1. 9/17/15, 3:32 PMSignOnSanDiego.com > News > Health -- Hot spots
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LAURA EMBRY / Union-Tribune
Visitors to the Wild Animal Park in Escondido can get a
workout while checking on exotic animals and plants,
such as these orchids.
Weather | Traffic | Surf | Maps |
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EXERCISE YOUR OPTIONS
Hot spots
These walking workouts with leopards, lynxes and lions can
give you that eye of the tiger
UNION-TRIBUNE
February 13, 2007
The darkest days of winter are over, so there's no excuse to hibernate at
home. You could climb aboard a cardio machine and watch one more
“Charmed” rerun to exercise your double-fudge demons. But considering
the groundhog's prediction of an early spring, it's time to venture outside
and enjoy the mild climate of San Diego County.
Here's a wild idea: How
about a weekly or daily walk
at the San Diego Zoo in
Balboa Park or the Wild
Animal Park in Escondido?
Many of us migrate to these
attractions once or twice a
year – usually when guests
come to town. But an
annual pass gives you
unlimited access to both
locations, so you can stroll
through a jungle, march
across a mesa and exercise
among exotic company as
often as you like.
– Paula Story
A GNU ROUTINE: Judi Myers, a longtime employee of the zoo and Wild
Animal Park, works in the executive director's office and began taking daily
treks through the zoo about nine years ago. Morning is her favorite time to
walk the grounds, but Myers switched to 30-minute lunchtime sessions
when her schedule changed and says it provides a nice break in her day.
“Every time I leave the building, I just kind of go where I feel like going,”
she said.
JUNGLE GYM: Last Monday, Myers headed to Flamingo Lagoon to see
the pink birds begin their spring courtship, then paced over to Cat Canyon,
where she heard leopards chuffing – that's super-size purring for big cats.
She particularly likes the birds and says daily walks are a great way to keep
an eye on who is nesting and what's hatching. In the next few weeks
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2. 9/17/15, 3:32 PMSignOnSanDiego.com > News > Health -- Hot spots
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everything in the park will be blooming, she said.
“I like the sounds, too,” said Myers, who prefers a chorus of animals over
any iPod playlist. “And you can hear the clock tower in Balboa Park
chiming away at lunch.”
BABY ELEPHANT WALK: Between the 100-acre zoo and the 1,800-
acre park, there are dozens of exhibits and routes to keep each trip
interesting. For instance, walking the zoo bus route down Tiger River, up
Birds of Prey Hill, around Horn & Hoof Mesa, down Cat Canyon, up Bear
Canyon and around Elephant Mesa is 2.4 miles. Even more if you take side
routes. You can really stretch your legs at the larger Wild Animal Park, but
leave the running to professionals, like the cheetahs. For the safety of
visitors, the zoo and park do not allow running, skating or similar activities
on trails.
Cindy Juengst, another longtime zoo employee who works in information
systems and walks daily, said many annual pass holders – employees call
them “regulars” – visit daily. Those who want to kick up their cardio can
take the steep hill to the Polar Bear Plunge. One of her favorite routes is to
head past the elephants, around Hoof & Horn Mesa, past the giraffes, down
the hill toward the pandas and then take a break to visit with the gorillas or
orangutans.
“I have friends there,” Juengst said.
Her best urban safari tips? Walk counterclockwise to avoid hoofing it
behind a bus, and always wear sunscreen. But if you aren't that into
roughing it, creature comforts are always near.
“They have fabulous coffee here,” Myers said of the zoo. “If I didn't work
here, I would still come here to walk.”
WHERE AND WHEN: Zoo – 2920 Zoo Drive in Balboa Park. Open
every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; grounds currently close at 5 p.m. but
remain open later in spring and summer. Information: (619) 234-3153 or
www.sandiegozoo.org.
Wild Animal Park – 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road in Escondido. Open
every day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (grounds close at 5 p.m.) through June 15, and 9
a.m. to 8 p.m. June 16 to Sept. 3, with grounds closing at 9 p.m.
Information: (760) 747-8702 or www.sandiegozoo.org.
COST: Single adult memberships are $71, a dual adult membership is $89;
there is a $10 discount for new annual members through March. Diamond
Membership at $129 includes free parking at the Wild Animal Park.
Memberships include free guest passes, discount coupons and other
benefits; see the Web site for package details.
Sponsored Links

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