Belle
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Post by Belle on Aug 12, 2015 20:09:37 GMT
DS turns 13 in May and I am trying to plan a fun trip for just him and Dh to celebrate becoming a teenager. My mom did the same thing for me when I turned 13 and we went to San Francisco, just the two of us. It was a wonderful time!
I am thinking San Diego would be fun as it has great weather, about a 2 hour flight and DS has never been before so it would be new to him.
I am wondering if San Diego Zoo would be a fun 1/2 or full day destination for my soon to be 13 year old? What about the Safari Park? He has been to Legoland (day trips from Anaheim) 3 times and has out grown it. I would like to have one fun activity planned and then the rest of the time can be beach or swimming at the hotel, exploring the city etc.
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caangel
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Post by caangel on Aug 12, 2015 20:55:01 GMT
Well they are no where near each other. SP is way inland and no where near the beach or city. If that is what you want to do then the zoo is it assuming you want to stay in one area and not be driving through traffic.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 10:20:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 21:00:05 GMT
My daughter is 13 and has pretty much no interest in going to the zoo or the Safari Park. If your son loves zoos, then he might enjoy it.
How about a Padres game?
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Post by Dictionary on Aug 12, 2015 21:01:00 GMT
So as the above poster says they are no where near each other. Basically the zoo is pretty spectacular, with great environment theming but it's HUGE! lots of walking, easily can spend a day here. The safari park is also HUGE but less to see I guess unless you pay extra for one of the safari tours. We did two the Cheetah run and one of the tours..mid range I think. It was hot and made for a long day but we didn't spend near as much time here as we did at the Zoo. If he hasn't been to a really good zoo then it is a great place to go.
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 12, 2015 21:05:02 GMT
I think the zoo is better. The park's animals can be hit or miss (at least on my adventures). The zoo has pandas. It also has fun transportation and pandas.  It is also pretty close to a beach if you want to do that too. |
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 10:20:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2015 21:10:29 GMT
I wouldn't do a half day at the Safari Park (fingers want to type Wild Animal Park  ) mainly because of it's location. The Zoo would be good. How about the USS Midway? Might be a cool "guy thing" for them. There's just so much to see and do in San Diego, unless they are really keen on zoos/animals, I would try to think of something guys would enjoy. |
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keithurbanlovinpea
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Post by keithurbanlovinpea on Aug 12, 2015 21:17:53 GMT
I took my two kids to the SD zoo last summer at 15 and 12 and they loved it. It is really a great zoo!
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Post by padresfan619 on Aug 12, 2015 21:20:03 GMT
As a lifelong San Diego resident I would definitely recommend the Zoo over the Safari park just because it can get really stinking hot at the Safari Park and it is kind of out a ways away from everything else. The Zoo is in a great location for other age appropriate activities for him.
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Post by hennybutton on Aug 12, 2015 21:27:27 GMT
I agree with everyone else, they should do the zoo. They also might enjoy a day at the museums in Balboa Park. The Aeronautics Museum, the Automotive Museum, and the Sports Hall of Fame are hits with most guys. Also, check out what the special exhibits are at the Museum of Man and the Natural History Museum. The latter gets some of the great traveling exhibits.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Aug 12, 2015 22:03:14 GMT
I would suggest the zoo but think the midway would also be s fun thing for them to do and there are a lot of museums in Balboa park. It depends what your son enjoys.
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Belle
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Post by Belle on Aug 12, 2015 22:10:49 GMT
I agree with everyone else, they should do the zoo. They also might enjoy a day at the museums in Balboa Park. The Aeronautics Museum, the Automotive Museum, and the Sports Hall of Fame are hits with most guys. Also, check out what the special exhibits are at the Museum of Man and the Natural History Museum. The latter gets some of the great traveling exhibits. I will check into the museums! Thank you! DS isn't into sports but the Aeronatics Museum and the Natural History museum sound right up his alley! i was hoping he could do a Segway tour but I think the age limit is 14 but need to double check on this! |
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Post by crittsmom on Aug 12, 2015 22:16:29 GMT
I say go for the zoo, but I'm partial to Balboa Park. One of my friends is at the SD zoo today with her preteens/teens and they are seem to be
having a great time.
