San Francisco Animal Attractions (and Farallon Islands)

SharkFinatic

SharkFinatic

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
If COVID doesn't get worse, I have plans to visit San Francisco, and while there, I definitely want to pay a visit to all three of the city's animal attractions (San Francisco Zoo, Aquarium of the Bay, and the California Academy of Sciences) as well as going on a boat tour to the Farallon Islands to see the local marine life. For those who've been to San Fran, what would be your tips and recommendations for visiting these places?
 
Oakland has a better zoo than San Francisco IMO. I you decide to cross into the East Bay, check out a reptile shop called East Bay Vivarium. Not a zoo, but if you're into reptiles it's a great place to visit. They Bay Area in general has so-so zoos. Monterrey Bay aquarium is the attraction to see in the general vicinity, but it's a bit of a drive down Highway 1.
 
This sounds like an exciting trip, although I'll point out that there are quite a few 'zoos' in the Bay Area if you feel like seeing a handful of smaller facilities.

Here are the 15 zoos that I’ve visited that are all within an approximate 1.5-hour radius of the Bay Area:

Aquarium of the Bay (San Francisco)
California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco) - Steinhart Aquarium
California Raptor Center (Davis)
CuriOdyssey (San Mateo)
Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary (Folsom)
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo (San Jose)
Lindsay Wildlife Experience (Walnut Creek)
Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito)
Micke Grove Zoo (Lodi)
Oakland Zoo (Oakland)
Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (Palo Alto)
Safari West Wildlife Preserve (Sonoma County)
San Francisco Zoo (San Francisco)
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo)
Sulphur Creek Nature Center (Hayward)
 
I quite liked the San Francisco Zoo, it was the only place I have been able to see Aye-aye at, I am not sure if they still hold them though.

Personally I would (and I have) take the time to drive to Monterey Bay Aquarium if you have not had the chance to go there yet, it is (IMO) a better facility for the average aquarium viewer than either of the others in SF.
 
SwampDonkey said:
I quite liked the San Francisco Zoo, it was the only place I have been able to see Aye-aye at, I am not sure if they still hold them though.

Personally I would (and I have) take the time to drive to Monterey Bay Aquarium if you have not had the chance to go there yet, it is (IMO) a better facility for the average aquarium viewer than either of the others in SF.
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The aye-ayes have been gone from the SF Zoo for several years now.
 
Actually, I’ve been debating with myself on whether to change gears and go to San Diego so I can finally return to the San Diego Zoo, and pay the Safari Park a visit too (plus San Diego is close enough to where I live that I wouldn’t have to fly, unlike San Francisco). The problem is, my trip is set for October, which is when both parks offer free admission for children. Could I avoid the crowds if I went during a weekday, or should I stick with my original plan and head for San Francisco?
 
SharkFinatic said:
Actually, I’ve been debating with myself on whether to change gears and go to San Diego so I can finally return to the San Diego Zoo, and pay the Safari Park a visit too (plus San Diego is close enough to where I live that I wouldn’t have to fly, unlike San Francisco). The problem is, my trip is set for October, which is when both parks offer free admission for children. Could I avoid the crowds if I went during a weekday, or should I stick with my original plan and head for San Francisco?
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On a week day you will likely not have large crowds at the San Diego Zoo or WAP in October. Kids will be back in school and the summer tourism season will largely be over.
 
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