The Best Animal Attractions in California!

The BEST Animal Attractions in California!


When planning your family’s travels, it can help to have themes, hobbies, or interests to guide you in determining your journey, your destinations, and the amazing list of things you see, do, and experience along the way!

If you and your family love zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, nature centers, conservation facilities, and other incredible animal encounters, this is the list for you!


The BEST Animal Attractions in California!

  • The STATE NAME will take you to a collection of US Destination Guides for cities in that state!
  • The CITY NAME will take you to a list of ALL attractions in that city!
  • The ATTRACTION NAME will link you directly to that attraction’s website!
  • ADMISSION NOTES include links to Reciprocal Programs for Free or Discounted Admission if available! Click the link for more info on how to SAVE! **ALWAYS VERIFY CURRENT PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND SPECIFIC RULES FOR ENTRY DIRECTLY WITH THE ATTRACTION

  • A ? means we have been here! Click on the ? and it will take you to our posts and photos about our experiences at this location!

  • A * indicates we have been here, but haven’t posted photos yet. Check back as we add more!


    ** Many links are still a work in progress… But we’re working hard every day to bring you more ideas!

    ** Any suggestions? Head over to Social Media and let us know what to add to the list!

    ** If you have a smaller phone, you may need to scroll the chart sideways, or turn your phone to landscape mode to view all the info and links!

The BEST Animal Attractions in California!

CITY / STATEATTRACTION NAMENOTESOUR
VISITS
CALIFORNIA?
Acton, CAThe Roar Foundation/Shambala Preserve
Alpine, CAChildren’s Nature Retreat
Alpine, CALions Tigers & Bears – A Big Cat and Exotic Animal Rescue
Alpine, CASky Falconry
Atascadero, CACharles Paddock ZooAZA
Avila Beach, CACentral Coast Aquarium
Bakersfield, CACalifornia Living MuseumCALM
Big Bear Lake, CABig Bear Alpine Zoo
Bonsall, CAWild Wonders
Carlsbad, CASea Life Aquarium CarlsbadMERLIN*
Chula Vista, CALiving Coast Discovery Center
Culver City, CAStar Eco Station
Dunlap, CAProject Survival Cat Haven
Encinitas, CAButterfly Farms
Eureka, CASequoia Park ZooAZA
Folsom, CAFolsom Zoo Sanctuary
Fountain Valley, CAThe Reptile Zoo
Fresno, CAFresno Chaffee ZooAZA
La Jolla, CAChildren’s Pool Beach*
La Jolla, CALa Jolla Cove*
La Jolla, CASan Diego – La Jolla Tidepools*
La Jolla, CASan Diego – La Jolla Underwater Park
La Jolla, CATorrey Pines State Natural Reserve
La Jolla, CATotal Raptor Experience La Jolla
Julian, CACalifornia Wolf Center
Laguna Beach, CAPacific Marine Mammal Center
Lakeside, CASilverwood Wildlife Sanctuary
Lodi, CAMicke Grove Zoo
Long Beach, CAAquarium of the Pacific
Los Angeles, CACabrillo Marine Aquarium
Los Angeles, CALa Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Los Angeles, CALos Angeles ZooAZA
Manhattan Beach, CARoundhouse AquariumFREE
Monterey, CAMonterey Bay Aquarium
Moorpark, CAAmerica’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College
Morro Bay, CAMorro Bay Sea Otter Viewing
Oakland, CAOakland ZooAZA
Orange, CAOrange County Zoo
Orick, CAPrairie Creek Redwoods State Park Roosevelt Elk Herd
Pacific Grove, CAPacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary
Pacific Grove, CAPacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Palm Desert, CAThe Living Desert Zoo and GardensAZA
Palo Alto, CAPalo Alto Junior Museum and ZooACM
Point Arena, CAB. Bryan Preserve
Ramona, CAThe Oasis Camel Dairy
Ramona, CARamona Grasslands County Preserve
Ramona, CATotal Raptor Experience Ramona
Sacramento, CASacramento ZooAZA
Salinas, CAMonterey Zoo
Salinas, CAVision Quest Ranch at Monterey Zoo
San Diego, CABirch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography*
San Diego, CACabrillo National Monument
San Diego, CASan Diego Natural History MuseumASTC
San Diego, CASan Diego Zoo
San Diego, CASan Diego Zoo Safari Park
San Diego, CASeaWorld San Diego
San Francisco, CAAquarium of the BayAZA
San Francisco, CASan Francisco ZooAZA
San Francisco, CASteinhart Aquarium
San Jose, CAHappy Hollow ZooAZA
San Juan Capistrano, CAZoomars at River Street Ranch
San Mateo, CACuriOdysseyAZA
San Pedro, CACabrillo Marine AquariumAZA
Santa Ana, CASanta Ana Zoo
Santa Barbara, CASanta Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
Santa Barbara, CASanta Barbara ZooAZA
Santa Cruz, CASeymour Marine Discovery Center
Santa Monica, CAHeal the Bay Aquarium
Santa Rosa, CASafari West
Sausalito, CAThe Marine Mammal Center
Vallejo, CASix Flags Discovery Kingdom
Valley Center, CANurtured By Nature Otter Encounters
Vista, CAAnstine-Audubon Nature Preserve
Walnut Creek, CALindsay Wildlife ExperienceASTC
ACM


Be Sure to Check Out

Top Family-Friendly
Animal Attractions in All 50 US States!



Click Each State To Explore
The BEST Animal Attractions For Kids
Across the US!

Alabama Alaska Arizona
Arkansas California Colorado
Connecticut Delaware Florida
Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas
Kentucky Louisiana
Maine Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan Minnesota
Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey New Mexico
New York
North Carolina North Dakota
Ohio Oklahoma Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina South Dakota
Tennessee Texas Utah
Vermont Virginia
Washington West Virginia
Wisconsin Wyoming
Washington D.C.


SPGFAN FINE PRINT:

We do everything we can to ensure all information provided is current and up-to-date, but details, rules, policies, conditions, schedules, prices, and participation can and do change regularly, and you should ALWAYS contact or consult with each individual attraction to ensure the latest accuracy of details pertinent to your family’s travel needs.

We always do our best, but we cannot be responsible for changes or updates issued by the locations themselves.

Thanks for understanding!

Travel safely!

And have fun!

THANKS!


This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission from your purchases at no extra cost to you. These commissions help keep SPGFAN rolling! THANK YOU!!

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