LA zoo or SF zoo - anyone been to both?

[HarryKerryJr]

For SF, I would suggest not focusing on the zoo, but instead taking in the many facilities at Golden Gate Park. It has been decades, but my visit to the Aquarium there easily beat the over priced and tiny Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. The LA Zoo is located in Griffith Park, which would allow you to take in Griffith Park itself and the superior Griffith Park Observatory as good visits. Also, Exposition Park in LA (served by Metro Expo line) offers a GREAT Museum of Natural History along with Rose Gardens and other good facilities/museums including the Space Shuttle in its temporary home before they build the 20+ story permanent structure to house it.

If a zoo is really an important visit for you, then like others have said, San Diego is IT! There is regular daily Amtrak train service from LA to San Diego, about a 3 hour ride. You can easily leave LA in the morning and be back by dusk. Investigate transportation (there may even be a special tram service) from San Diego Amtrak stations to San Diego Zoo. Good luck.

[nmnita]

If the zoo is one of your considerations, which it obviously is: I would do the L.A. zoo, but I have to admit it has been years since I did either. Our kids did prefer the L.A. zoo, I do remember that.

[clarksvillemom]

Thanks all. Been to sd lots, so appreciate tips on la and sf

[Bulldogdad]

I always liked the SF zoo better and so did my kids. ALL zoos have got much better over the last several decades so its probably a toss up.

My family liked the SF zoo also because of its location right on the ocean and next to everything else they liked to do Golden Gate park, Fort Funston, Ocean Beach, The Sunset District etc....

[Hawk J]

Years ago we had many Fun times taking our young'uns to SF Zoo, Oakland Zoo, Golden Gate Park, Exploratorium, etc etc

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[Chava61]

I have never been to the SF zoo, but I have been to the L.A. zoo and it is definitely a good place to take young children to.

[CousinMaynard]

ive been a member of the sf zoo and/or oakland zoo for decades all combined.

for years it wasnt even a question, the oakland zoo was far superior, but the sf zoo has upped its game in recent times and both are good, but i'd still recommend the oakland zoo for your bay area visit.

[BeauCharles]

Fresno Chaffee Zoo deserves a mention. Its a well planned and maintained facility and the animals are well cared for and seem happy. It's a managable size (you can see it all in a couple hours) plus its just $7 for adults and $4 for kids. Its right off Hwy 99 in the middle of Roeding Park so if you're traveling the central part of the state its worth a look.

[tstieber]

I was going to second the above recommendation for the Oakland Zoo. In the Bay Area, it's the best zoo by far. The setting on the outskirts of Oakland, nestled in natural canyons and hills, is beautiful, and the animals seem to be more in a natural habitat. It's also a pretty big zoo. Definitely better than SF or LA.

I have also been to Fresno's Chaffee Zoo, and it's a really pleasant surprise. A beautiful facility and one of few zoos with at least one Galapgos tortoise from what I recall!

[jonh23]

If you're going to be in the Bay Area, I highly recommend the Oakland Zoo over the San Francisco Zoo. It has a much more natural setting and the animals have larger enclosures. I'm not sure if this matters to you, but the San Francisco Zoo does NOT have elephants.