San Diego from Aquarium to Zoo: Wildlife With Your Grandchild

Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the hotel lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.

At the hotel.

Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. We will learn from local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

This morning we’ll enjoy a nice walk to Seaport Village where we’ll board our open air Seal vehicle for an exploration of San Diego, venturing forth on both land and sea. Along our journey, we’ll hear commentary on local history provided by our knowledgeable captain as we take in the sights. Designed specifically to be driven on land and taken to the water with flawless transition, these vehicles meet all legal vehicle requirements and are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Then we’ll have some time to explore Seaport Village on our own before we walk to lunch together as a group.

At a local restaurant.

We’ll hop aboard a motorcoach and ride to Balboa Park for a field trip to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. With exhibits to touch, virtual reality to experience, films to see, and fun to have, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is an educational, entertaining experience for visitors of all ages. Upon arrival at the Center, we’ll engage in an exclusive hands-on group workshop led by museum staff, followed by time to explore the museum independently.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. You might like to enjoy the heated pool and spa, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.

At the hotel.

This morning we’ll board our motorcoach and make our way to Balboa Park where we will be joined by a local expert who will lead a guided exploration of Balboa Park. Sitting on 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is rich in culture and history. We’ll learn about the many gardens, museums, architecture, and history that make up Balboa Park. Our walk will end at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park. Upon arriving at the Zoo, we’ll set out on a self-guided field trip. Our admission will include a 45 minute bus tour which participants can take at their leisure. Check with group leader for bus tour times. You can also take a trip on the areal tram across the zoo to get a bird's eye view of the exhibits. We’ll observe some of the most popular exhibits, such as the Elephant Care Center or the giraffe enclosure, and then have some independent time to explore what interests each of us most. Impressive and sprawling, the zoo maintains a wide range of habitat-specific exhibits from tundra to desert and rainforest and cares for more than 4,000 animals including 800 different species. Zoo designers have taken special care to replicate natural environments so the animals are as comfortable as possible. The zoo has also integrated an arboretum throughout its grounds with a vast array of plant life, including some special rarities. Some of these plants go right back to the animals as well, such as eucalyptus for the koalas.

On your own to enjoy what you like in Balboa Park. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. Spend more time exploring the San Diego Zoo or walk to another part of Balboa Park explore one or more of the 15 major museums showcasing a variety of subjects including art, San Diego history, photography, anthropology, sports, automotive history, the story of flight, or the botanical gardens. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. We’ll rendezvous at an announced time and place, then ride back to the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll board the motorcoach and ride to Aqua Adventure Kayak Center, a fully-equipped aquatic recreational and educational facility. Experienced instructors will provide a thorough training session on kayaks, provided by the aquatic center, for a fun-filled nautical learning experience on San Diego’s Mission Bay. As we paddle, we’ll learn about local and area history.

Boxed lunch.

Then we'll make our way to San Diego Surf School where we’ll enjoy an iconic Southern California beach activity, boogie boarding! The center’s expert staff will demonstrate the basics, go over the steps to best enjoy the sport, and be with us as we enjoy this easy and fun ocean experience. We’ll then return to the hotel.

On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We’ll hop aboard the motorcoach and ride to the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the La Jolla bluffs. During this self-directed field trip, we’ll encounter a dazzling variety of marine life ranging from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical seas of Mexico and beyond. We’ll view exhibits highlighting the latest research from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a department of the University of California San Diego. We’ll also have an opportunity to get up close to marine organisms such as hermit crabs, lobsters, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, sea stars, and others in the outdoor tide-pool plaza. Views here of the Pacific Ocean are some of the best in La Jolla. We will then ride to Old Town La Jolla.

At a local restaurant.

Take this opportunity for self-directed exploration in Old Town and its several restored original buildings that illuminate life in the Mexican and American periods of 1821 to 1872. We’ll ride back to the hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At the hotel.

After an early dinner, we will board the motorcoach and ride to Belmont Park, a historic oceanfront amusement park on Mission Beach. We’ll explore independently and have wristbands provided that will allow going on rides as many times as we like. Belmont Park opened on July 4, 1925. Its signature attraction was the 2,600 foot long Giant Dipper roller coaster. Half a century later, the park had deteriorated and was closed in 1976. But through the efforts of concerned citizens, the whole place was rejuvenated and restored, reopening in 1990. There are more than a dozen rides for kids of all ages, including the Giant Dipper (50-inch minimum height, though). Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!