The sister park to the San Diego Zoo, the Safari Park trades tight zoo enclosures for sprawling, open-range habitats where giraffes, rhinos, and antelope roam together across a re-created African savanna. The Africa Tram ride is the highlight for most first-time visitors, giving an up-close view of the herds without the barriers you’d expect at a traditional zoo. It’s further out than most of the attractions on this list — about 40 minutes inland — which makes it a natural full-day trip rather than an add-on to something else. Guests with an interest in wildlife or photography tend to rate this above the main zoo for exactly that reason: the animals feel genuinely wild. Go earlier in the day for cooler temperatures and more active animals, since the inland valley heats up more than the coast.
