Aquarium of The Bay
The Embarcadero at Beach Street, Pier 39
San Francisco, CA 94133
Tel: (415) 623-5300 Fax: (415) 623-5324
E-Mail: info@aquariumofthebay.org
Aquarium of the Bay is a unique nature center dedicated to creating experiences that inspire conservation of the San Francisco Bay and all marine environments. It is the only aquarium featuring exhibitions focused specifically on the rich and diverse aquatic life and distinctive ecosystems of the Bay and its surrounding waters.
Guests walk through the Aquarium's crystal clear tunnels and get up close and personal with 20,000 sharks, bat rays, skates and other aquatic animals from the San Francisco Bay and surrounding waters. Our touch pools provide the priceless opportunity to touch live leopard sharks, bat rays, sea stars and other animals. Daily and special presentations include sevengill shark feedings, dive encounter where guests ask questions of our aquatic biologists inside of a 350,000 gallon tank, bat ray and invertebrate feedings, and a story time for younger visitors. Visitors looking for a VIP experience enjoy our Behind-the-Scenes tour where they stroll the catwalks above our tanks, take a sneak peek into our successful animal breeding programs and much more.
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802-8126
Tel: (562) 590-3100 Fax: (562) 951-3111
Experience the world's largest and most diverse body of water at the Aquarium of the Pacific, the fifth largest U.S. aquarium and home to over 12,000 ocean animals representing over 550 species. Located in the beautiful Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, CA, the Aquarium of the Pacific takes visitors on a journey through three regions of the Pacific Ocean, exploring the waters of Southern California/Baja, Northern Pacific and the Tropical Pacific through 18 major habitats and 31 focus exhibits.
The Aquarium features a 350,000-gallon exhibit, the Tropical Reef Habitat, featuring over 1,000 marine animals, including zebra sharks, blacktip reef sharks, pufferfish and more. The exhibit also features underwater presentations where divers, equipped with underwater microphones, will answer visitors' questions. In the Southern California/Baja gallery visitors will encounter the nearly three-story high Blue Cavern habitat and the Harbor Seal and Sea Lion Tunnel. In the Northern Pacific gallery visitors will see giant Japanese spider crabs and mischievous sea otters.
The Aquarium of the Pacific offers a variety of marine-theme hands-on education programs for people of all ages, including Friday night family sleepovers and kayaking programs. The Aquarium of the Pacific is a non-profit organization with a mission "to instill a sense of wonder, respect and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants." Its commitment to conservation is an integral part of its education programs, displays and conservation activities and initiatives.
B. Bryan Preserve
130 Riverside Dr.
Point Arena, CA 95468
Tel: (707) 882-2297 Fax: (707) 882-2235
E-Mail: fmello@bbryanpreseve.com
B. Bryan Preserve is a private facility committed to the breeding and conservation of endangered Zebra species and African Antelope. In addition, we strive to teach the young community about the plight of these animals thru education programs with schools.
Behler Chelonian Center
PO Box 1289
Ojai, CA 93023
Tel: (805) 640-9474 Fax: (805) 640-9747.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
UC San Diego, 2300 Expedition Way
La Jolla, CA 92093-0207
Tel: (858) 534-4086 Fax: (858) 534-7114
E-Mail: aquariuminfo@ucsd.edu
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Set against a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium features more than 60 habitats of fish and invertebrates from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest to the tropical waters of Mexico and the Caribbean, including three tide pools teeming with life. The aquarium's showcase 70,000-gallon kelp forest tank represents local marine life off the coast of La Jolla and features three species of sharks, moray eels, barracuda, giant sea bass and other animals. An interactive museum showcases research discoveries by Scripps scientists on climate, Earth and ocean science.
Birch Aquarium also is an aquarium without walls where visitors enjoy strong exhibit and education programs based on the foundation of scientific expertise at the research institution. The aquarium disseminates these programs locally and throughout the nation through publications, curricula, multimedia presentations, traveling exhibits, educational initiatives, outreach programs, and teacher training designed to stimulate curiosity and critical thinking about the natural world. The aquarium's mission is to provide ocean science education, interpret Scripps research, and promote ocean conservation.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
3720 Stephen M. White Drive
San Pedro, CA 90731-7012
Tel: (310) 548-7562 Fax: (310) 548-2649
E-Mail: mike.schaadt@lacity.org
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium As a leader in environmental education, aquaculture research and community outreach, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro is part of the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department and has offered hands-on marine learning experiences for children and adults since it was founded in 1935. Located in a spectacular natural setting, just steps from a sandy beach and rocky tidepools teeming with sea life, the Aquarium provides visitors a unique and interactive approach to learning about the marine environment of Southern California.
