What started off as another daddy-daughter day turned into a last-minute trip down to San Diego. We made sure to bring mommy along, though. Again, we tried to read as much as possible about what the San Diego Zoo was doing in regards to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The website said they were requiring masks, limiting attendance, and asking visitors to respect social distancing. Of the three measures, the distancing is hardest to enforce so we decided to try to avoid the crowds as much as possible by arriving early. (The website said that the zoo would limit the attendance. I could not find what their cap was — only that once the cap was reached, new visitors would not be allowed to enter until people exited the park. They also did not allow re-entry.)
The zoo was scheduled to open at 9:00 AM and we arrived 20-30 minutes before opening. Even by that time, there was a sizable line at the entrance. A line of people zig-zagged in the parking lot before reaching the screening area. In that line, there was plenty of space. The lanes were wide. There were also markers on the ground every 6 feet. Obviously we were expected to have one party per marker.
When you arrived at the screening tent, a park employee asked you to read a sign and answer yes or no to each question. You basically had to say “No” to every question asking about symptoms and then a “Yes” to the final question stating you agreed to comply with all the regulations. I had expected a temperature check for some reason — and I thought I had read it somewhere — but there wasn’t one.
Tickets can easily be purchased from a mobile phone with a good internet connection. And as the zoo is located in Balboa Park (which is right in the city of San Diego), this wasn’t a problem. I’d recommend purchasing tickets on your phone to avoid having to go through a second line to purchase tickets. Once you purchase the tickets, screenshot each ticket so you have the image saved to your image gallery. You’ll be able to quickly bring up the tickets that way without waiting for the website to reload.
As we were amongst the first into the zoo, it did feel less crowded. But as the day went on, we saw more and more people. That, and we found ourselves at the more popular exhibits. We opted for an early lunch — around 11 AM figuring we would beat the lunch rush. Without a reservation we walked into Albert’s Restaurant.
We were directed to the top floor of the restaurant and were seated immediately. The space was wide open. The next closest table was probably 15 feet away. This is an excellent place to stop for a sit-down meal. And, since the tables are all distanced, you don’t have to worry about crowds. A reservation is recommended unless, like us, you decide to go before or after the lunch rush.
For the most part, and regardless of their personal beliefs, the crowds followed the masking requirements. I saw one visitor, who was waiting in line for the tram, take her mask off. A ride attendant saw her and quickly instructed her to put the mask back on. All in all, it’s a good family-friendly option for the COVID-19 era.