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Post by peanuttle on Aug 12, 2015 22:21:08 GMT
Personally, I love both and leave near the Safari Park. It is about 30 minutes from downtown San Diego and about 30 minutes from the beach. They are very different from each other.
The SP offers zip lining, a ropes course (which is awesome), the cheetah run and different tours. My kids get tired of it, however we have passes and go rather often.
Besides, the zoo and SP, there is so much to do around here, that I would think it would be a fun trip regardless.
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LeaP
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Post by LeaP on Aug 12, 2015 22:29:59 GMT
Go to the zoo and USS Midway. Aircraft carriers are amazing, even the small ones like Intrepid in NYC. I think a 13 year old would really enjoy it. They have an F-14 and F-18.
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ginacivey
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Post by ginacivey on Aug 12, 2015 22:49:02 GMT
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Belle
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Post by Belle on Aug 12, 2015 23:14:56 GMT
This looks like a lot of fun!!! |
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luvnlifelady
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Post by luvnlifelady on Aug 13, 2015 0:15:16 GMT
I agree with everyone else, they should do the zoo. They also might enjoy a day at the museums in Balboa Park. The Aeronautics Museum, the Automotive Museum, and the Sports Hall of Fame are hits with most guys. Also, check out what the special exhibits are at the Museum of Man and the Natural History Museum. The latter gets some of the great traveling exhibits. I will check into the museums! Thank you! DS isn't into sports but the Aeronatics Museum and the Natural History museum sound right up his alley! i was hoping he could do a Segway tour but I think the age limit is 14 but need to double check on this! We did an unguided Segway tour at Mission Beach for my daughter's 13th (she's now 18). It was awesome. We took them around Mission Bay and had a blast! Mission Beach also has some amusement park rides, ziplining, huge indoor pool, free standing wave machine, the beach, eateries, etc. You can rent bikes or boogie boards. Awesome place to go. We had a day in San Diego the other day with just her and we had a great time at Mission Beach for a few hours. |
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Post by 950nancy on Aug 13, 2015 0:43:17 GMT
Not gonna lie. My favorite place in San Diego was Dog Beach. Two of my favorite things.
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Belle
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Post by Belle on Aug 13, 2015 0:57:32 GMT
Thank you everyone for the help!! I think the Mission Beach area along with a Segway tour would be perfect! If they decided they want to do the zoo or a museum, they can add that once they are down there. I just checked out Dog Beach - looks amazing! DS would love that too as he is a dog lover! Also found a Segway tour company that will take 13 year olds - the first one I checked on said 14 was the minimum age. Now all I have to do is start $aving!! |
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Post by hennybutton on Aug 13, 2015 4:26:28 GMT
I forgot about the Midway. Big time guy appeal.
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Post by kristi on Aug 13, 2015 4:49:12 GMT
If you go to the zoo, I recommend the early morning with the panda's tour. San Diego Zoo |
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Post by brina on Aug 13, 2015 13:06:04 GMT
The zoo offers a back stage tour that is amazing. You get up close with a number of different animals and you learn a lot from the animal behaviorists. We were there nearly 5 years ago and my kids talk about it all the time.
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Aug 13, 2015 15:14:59 GMT
I was also going to suggest the zoo and the USS Midway. We took our girls (6 and 9) to a private party on te midway last October and they remember it far more then the zoo. But the zoo was nice too.
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It is also pretty close to a beach if you want to do that too. 
) mainly because of it's location. The Zoo would be good. How about the USS Midway? Might be a cool "guy thing" for them. There's just so much to see and do in San Diego, unless they are really keen on zoos/animals, I would try to think of something guys would enjoy. 
