Business & Finance

New Attractions in San Diego

MAY 11, 2010 - San Diego is consistently recognized as one of the leading family vacation destinations worldwide for families with children of all ages. In addition to 70 miles of pristine beaches, near-perfect climate and year-round special events, San Diego is known for popular family attractions including the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFE Aquarium and SeaWorld San Diego. Following are the newest attractions and exhibits that guests can enjoy this summer in San Diego. On May 29, 2010, SeaWorld San Diego will debut a new theatrical dolphin show, Blue Horizons, which will feature energetic bottlenose dolphins, powerful pilot whales, a colorful array of exotic birds and acrobatic performers. The show will blend the grace of the animals with the lavish splendor of a Broadway production and tell the tale of Marina, a young girl whose vivid imagination sets the stage for the spectacular Blue Horizons extravaganza. The show will feature endless action above and below the water, as a cast of divers and aerialists plunge off elaborate set pieces while the birds and marine animals perform amazing stunts. In preparation, Dolphin Stadium will be closed while the new stage, sound system, high-tech water features and 700 additional guest seats are constructed. For more information, visit www.seaworld.com. In June 2010, LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad will open the world’s first LEGO-themed water park. Geared towards families with children ages 2 – 12, the 5.5-acre LEGOLAND Water Park will feature wet-and-wild climbing structures, a six-person raft slide, tube slides, body slides, a lazy river, hands-on toddler areas and an area where kids can customize their own soft LEGO® rafts. LEGOLAND Water Park will require an additional park admission; however, guests will be able to upgrade their standard LEGOLAND California tickets to include LEGOLAND Water Park admissions for just $10. For more information, visit www.legoland.com or www.legolandwaterpark.com. In March 2010, LEGOLAND California® in Carlsbad debuted an amazing brand-new movie experience, “A Clutch Powers 4-D Adventure.” Telling the tale of Clutch Powers, the best builder and explorer in the LEGO® universe, the creative world of LEGO® comes to life in this action packed 4-D adventure featuring 3-D effects combined with simulated rain and wind; the movie will run daily in the LEGO Show Place. For more information, visit www.legoland.com.

This spring, the new SEA LIFE Aquarium, adjacent to LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, is celebrating sharks with three new educational shows, The Daily Dive, The Shark and Ray Show and Shark Talk. The Daily Dive features scalloped hammerhead pups, or baby sharks, during an interactive underwater dive show in the aquarium’s Shipwreck Gallery. Using a special dive mask that allows a diver in the tank to talk to the audience, guests help the diver uncover the secrets of the aquarium’s Lost City of Atlantis display. The Shark and Ray Show features an adventurous educator who brings light to the mysterious creatures in the aquarium’s Ray Lagoon including epaulette sharks, brown banded bamboo sharks, southern sting rays and more. Shark Talk is an entertaining puppet show featuring a hammerhead shark trying to understand the mysterious lives of humans. For more information, visit www.sealifeus.com/carlsbad. In March 2010, the San Diego Zoo opened the new Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge. The interactive exhibit provides guests the opportunity to come within feet of these mesmerizing bears as keepers tend to them through a protective fence. Other features include an arctic research helicopter for kids to board; a “How You Measure Up” station where guests can see how they compare to polar bears in height, weight and food consumption; life-size statues of a full-grown adult bear, one-year-old cub and tiny newborn; 300-sq. ft. den for an interactive view into the living area of a mother bear and her cubs and much more. Additional areas of the exhibit address the threats polar bears are currently facing due to the changing climate and provide guests suggestive opportunities to reduce their carbon footprint. For more information, visit www.sandiegozoo.org. Four new animal habitats have been added to the Journey into Africa tram tour at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park in San Diego’s North County. Along the tour route, editions include a 5-acre flamingo exhibit where more than 150 of these bright birds reside; a 20,800-sq.ft. habitat for wattled cranes, Egyptian geese and yellow-billed storks; a 20,800-sq. ft. habitat for steenbok, duiker and Soemerring’s gazelle, and a 5-acre rocky desert habitat for Somali wild ass and Barbary sheep. For more information, visit www.sandiegozoo.org/park. In August 2009, the San Diego Zoo’s 17-year-old giant panda, Bai Yun, gave birth to a male cub. The newborn panda is the fifth giant panda to be born at the Zoo, which is home to five of these endangered species. For more information, visit www.sandiegozoo.org. Happy happens in San Diego. For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau's Web site at www.sandiego.org.

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