Sun-sational San Diego

Family Fun on the Run

By Kendeyl Johansen

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! And that's only for starters. The world-famous San Diego Zoo hosts a crocodilian with a snout as slim as a broomstick, giant pandas and more than 4000 other animals, many rarely seen at other zoos. The Deluxe Admission with Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Ariel Tram Ride is worth the extra price since the zoo is 100 acres, and bus drivers provide a knowledgeable park overview. Besides, my boys loved riding on the top level of the open-air bus and pointing out which animals they must see again.

My guys especially enjoyed trekking through the Ituri Rain Forest, where we encountered hippos and otters in the misty jungle. We also appreciated the inexpensive restaurants with kid-friendly menus. The San Diego Zoo is located at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego. Contact them at 619-234-3153 or www.sandiegozoo.com.

With San Diego's 70 miles of beaches, it's a sea breeze to find a sandy paradise. Mission Beach offers it all from pristine, groomed sand to the shore-side Big Dipper Roller Coaster and plentiful ice-cream concoctions to bogey-boarding nirvana.

My twins loved running from the waves and searching for shells, and my older son delighted in burying my husband in the sand and playing water-tag with us in the shallow surf. Older kids played volleyball, rollerbladed along the boardwalk or flicked on MP3 players and basked in the sun. My family had so much fun playing with the surf and turf I wished we'd booked another day just for beachcombing. Mission Beach is located on Mission Boulevard at Gannet Avenue.

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