Our 36,000-square-foot facility features an exhibition hall with the largest collection of Southern California marine life on display in the world, an outdoor tide pool touchtank, teaching laboratory, auditorium, courtyard with interactive exhibits, Exploration Center and Virginia Reid Moore Marine Research Library. Living displays emphasize the lesser-known fish and invertebrates that fascinate visitors. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium provides the setting and support for youth in learning stewardship, marine science and their role in serving to protect our marine resources.
Emphasizing active learning and participation, the Aquarium welcomes children with many exhibits positioned at a child's eye-level, and has been recognized worldwide as a leader in marine education for both children and adults. In a typical year, the Aquarium sees more than 100,000 pre-K through 12th-grade children on site and 30,000 children at their schools through the Ocean Outreach Program.
Our free admission policy enables families with limited means and schools serving primarily disadvantaged children the opportunity to enjoy our facility and to learn about the ocean and how they can improve the marine environment.
Charles Paddock Zoo
9305 Pismo Avenue
Atascadero, CA 93422-4939
Tel: (805) 461-5080 Fax: (805) 461-7625
E-Mail: zoo@atascadero.org
Coyote Point Museum
1651 Coyote Point Drive
San Mateo, CA 94401-1097
Tel: (650)342-7755 Fax: (650) 342-7853
E-Mail: info@coyoteptmuseum.org
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
894 W Belmont Avenue
Fresno, CA 93728-2891
Tel: (559) 498-5910 Fax: (559) 264-9226
E-Mail: info@fresnochaffeezoo.com
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is your central California destination for outrageous adventure! Journey to the Sunda Forest, territory to our tigers, orangutans, and siamangs. Explore the wet wonders of our tropical Rain Forest. Feed a giraffe, howl with our red wolves and be amazed by our Asian elephants. It's an experience of a lifetime, every day at Fresno Chaffee Zoo!
Open every day of the year from 9 am to 4 pm.
Happy Hollow Zoo
1300 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112-2520
Tel: (408) 277-3999 Fax: (408) 277-4470
E-Mail: vanessa@bayarea.net
Located in Kelley Park, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has been providing affordable family entertainment, education and fun since 1961. The Park is a peaceful, creative and safe place for children of all ages, with the main focus on "little ones" between the ages of 2-10. There are creative play areas, children's rides, hand puppet and marionette shows, special events, and birthday areas.
The Zoo is an accredited institution that participates in conservation and propagation of rare and endangered species while at the same time offering children the opportunity to see wondrous animals such as the ruffed lemur and jaguar. It also provides hands on experience with many animals and the education that is needed to secure the future of endangered species. The contact area features African pygmy goats, miniature horses and dwarf zebus.
Have Trunk Will Travel, Inc.
27575 Hwy 74
Perris, CA 92570-7014
Tel: (951) 943-9227 Fax: (951) 943-9563
E-Mail: kari@havetrunkwilltravel.com
To provide the public with safe, educational and recreational access to Earth's most wonderful mammal, the elephant. We do this through three broad areas of activity: breeding, education and ambassadorship.
Living Desert
47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA 92260-6156
Tel: (760) 346-5694 Fax: (760) 568-9685
E-Mail: information@livingdesert.org
The Living Desert is a zoo and botanical garden spread over 200 acres that specializes in the deserts of the world. Giraffes, mountain lions, wolves, and cheetahs are just a few of the incredible animals that take you from Africa to North America. The botanical gardens include geographic replicas of areas as diverse as Baja California's Viscaino Desert and the exotic deserts of Madagascar. Stop by the Palo Verde Garden Center, visit one of the largest G-scale model train displays, enjoy a Wildlife Wonders animal presentation, have lunch in one of cafes, or feed the goats in the Petting Kraal. Let our shuttles take you from African Village WaTuTu, to our interactive Wildlife Hospital. The Living Desert offers an experience like no other!
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1498
Tel: (323) 644-4200 Fax: (323) 662-9786
E-Mail: emaruska@zoo.lacity.org
The Los Angeles Zoo is located in the heart of the nation's second-largest city. Each year 1.6 million visitors pass through the gates to view a collection of 1,100 animals from around the world. The Zoo is also an accredited botanical garden with lush vegetation and thousands of plants throughout the grounds.
