Balboa Park: San Diego Zoo and Miniature Railroad

Balboa Park is the nation's largest urban cultural park, located in the heart of downtown San Diego. It's four times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and 400 acres larger than Central Park in New York City. The San Diego Zoo leases 100 acres from the City of San Diego right in Balboa Park. It is one of the world's largest zoos, committed to preserving and breeding endangered animals in captivity. The San Diego Zoo is best known for leading the way in cageless exhibits. The open air exhibits replicate natural animal habitats, and include plants that are native to animal regions. The Zoo is also known for it's amazing landscape.

Son1 begged and begged to go to the San Diego Zoo every day we were in San Diego. On one of our last days we finally made his heart sing. We even bought season passes. Hubby. Son1, and my parents rode the open air bus that allows you to see 75% of the zoo in 40 minutes. Meantime, Son2 and I walked and observed less exhibits from the trails more closely. We joined the rest of the family after their bus ride at the Children's Zoo, and for a few more exhibits.

The Children's Zoo alone has over 30 exhibits. We spent a lot of time at the Petting Paddock, where the boys chased after farm animals.

Watching a sea otter swim past
Open wide Mr. Snake!!

This is a scarlet macaw, part of the parrot family. They are monogamous. That's why they fascinate me. They stay together until their partner dies. This is called a pair bond in the animal kingdom. They preen one another's feathers, they roost together, and they share food.

Giraffes' favorite food is acacia leaves. The acacia trees have long thorns that keep most animals from eating their leaves. Since giraffes have a tongue a foot and a half long, they just reach around the thorns!
Brown bears live in Bear Canyon at the San Diego Zoo. During the summer months the bears are fertile. When they actually give birth they are hibernating, and sleep through the first six weeks of nursing their young. And while they are hibernating, they never, ever relieve themselves out of either end!
Camel humps store fat, not water. That's why they can survive several months without food!
Caribbean flamingos greet visitors at the front of the zoo. An entire lagoon enclosure was built for them.
This is called a Georgia Pearl. It is like a Hawaiian hibiscus flower, only on steroids. This flower was bigger than my hand!

It was an awfully hot San Diego day. We called it a day after some hours at the zoo. As we neared the exit, we heard DING DING! DING DING! Son1 perked up. A train!

Just outside of the zoo exit, is the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad. It operates a 3-minute, ½-mile trip through four acres of Balboa Park. The train is a model G16, a rare antique. The little train is operated by the San Diego Zoo Department of Transportation. My parents used to take my sister and me on this train many Sundays after church. We had season passes to the zoo back then, too. Sometimes we would go to the zoo for a little while and then ride the train. Riding the little train is one of my fondest childhood memories. I hoped for enough time on this trip to ride the train with my sons, for the first time.

We sat right behind the conductor's seat. The miniature train has no door. The conductor jumps over the train body into the driver's seat after calling "All Aboard!" On the return to the station, the train rambles through this train tunnel. See the black hole? It is tucked in between huge Eucalyptus trees, a signature of Balboa Park. See how monstrous they are?

Son2 and Daddy on the Balboa Park train

This turn style conjured up a nostalgic picture of me clicking the heels of my shoes over the bottom wrung, hanging on, as I swung through to the other side of the fence. I wouldn't have remembered I used to do that without seeing this turn style again.
Hubby bought Son1 a conductor's hat from the little souvenir stand on our way out. He looked so cute but then he had all the more reason to stall going home. He waved goodbye to the train as it left the station, just like Sir Topham Hatt from Thomas the Tank.