Untamed San Diego: Explore Where the Wild Things Are

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A pair of wolves at the California Wolf Center. Image credit: California Wolf Center

Though founded nearly 50 years ago, California Wolf Center remains a bit of a secret in San Diego County. Set in the quaint mountain town of Julian about an hour’s drive from the San Diego Airport, the reserve offers various tours including a Behavioral Enrichment Tour, where guests can learn about the center’s ambassador packs of North American and Mexican gray wolves as they’re given enrichment to encourage natural behaviors, as well as private tour options for up to six people. All tours must be reserved in advance and are about an hour long. Make the most of this scenic sojourn by stopping at Mom’s Pie House for a slice of famous Julian apple pie before heading back down the mountain to the city or the beach sand. Whether feeding a tiger or strolling beside a herd of elephants, San Diego invites visitors to unforgettable encounters on the wild side.

Contribute to the Conservation of a Native Species

The verdant Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm. Image credit: Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm

Nearby, Alpine Acres Sanctuary Farm brings visitors up-close with both exotic animals of the non-predatory variety (think: camels, zebras, Watusi cattle, an American bison, ostriches) as well as farm livestock and friendly barnyard animals. Member-for-a-Day visitors can feed, pet, and visit with the farm’s friendly residents, then grab a snack from the on-site farm stand or bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy in the shade of the 20-acre property’s oak trees.

Make New Friends on a Farm

A tiger rests peacefully at the Lions Tigers & Bears sanctuary. Image credit: Lions Tigers & Bears

Lions Tigers & Bears is an accredited rescue, sanctuary, and educational facility that’s open to the public in Alpine, about a 45-minute drive east of downtown San Diego. It’s home to more than 60 animals, like Louie, a rare white lion who was formerly used in entertainment, Nola, a stunning white tiger, once an exotic pet of a rap star, and Cherry Bomb, a former zoo cub-petting prop grizzly bear. Day visitors tour the sanctuary to “meet” all its furry residents, but if you want to get just a little closer, book a feeding experience for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join a keeper in feeding a big cat or bear of your choice.

Visit a Rescue for Cuddly Giants

A group of elephants at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Image credit: San Deigo Zoo Wildlife Alliance/Elephant Valley Milestone Press Release

A little more than 30 miles to the north, the zoo’s sister property, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, is a world-class destination to see rare and endangered animals in a non-traditional zoo setting, within habitats that mirror the animals’ natural environments throughout the 1,800-acre park. In its vast savanna enclosure, creatures that would cohabitate in the wild commingle, offering a glimpse of life in Africa right in North County San Diego. The park’s complimentary Africa Tram encircles the enclosure, a 25-minute ride offering guests views they otherwise won’t see when exploring the park on foot. For a more exclusive experience, book a private Behind-the-Scenes Safari to tour the savanna in a safari truck and gain access to parts of the park that are otherwise off-limits to guests. In early 2026, the Safari Park will debut Elephant Valley, an immersive enclosure meticulously created to reflect the natural environment and seasonal variations of the savanna for the park’s pachyderms. Guests will have the sensation of walking right alongside the herd in their natural environment, including a 240,000-gallon watering hole where the elephants wade, swim, and play.

Go on Safari in SoCal

Yun Chuan, one of the San Diego Zoo's giant pandas currently in residence. Image credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Growing up in San Diego, a trip to our San Diego Zoo was always a highlight. As an adult, I appreciate the zoo on a much deeper level as it has also evolved into a world-class society for preservation and conservation of species, both plant and animal. But its essence remains unchanged: it’s a spectacular place to see a staggering array of animals from around the world on 35 lush acres just outside of downtown, in Balboa Park. In 2024, the zoo welcomed two giant pandas to much fanfare. Their arrival was a resumption of a research and breeding program that began in 1996 and concluded when the pandas, on loan from China, were returned in 2019. This new pair includes Yun Chuan, a male panda who’s also part of the ongoing legacy of this partnership: his mother was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007. He and his companion, Xin Bao, will call San Diego home for ten years through an agreement between the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Panda viewing is included with admission, but it’s a good idea to grab a timed ticket to save long waits in the standby line. For a more exclusive experience, reserve an Early Morning with Pandas group walking tour to see the adorable pair up-close and without the crowds.

