If you love marine animals Sea World California could be the highlight of a trip to San Diego for you and your family. With plenty of things to do for all members of the family; you could easily immerse yourself in the wonders of dolphins, whales, and other marine animals.
Upgrade to a Premium subscription to remove this ad.
|
At Sea World there are several exciting rides to enjoy between shows. Most of the rides are not suitable for young children and do have height restrictions.
Shipwreck Rapids is a river raft ride in a ride vehicle very much like the ones used on Grizzly River Run at Disney's California Adventure. For this ride you will go through an underground cavern as you traverse the rapids on this tropical island. Enjoy the waterfalls on this journey and all of the beautiful scenery. This is a five minute ride and does have a height restriction of 42 inches or taller to ride.
Wild Arctic is a helicopter simulator ride. For this attraction you will come face to face with whales, seals, polar bears and more. In addition to what you see; you will also 'feel' the arctic cold, as if you were there when you go through the arctic ice tunnel. To enjoy this icy helicopter journey you must be 42 inches or taller to ride.
For a beautiful view of Mission Bay from the air enjoy the Bayside Skyride. This is a 6 minute ride above Mission Bay in a skyway bucket. Due to the type of attraction this is, when weather is bad or winds are high, it may not be operating. There is no minimum height restriction but children 56 inches and shorter must be with an adult in order to ride.
Skytower is another attraction giving wonderful views. The top of the Skytower is 265 feet high. From this vantage point you can see up to 100 miles on a clear day. Enjoy a view of downtown San Diego at night from the top of this tower. Children 48 inches or less must be with an adult.
Journey to Atlantis is a roller coaster in the water. Here you will do the typical plunges and serpentines of a roller coaster; but on this ride, you just might get wet! Youngsters must be at least 42 inches tall to ride this attraction.
While the rides at Sea World are not for toddlers, many of the shows are open to any age and can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Here is a sampling of the shows that are appropriate for young children. There are additional shows that are geared more towards the older child (teen) and adults.
One show that is especially fun for children is the Sea Lion and Otter Show. Enjoy Clyde and Seamore in Deep deep trouble as they find a submarine driven by an otter in search of a mermaid and her treasure.
Pet's Rule is a show about typical house pets that do wonderful tricks. See dancing dogs and flying cats in this show. Fun for the whole family and sure to provide many laughs and words of amazement Pets Rule is a must see for families.
The Shamu show is one where you will watch the beautiful whales doing what they do best in the water. In addition to seeing their tricks you will also learn how they are trained at Sea World. Be careful if you are sitting in the front row!
Beginning in 2006 Sea World will have a new evening Fireworks show. Starting May 27th and running weekends only until June 11th; and then every night from June 17th through September 4th; this new fireworks display promises to delight crowds this summer.
And now a personal remark from the parent of a 3.5 year old. We had planned on taking our son to Sea World next year in combination with a trip to Disneyland. After doing this research I simply don't see any reason to take him to Sea World at this time. With the cost of the passes to get in… and the additional charges for the things he would actually enjoy at such a young age, I feel it is better to wait to take him to Sea World until he is 7 or 8 years old; at which time he can ride all of the rides and the shows not mentioned in this article won't scare him.
For more information and to purchase Sea World tickets:
Sea World Website