I'm a zoo regular with a Keepers Club pass and go ...

I'm a zoo regular with a Keepers Club pass and go at least twice a month. Despite being so close to the downtown area, the zoo is it's own little slice of paradise. All of the trees and jungle protect it from most of the sounds of the outside world, and while San Diego doesn't really have an issue with Air quality anyway, there is definitely no issue here. The animals are all very well taken care of, constantly you'll see them being groomed, fed, or with enrichment toys.

Only certain types of animals are kept solitary, and they are solitary in the wild. The zoo promotes breeding to help prevent extinction, which is why a lot of these animals are in captivity in the first place, or because they cannot survive in the wild. What I love most about the zoo is that despite the fact that everything here is pretty pricey, they are 100% non-profit. They pay their employees and pay for advertising, and the rest is towards things that benefit the animals. They are constantly changing and renovating something at the parks, and there is always something new to see.

They are definitely worth a visit every time you're in San Diego, and if you're a local, just going a couple of times a year is worth the price of a yearly pass. They also offer benefits to pass holders, including a monthly early day for Keepers club where we get in an hour earlier than the public. It's really a great time to go before it gets crowded and hot.

The summer nights and Jungle bells are great too, I wish the zoo was open late for longer periods of time because it's really nice to go after work sometimes!