in 1935, so be sure to see the historic Exposition buildings. Explore the open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens, and walking paths, as well as the museums, several theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo in the park.

Explore the San Diego Botanic Gardens in Encinitas. Formerly the Quail Botanical Gardens, explore this 37-acre garden, which features the largest bamboo collection in the country, as well as desert gardens, a tropical rain forest, Mediterranean climate landscapes, and a subtropical fruit garden. Travel around the world and see the geographically organized gardens from almost every continent.