Just a short walk from the windswept shore of the Pacific Ocean is the renowned San Francisco Zoo. You don\'t have to go to SeaWorld to see exotic animals, all you have to do is buy a ticket to one of the top San Francisco attractions, and you can see African animals like giraffes, zebra, lemurs, jaguars and penguins right in the city limits.
220 species of animal are among the more than 1,000 animals that reside at the San Francisco Zoo. A rare white tiger, and a massive rhinoceros are some of the unique animals you can expect to see here. This is one of the most family friendly attractions in San Francisco, since there is a children\'s zoo that is geared for younger visitors. This part of the zoo has interesting features like a nature trail and an insect zoo, and kids love to take a ride on the restored Carousel or the miniature steam train. With 23 learning exhibits that kids can enjoy hands on interactions in other parts of the zoo at, this is not only fun, but also one of the most educational San Francisco attractions a visitor can take their family to.
If you love large, rare cats, the Feline Conservation center will amaze you with its feedings, which happen everyday from Tuesday to Sunday at 2pm. This habitat is designed to encourage breeding among large cats and strives to play an important role in their conservation. Be sure to make your way to Penguin Island around 3pm, since this is when the penguins are fed. The Australian Walkabout habitat has Koalas and Kangaroos in action, and South American ecosystems are on display in the Puente Al Sur exhibit, which covers 7 acres in itself.
There are fifteen different rare species of monkey, and the biggest and most realistic gorilla habitats you will find in any zoo in the entire world. When you are making your list of attractions in San Francisco that you want to visit, be sure to include the San Francisco Zoo, since you will see things here you cannot find anywhere else.
The Bay Area enjoys a cool, pleasantly comfortable climate all year round, so unlike other San Francisco attractions like Pier 39 that are only fun in the summer, you can visit the zoo at any time of year and have a great time. There is plenty of free parking, and when you take the bus, you receive a discount on your admission to the zoo, which costs $10 for adults, $7 for kids 11-17, $4 for children 3-11.
If you want to see one of the off the beaten path San Francisco attractions, the Zoo is undoubtedly a place that will be worth the trip to the other end of town to see. After spending a day in a lush, natural wooded setting, you can wander over to Ocean Beach and watch the sunset over the Pacific as you come to the end of a perfect day.