Special exhibits include the new Campo Gorilla Reserve, a lush habitat that closely resembles the gorilla's native environment and features close-up views of the Zoo's two troops of western lowland gorillas. Enjoy watching seals frolic at Sea Life Cliffs, a saltwater habitat that features filtered, under-water viewing of these animals. Explore a dark cave, discover a desert and make contact with barn yard animals at the Winnick Family Children's Zoo.
Swing into the Red Ape Rain Forest, a multi-level tropical habitat for the zoo's group of orangutans. For more primate fun, check out Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States. Dragons of Komodo features, the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world. Animal collection highlights also include koalas, okapis, tigers, giraffes, lions, lemurs, rhinoceros, a walk-through aviary and much more.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940-1085
Tel: (831) 648-4800 Fax: (831) 648-4810
E-Mail: equarist@mbayaq.org
At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, our mission is to inspire conservation of the oceans. Since 1984, we've been doing so through award-winning exhibits, education programs, conservation research and far-reaching ocean advocacy initiatives.
Our living exhibits tells stories of marine life in Monterey Bay and the beyond in order to create the powerful emotional connections that are the basis for caring about the fate of marine creatures and their ocean homes. The ocean's living habitats are vital to the survival of all life on Earth. We offer an unsurpassed experience for visitors from around the world as we bring those habitats to life and put people face to face with the ocean's amazing inhabitants &150; from sea otters and jellies to a living kelp forest, bluefin tuna and great white sharks.
Through our education programs, we're helping create a new generation of ocean stewards. Our scientific research initiatives are helping to understand &150; and protect &150; threatened species, including sea otters, tunas and sharks. Our rapidly growing conservation advocacy program encourages people across the nation to get involved in protecting the oceans for future generations: by choosing sustainable seafood, and speaking out on urgent conservation issues. We rededicate ourselves each day to creating a world that has healthy oceans, filled with abundant wildlife, for generations to come.
Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Road
Oakland, CA 94605
Tel: (510) 632-9525 Fax: (510) 635-5719
The Oakland Zoo is home to more than 600 native and exotic animals in large, naturalistic habitats situated in Knowland Park, a 525 acre park in the Oakland Hills. The Zoo has gained international acclaim and national awards for its natural habitats, animal care, management practices, and conservation programs.
Experience the sights and sounds of the rainforest; take time to spot giraffes, elephants, lions, meerkats, and hyenas in a natural environment. As you stroll through the 45-acre Zoo, visit the new Wayne and Gladys Valley Children's Zoo, featuring alligators, the largest species of bat - the Malayan fruit bat, which have a 6-foot wing span, and stroll through the Bug House, which showcases everything from black widow spiders to walking sticks. There are lots of fun, hands-on exhibits to climb in, on and around!
We welcome you to explore together, learn together, and have fun together! The Oakland Zoo...it's your Zoo!
Sacramento Zoo
3930 W Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822-1123
Tel: (916) 808-5888 Fax: (916) 264-5887
E-Mail: membership@saczoo.com
Open since 1927, the Sacramento Zoo is home to over 140 native, rare and endangered species and is wholly managed by the non-profit Sacramento Zoological Society. This Sacramento treasure inspires conservation awareness through education and recreation. As an educational institution, the Sacramento Zoo follows the California State Board of Education science content standards through a variety of programs. Each year there are approximately 70,000 school children from a 24-county region that visit the Zoo on organized school field trips.
Safari West
3115 Porter Creek Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95404-9655
Tel: (707) 579-2551 Fax: (707) 579-8777
E-Mail: safariwest@safariwest.com
Safari West is dedicated to conservation through education, propagation and research.
San Diego Zoo
PO Box 120551
San Diego, CA 92112-0551
Tel: (619) 231-1515 Fax: (619) 231-0249
The San Diego Zoo is a conservation organization that is home to more than 4,000 rare and endangered animals representing approximately 800 species and subspecies. The Zoo has a diverse collection of animal and plant species and is well known for its lush naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters. The San Diego Zoo is one of only four facilities in the United States to house critically endangered giant pandas and has the largest population of giant pandas in the United States. The Zoo is also beginning a journey through time, highlighting animals of the past, the present and the future in The Harry and Grace Steele Elephant Odyssey. The 7-acre habitat will feature relatives of animal species that dotted the Southern California landscape more than 10,000 years ago such as elephants, lions and wild horses. Groundbreaking for the multi-species habitat has begun with completion expected in the summer of 2009.
