LA zoo or SF zoo - anyone been to both? (Los Angeles: beach, land)

[clarksvillemom]

can anyone who has been to both tell me which one is better? I have two boys who love zoos but we can proabbly only go to 1 on our CA trip later in August.

[munchitup]

I've never been to either - but my wife has been to both and prefers the SF Zoo.

Is it possible to go to the San Diego Zoo? It's the best in the state, by far.

[DynamoLA]

If the zoo is the deciding factor, go to San Diego.

[clarksvillemom]

been to San Diego zoo and Wild Animal Park several times and love it! Only visiting SF and LA this time so need to know between those 2 - thanks

[clarksvillemom]

oh, and zoo is not deciding factor for trip but just one thing we will probably want to hit while we're in SF and LA

[California Vagabond]

I have visited the L.A. zoo within the last three or four years, and the S.F. zoo many, many years ago. I might mis-remember what San Francisco offers.

That said: I'd give the nod to Los Angeles.

[andrecle]

I would go with the LA Zoo. From what I remember, the SF Zoo didn't impress me at all.

[BRinSM]

I can't speak to the SF Zoo, but the LA zoo is great! My family received an annual membership pass as a gift and we all love it. The zoo itself is very big with a wide variety of animals, most of which don't look miserably confined to a tiny space, save for the jaguar. the elephant habitat is huge and the primate areas are mostly good as well. the orangutan and chimp habitats are great for viewing.

[HaemophilusAphrophilus]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

I can't speak to the SF Zoo, but the LA zoo is great! My family received an annual membership pass as a gift and we all love it. The zoo itself is very big with a wide variety of animals, most of which don't look miserably confined to a tiny space, save for the jaguar. the elephant habitat is huge and the primate areas are mostly good as well. the orangutan and chimp habitats are great for viewing.

definitely agree, but never been to either the sd or sf zoos. SD is known as the best in CA at least (as far as I know) and from what I see it offers the "full package" rather than just a zoo, but LAs zoo is pretty damn good but not in that upper tier. Id go to LA and maybe try to do an SD zoo day with taking the Amtrak depending on where youre staying. It might help to just come into SD and do the zoo on day one, then Amtrak to LA for the rest if youre set on LA or SF (but SD still is a great city and has more than a zoo)

[saybanana]

If you like animals on land and in the water, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and LA Zoo have a discounted combo ticket promotion. Check their websites for more info. You can visit both in one day or different days from what I read.