San Diego Safari Park

In this episode - San Diego Safari Park . . .

(Listen for today's special guest). The audio version - No foolin'.

Where do you live? Have you ever entertained the thought that you live near a magical place? No, I'm not talking about Disneyland; I'm referring to your backyard. You say, "My backyard is in the middle of nowhere.”

California residents are fortunate; sometimes, with work, chores, and daily routines, it's easy to forget we live among nature's bounty of landscapes, plants, animals, and tourist attractions. One of the most famous attractions is the San Diego Safari Park in Escondido, California. A world-renowned wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden that provides visitors with a unique experience of observing and interacting with animals in their natural habitats. This park spans over 1,800 acres, making it one of the largest wildlife parks in the United States.

On Sunday, March 26, 2023, we were invited to share a birthday celebration with my mountaineering friend Brendan and his family. It's been years since we've visited what was previously called the San Diego Wild Animal Park. And from what we experienced, much has changed. Let me give you a little context for those who’ve never been there.

Before you arrive, download the App for your phone or pick up a park map. The park has several sections, each offering different animal exhibits and activities. One of the most popular exhibits is the African Plains, home to diverse animals, such as giraffes, rhinoceroses, and zebras. Visitors can take a guided safari tram tour to explore this park section or opt for a hot air balloon ride to get a bird's eye view of the animals and their surroundings.

Our favorite and popular exhibit is the Tiger Trail, a habitat designed to mimic the natural environment of Sumatran tigers. Guests can observe these majestic creatures as they roam their territory, play with enrichment toys, or swim in their pool. The park also offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tiger Trail exhibit, where visitors will learn about the park's conservation efforts and get up close with the tigers.

Let’s listen to our eight-year-old Safari explorer and tour guide comment on the tigers: Audio recording - in front of the tiger exhibit.

In addition to animal exhibits, the San Diego Safari Park also features a botanical garden (Lori's favorite) with over 1.5 million plants, including rare and exotic species from around the world. Early spring, and we strolled the self-guided gardens tour with no crowds. However, join a guided tour led by expert horticulturists if you prefer. This diverse park offers many activities and experiences for visitors of all ages, including a petting zoo, a butterfly exhibit, and a lorikeet aviary where visitors can feed and interact with these colorful birds. For those seeking an adrenaline rush, challenge the FlightLine Safari, a zip-line that whisks visitors over the treetops of the African Plains exhibit.

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is committed to wildlife conservation and education. The park has several ongoing research and conservation projects, including preserving California condors and reintroducing Peninsular pronghorns into their native habitat. Visitors can participate in educational programs to learn more about the park's wildlife conservation efforts.

Overall, the San Diego Safari Park offers an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages and interests. With its diverse animal exhibits, botanical garden, and commitment to conservation and education, it is a must-visit destination for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers.

P.S. (The podcast includes a memorable treat at the end.)

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Finding Our Place

In this episode, Finding Our Place: Hope and Humanity in the Age of AI . . . Yesterday, I overheard a conversation that echoed a question many of us are quietly asking: In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, where do we , as humans, truly fit in? My younger colleagues, sharp and driven, were "joking" about AI taking their jobs. Their concerns felt valid, prompting me to reflect. Will machines really replace us? My answer, unequivocally, is No . And here’s why. What makes us uniquely human isn't merely our ability to perform tasks. It's our innate capacity for creativity and our deep-seated need to serve others. These aren't just abstract ideas; they are the very essence of what gives meaning to our lives and work. While AI excels at processing data and automating tasks with incredible speed, it cannot replicate the spark of human ingenuity. It lacks the empathy to truly understand unspoken needs or the intuitive synergy that fosters breakthrough solutio...

Chasing the Magic

In this episode, Chasing the Magic: How the Summer of ’98 Inspired the 'Ball Boys' . . . Do you remember that feeling? The late-summer air was thick with humidity, radios crackling on porches, the smell of fresh-cut grass and barbecue smoke in the backyard. Every evening carried a new kind of suspense—the country holding its collective breath after every pitch. “Did he hit one today?” became more than a question; it sparked a nationwide conversation. For me, and millions of others, the summer of 1998 wasn’t just another baseball season. It was theater, a movement, a time when the game recaptured something sacred. As sportswriter Mike Lupica said so perfectly, “No matter how old you are or how much you’ve seen, sports is still about memory and imagination. Never more than during the summer of ’98, when baseball made everyone feel like a kid again, when it felt important again.” Just four years earlier, the 1994 players’ strike had left the sport bruised...

Beyond Facts

✨ In this episode, Beyond Facts: Reimagining School–in the Age of AI . . . This week's podcast is a bit different; it's another example of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer tools to creatively enhance your analytical presentation of information. We took this week's blog and copied it into Gemini with the question, “If a story is to work, it must, on some level, create an illusion of escape and also achieve a goal simultaneously. Does this apply to my blog post that follows?” What's created is not just an analysis of the writing, but an AI-generated discussion produced “On the Fly” - Enjoy! Did you know that the word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word scholē , which originally meant "leisure"? Not a rigid schedule or droning lectures filled with "facts," but free time for thinking and conversation. To the Greeks, learning happened best when life slowed down—when you had room to reflect, to ask questions, and to wrestle ...

Retirement Talk

In this episode, Patrick & Huck: Retirement Talk . . . We all get caught daydreaming sometimes, don’t we? Just like Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn might’ve done, lazyin’ by the river with a fishing pole in hand and the BIG wide world spinn’ in their heads. This morning, with coffee steaming and plans bubbling, I found myself driftin’ into a chat with none other than my imaginary friend–Huck Finn himself. Patrick: “Mornin’, Huck. Say, I’m mighty curious what you’d make of this retirement business.” Huck: “Well now, sit tight, ‘cause I’ve been thinkin’ on that too. Only thirty-one days 'til you're sixty-nine — whew! You're talkin’ ‘bout quittin’, hangin’ up your spurs, Givin’ the workin’ life its final good slurs. Ain’t got no debts, no mortgage, no fuss, Just clean livin’ and freedom waitin’ on the bus. Most folks’d throw hats in the air, cheerin’ loud and proud, But you? You’re starin’ out yonder, lost in some cloud. You're dreamin’ of cyclin' and books and guitar...

On The Fly

Search This Blog