Jan
16
2009
The Oakland Zoo is located on top of a hill in Knowland Park with sweeping vistas of the bay. The zoo began operation in 1922 when it was founded by naturalist Henry Snow. Today the zoo has modern exhibits with many of the animals kept in “natural” habitats. One of the highlights for families visiting the Oakland zoo is The Valley Children’s Zoo. This three-acre zoo within a zoo has animal exhibits and interactive play-structures designed for children. The Oakland Zoo is home to over 400 native and exotic animals including tigers, lions and elephants. The zoo also has a couple of fun rides the whole family can enjoy. There us a miniature train that takes your around the perimeter of the zoo and a sky ride which takes you over the zoo. Continue Reading »
Dec
24
2008
The Birch Aquarium is located in La Jolla, California on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This kid friendly aquarium is smaller than it’s California counter parts, Aquarium of the Pacific and Montery Bay Aquarium, but is every bit as interesting. Displays include a huge 70,000 gallon kelp forest and an outdoor tide-pool area where kids can can touch and learn about tide-pool animals.
Exhibits:
Hall of Fishes: Features more than 60 tanks of Pacific fishes and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and the Caribbean. The largest habitat is a 70,000-gallon kelp forest.
Shark Reef: 13,000-gallon tank devoted to shark species that inhabit tropical reef habitats, including whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, brownbanded bamboo sharks, Port Jackson sharks and wobbegongs. Interpretive panels on shark biology and conservation accompany the reef.
Tide Pool Plaza:Features three living tide pools where visitors can touch and learn about inhabitants with docents. Windows in the habitats provide up-close views of starfish, hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, lobsters and other animals local to San Diego’s tide pools. Pools overlook La Jolla and the Pacific Ocean.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps : 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 – Open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily Telephone (858) 534-FISH Open 9 -5 daily.