San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park
15500 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92027-7017
Tel: (760) 747-8702 Fax: (760) 746-7081
A visit to the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park is like a safari where guests can see herds of African animals (rhino, giraffe, antelope and gazelle) roaming the hills of San Pasqual valley. Home to more than 3,500 animals representing 429 species, the Wild Animal Park is an animal adventure in Southern California. The Wild Animal Parl is an adventure destination offering a number of special guest experiences including Photo Caravan Safaris, Segway tours and Roar n' Snore overnight camping.
San Francisco Zoological Gardens
1 Zoo Road
San Francisco, CA 94132-1098
Tel: (415) 753-7080 Fax: (415) 681-2039
E-Mail: webmaster@sfzoo.org
The largest zoological park in Northern California and one of the Bay Area's most popular cultural and recreational attractions, the San Francisco Zoo is home to more than 250 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Through our naturalistic exhibits, conservation projects, educational programs, and festive events, we connect people with animals, inspire caring for nature and advance conservation action. With spectacular gardens full of native, exotic and endangered plants throughout our California coastal landscape, this urban oasis nestled against the Pacific Ocean is a joy to visit all year round.
Santa Ana Zoo
1801 E Chestnut Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92701-5001
Tel: (714) 836-4000 Fax: (714) 953-7401
Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103-3798
Tel: (805) 962-5339 Fax: (805) 962-1673
E-Mail: zooinfo@sbzoo.org
The beginning was modest with only a few animals - a llama, two sheep, a goat, a turkey and a pair of spider monkeys - but the potential was there in an incredibly beautiful location. The Zoo grew, always emphasizing quality rather than quantity, and soon became one of the most popular attractions in the City of Santa Barbara. Building the Zoo was a community effort. Masses of volunteers dedicated their time while local businesses contributed materials and supplies for everything from pathways to paperwork. Many of the original volunteers and contributors are still very much involved with the Zoo today.
Also during the decade of the 70's, landscaping material, much of it donated, continued to be added to the park and zoo areas. Beautiful gardens were emerging. The Zoo took on a tropical atmosphere, highlighting some magnificent specimen plantings, especially palm trees. The entire lower end of the park had been marshy and only one lone eucalyptus tree grew there when the Zoo was opened. Now visitors wind their way through coral trees, jacarandas, silk trees, bananas and giant bird of paradise. Plantings in and around exhibits compliment the animals.
SeaWorld San Diego
500 SeaWorld Drive
San Diego, CA 92109-7904
Tel: (619) 222-6363 Fax: (619) 226-3996
E-Mail: shamu@seaworld.org
With more than 130 million visitors since its opening on March 21, 1964, SeaWorld is San Diego's leading tourist attraction and one of the most popular marine-life parks in the world. The founding principles of education, entertainment, research and conservation make SeaWorld an ideal place to learn about, enjoy and gain an appreciation for some of the ocean's most fascinating animals. Spread out over 189 acres on beautiful Mission Bay Park, SeaWorld is known for spectacular animal shows, interactive attractions, aquariums, rides, beautiful landscaping, dining facilities and education programs for all ages.
Sequoia Park Zoo
531 K St
Eureka, CA 95501-1146
Tel: (707) 441-4263 Fax: (707) 441-4237
E-Mail: gziegler@ci.eureka.ca.gov
In operation since 1907, the Sequoia Park Zoo is an important cultural facility for the northwestern coastal region of Northern California, as the only zoo within several hundred miles. Sequoia Park Zoo is proud to be one of the smallest facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Nestled against the magnificent backdrop of a redwood forest on just over 5 acres, visitors can enjoy an intimate zoo experience with over 100 animals of a variety of species. Highlights of the zoo include a Barnyard where kids of all ages can meet domestic animals, a walk-through aviary, the interactive and educational Secrets of the Forest center, an excellent café and beautiful grounds. Our new classroom hosts year-round adventures that encourage children to explore nature and get motivated about wildlife conservation.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
1001 Fairground Dr.
Vallejo, CA 94589-4006
Tel: (707) 644-4000 Fax: (707) 644-0241
Steinhart Aquarium
55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 379-5451 Fax: (415) 379-5705
E-Mail: aquarium@calacademy.org