San Diego - SeaWorld

SeaWorld San Diego is one of the city's main attractions, particularly for families. It is located along the waterfront in Mission Bay. For many American's SeaWorld has been a long time family tradition, having been around since the 1960s. Families flock here from all over making summer, when school is out, a particularly busy time to visit.

SeaWorld has everything you can imagine when it comes to fun for kids and families.

Must-see attractions nearby:

Balboa Park

SeaWorld

San Diego Zoo

San Diego Maritime Museum and Star of India

Mission Bay

Cabrillo National Monument

Old Town State Historic Park

Among the highlights are the myriad of shows featuring killer whales, sea lions, dolphins, and other sea life. There are also all kinds of rides from roller coasters plowing into water, to more sedate carnival type rides for tots. SeaWorld is an aquarium that allows for close up looks at sharks and other sea creatures that can be seen through an acrylic tunnel, along with touch tanks, and close encounters with dolphins and inhabitants of tidal pools.

From San Diego take the U.S. 5 (exit for SeaWorld Drive). Penguins in their hundreds, dolphins, sea-lions, otters and whales have been trained here to show off their newly-learned skills in more than 30 different performances. Water fantasies, hydrofoil boat trips, cable railways and much more are features of this maritime leisure park. There are similar parks in Orlando (Florida), San Antonio (Texas), Aurora (Illinois). Until they were sold at the beginning of 1989 they represented the most profitable branch of the Harcourt Brace Iovanovich publishing firm. Trainer injuries have resulted in the whale program being somewhat curtailed.

Address: Sea World, 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, CA 92109-7993, United States
Phone: 1 (619) 226-3901, Fax: 1 (619) 226-3996

Tips: Hours vary, call for details.

Parking: Pay

Guides: Guided tour included with admission.

Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service, Wheelchair loan or rental