Join the Panda-monium in the Park

Look beyond the abundant sunshine and miles of beaches to discover Southern California’s wild side

San Diego is well-known for its postcard-worthy coastline, but more magic awaits in wild encounters away from the seashore. From panda sightings to up-close encounters, the Southern California city offers unforgettable experiences for animal lovers and adventure seekers alike.

A wildlife safari drives near a herd of wildebeest at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Image credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

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Cyclists pedal along a bike path in Helsinki. Image credit: Maximillian cabinet/Shutterstock

The Finnish capital has 745 miles of bike paths crammed into its small city center and its flat terrain is ideal for cycling. If you want to take the guesswork out of where to go, the Seurasaarenselkä Waterfront Trail is a nine-mile highlight of the city’s comprehensive bike path network. The loop steers riders around five islands to the west of the city center and takes in further-afield gems like the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum and the Didrichsen Art Museum’s free-to-access sculpture park.

Helsinki

Another cycling-mad city, Copenhagen often pips its Dutch rivals to the top spot as the world’s best place to ride a bike. Find one on the Donkey Republic app and sample the city’s highlights on the eight-mile Harbour Circle – a loop that takes in a smorgasbord of the city center and whisks you from the pastel townhouses of tourist hotspot Nyhavn to gentrified urban neighborhoods (Islands Brygge and Vesterbro) and Naturpark Amager, a protected natural expanse that is nearly half the size of the city.

Copenhagen Classico is an elegant bike race in the city. Image credit: Kim Petersen/Alamy Stock Photo

Copenhagen

Escape the Loop’s hustle and bustle and pick up the Lakefront Trail aboard a Divvy rental bicycle. The bike path hugs Lake Michigan’s shoreline for 18 traffic-free miles and is a great way to get around, but if you’re after a destination, Lincoln Park is worth a visit. The Windy City’s largest park is home to a free zoo, where you can watch the animals against the backdrop of the city’s skyscraper-filled skyline. If you prefer your nature out in the wild, rejoin the Lakefront Trail and continue north to the dunes and bird sanctuary of Montrose Beach.

Chicago

One of Chicago’s many cycle paths. Image credit: Serhii Chrucky/Alamy Stock Photo

Berlin

Relaxing with a lakeside picnic in Wannsee, Berlin. Image credit: Image Professionals GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo

The Berlin Senate has invested heavily in cycling infrastructure over the past five years, and getting around by bike has boomed. Take advantage of the new dedicated cycle lanes aboard one of the various rental bicycles (Nextbike/Donkey Republic) and head to Prenzlauer Berg, an old East German neighborhood in the northeast of the city crammed with chic restaurants and vintage stores. If it’s a Sunday, Mauerpark is a must; search for hidden gems at the flea market before joining the crowds at Bearpit Karaoke, one of the world’s largest open-air karaoke shows.

AMSTERDAM

The Dutch capital is renowned worldwide for its bike-friendly status, so grab a set of wheels and join the throng of locals. Stretch your legs on a ride to the Vondelpark – a 116-acre green space in the southwest of the city that’s a stone’s throw from Museumplein. Hunt down the park’s 69 sculptures – including one by Pablo Picasso – from your saddle, and stop to take in a free show at the open-air theater.

An underground bicycle parking station in Amsterdam. Image credit: Michael Brooks/Alamy Stock Photo

Two wheels are all you need to escape the tourist trail and experience cities around the world like a local

Cycling City Centers

The relatively flat topography of Paris makes it an ideal city to be explored by bike. Image credit: iStock

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With accessible rentals and networks of user-friendly cycling routes, it’s easy to explore a new destination by bike. From memorable rides in San Francisco to Copenhagen’s dynamic cycling culture, here are our recommendations for amazing cities well worth discovering from the saddle.

June 2025 (Volume 28)

By Charlie Allenby

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