I just signed up for zoo membership. It's been wel...

I just signed up for zoo membership. It's been well over a decade--the last time I had a membership my children were in elementary school (they are now 20 and 24 years old). While some things are the same, like the flamingos that greet you near the entrance; the Skyfari with it's mind-boggling views of zoo, city skyline, and Balboa park; and Albert's Restaurant, with it's consistently good food; much has changed. We loved the new Africa Rocks area. Baboons, penguins, big cats, and a waterfall you can walk behind were some of our favorite features, but the carefully curated plants and landscaping, coupled with education about the prehistoric creatures that once roamed local landscapes (with some full scale sculptures to show how BIG they were) created a time-out-of-mind experience. And if you love koalas, you are in for a treat. For locals, membership is well worth the cost. I now enjoy walks in a world-class botanical garden...that just happens to have amazing animals along the trails. I'm also excited about going through a year of seasonal changes with the zoo.

One important thing to know, for parents of young children--the Children's Zoo is being completely redesigned, and it's currently under construction. Check the San Diego Zoo website for updates.