Sea World San Diego- an all around amusement park full of water/animal shows (6/07)
We hopped on the freeway and drove two hours south from LA to SeaWorld in San Diego. We picked up our tickets at the counter and due to security procedures we had to check our bags before entering the park.
We took a look at the daily schedule of shows in the SeaWorld map to plan our adventure for the day. We headed over to ‘Believe,’ an amazing show featuring Shamu, the famous killer whale. When we came into the theatre we wanted to find a nice spot to sit down but the place was packed. Eventually we found a few seats closer to the pool in an area called the ‘soak zone’. Actually it wasn’t that bad if your mind is set on the whales and what they are doing. This show has an emotional impact on you. We thought “Believe” was such a good title for because the show makes one believe that anyone is able to connect with these animals. It also reflects that there is a real relationship and bond between trainers and whales.
We stopped to enjoy lunch in the middle of this beautiful water park. On our way to the Shipwreck Reef Café we passed a pond containing starfish. You can pick up these creatures and feel them in your hands. In the café everything looked so delicious. They had a variety of healthy salads, juicy hamburgers, fresh vegetables, chicken, salmon, hand-carved sandwiches, zesty jambalaya and baby back ribs. The Shipwreck Reef Café also offers a special kid’s menu. Since it was a beautiful sunny day we ate outside.
After lunch we passed Pacific Point. With its new see-through walls you have a great view of the animals. They also have feeding tubes for children and disabled guests. We watched the sea lions and sea otters and even fed them fish.
Next we headed for the Dolphin Interactive Program. First you learn about dolphins. You get to know about the dolphin’s anatomy, how they react in situations and how SeaWorld’s trainers educate these animals. After a twenty-minute education, it was time to go into the water and explore. SeaWorld provided some wetsuits and boots. I didn’t know what to expect and I was a bit nervous, but once I saw the dolphin swimming up to me I forgot all about that. It was breathtaking and I was literally stunned by it. I couldn’t speak and I was so excited. Our dolphin’s name was ‘Bubba,’ short for Buster. He is a “common” dolphin, which is a very rare species of dolphin. The trainer commanded Bubba to do several tricks with me such as walking, kissing and making a laughing noise.
The next thing on our to do list was the Penguin Encounter. The Penguin Encounter had been closed for a year due to extensive renovation. The inside has been rebuilt, changed and updated. When we walked inside, it was very dark and nothing informing us where to go. At the end of the Encounter we noticed there were a few benches upstairs where you can sit down and enjoy watching the Penguins. That was nice even though we didn’t see much of it.
We then headed to the Shark Encounter. When we entered we saw several water tanks that contained different types of sharks. It was a bit difficult to see, yet very impressive. There was an amazing walk-through tube that held hundreds of sharks. Some of the sharks we saw were tiger, white tip, black tip and bonnet head sharks. This is a must see exhibit.
To finish off we visited the “Wild Artic”. There were beautiful, big white whales that we saw up close. What’s nice is that you can see them outside and then if you go downstairs you can see them under water. You get two different perspectives and it’s very impressive. On our way down we also saw polar bears, seals and one walrus that got a lot of attention from the crowd. He was eating his food and spitting it out, which was quite humorous. Near the end is an ice tunnel that simulates snow and an ice wall. Lastly, there is a cave that you can walk through that leads you into the Artic souvenir shop.
We knew it was almost time for the park to close, but just in time we hopped on the SeaWorld Skyride, a six-minute roundtrip ride across the Bay. The ride glides over the bay where you can view the beautiful sights and sounds of the Park. Before we left the park we popped in the Plaza Bakery for some fresh coffee and baked pastries. It was a great way to finish the fabulous day at SeaWorld San Diego!
For more information:
(800) 25-SHAMU or (1-800-257-4268)
SeaWorld of California (San Diego)
500 SeaWorld Drive
San Diego, CA 92109