An offshoot of the excellent San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Wild Animal Park recreates the natural habitats of Africa, Asia, Australia and several other ecologically-diverse regions over a 2,000-acre site. Giraffes, tigers, zebras, lions, rhinos, and a host of other creatures roam the artificial plains and savannahs, while the humans who come to see them are confined either to the monorail which makes a 50-minute journey across the park, or to the park’s many miles of foot trails. Bear in mind that you’ll need most of a day to see the park in full – and that the midday heat finds many animals snoozing out of sight behind bushes.