SeaWorld San Diego is one of three SeaWorld amusement parks in the USA – the other two being located in Orlando, Florida and San Antonio, Texas.
The idea for the amusement park was initially forged by four students from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) back in 1964 when they were considering how they might build an underwater restaurant. This concept was far more difficult than they envisaged, however, and they eventually abandoned it and, instead, opted to create a marine zoological park on the shores of Mission Bay in San Diego.
Since 1989, the amusement park has been owned and operated by the Busch Entertainment Corporation, one of the Anheuser-Busch companies who, as well as being famous for its Budweiser beer, is equally well known in the amusement park arena for its Busch Gardens branded parks.
One of the amusement park’s main attractions has to be its marine wildlife. The Orca whales are one of the ‘must see’ species and there are also pilot and beluga whales. No SeaWorld amusement park would be complete without its dolphins and penguins too. Not only do you get the chance to see the dolphins perform in their own show, you can also experience close up encounters where you can touch, feed, swim with and help train the dolphins and there is also a wild arctic interaction programme at the amusement park where you’ll make friends with massive walruses, barking seals and even polar bears.
SeaWorld amusement park also has a range of other rides and attractions. These include its Shipwreck Rapids which is a raft ride that weaves its way through shipwrecks and, at one point, you even flow through an exhibition of live turtles. The amusement park’s Bayside Skyride gives you the opportunity to view the beauty of Mission Bay from the air and the 320-foot SeaWorld Skytower also offers fantastic views over San Diego.
Younger children visiting the amusement park can enjoy gentler rides such as Elmo’s Flying Fish and Oscar’s Rocking Eel.
There are several special shows throughout SeaWorld’s ‘Summer Nights’ programme of events at the amusement park as well as plenty of other shows and exhibits which take place throughout the year at this amusement park which offers educational and entertainment fun for all the family.
See also:
Amusement Parks: Scandia Family Fun Centre - a Potted History
Amusement Parks: Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - a Potted History
Amusement Parks: Gilroy Gardens - a Potted History
Amusement Parks: Belmont Park - a Potted History