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1. Los Angeles Zoo
- Walk on the Wild Side
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- Zoos/Aquariums
- Los Feliz/Silver Lake/Echo Park
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2. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
- 38 saltwater aquariums
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- Zoos/Aquariums
- Long Beach/South Bay
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3. Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
- Education for kids and adults
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- Zoos/Aquariums
- Santa Monica/Beach Cities
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4. Santa Barbara Zoo
- In Harmony with Nature
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- Zoos/Aquariums
- Santa Barbara
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5. Marine Mammal Care Center
- Seals and sea lions rehabilitating
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- Zoos/Aquariums
- Long Beach/South Bay
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6. Animal Acres
- Claws and paws
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- Zoos/Aquariums
- Outside the City
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7. Star Eco Station
- Rescuing wildlife
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- Zoos/Aquariums
- South Central/Compton
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book itlow $82-
8. San Diego Zoo with Transport
- Family Friendly Tours & Activities
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- Zoos/Aquariums
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The Best of NileGuide
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This list collects aquariums and zoos located in the Los Angeles area. The Los Angeles Zoo is a smaller, mellow zoo located in Griffith Park and run by the City of Los Angeles. The admission is reasonable and the parking here is free. Over the years, this zoo has definitely undergone a lot improvements. The most recent addition is the Elephants of Asia exhibit: elephants Billy, Jewel, and Tina roam a habitat of over 6 acres.
If zoos are really your thing, I recommend maybe heading south to check out the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park, both of which are world class attractions.
In terms of aquariums, Los Angeles has a lot to offer. The largest aquarium here is the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. This large facility puts a lot of emphasis on interactive exhibits that provide kids with a hands-on experience.
Near Long Beach is the pay-what-you-will Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro. Although much smaller than the Aquarium of the Pacific, the bonus at this place is that afterward you can walk out on Cabrillo Beach and explore the tidepools!
Another unique (and free) place in San Pedro is the Marine Mammal Care Center. This facility is a rehabilitation center for sick sea mammals. Visitors can view the recovering animals as well as visit educational exhibits and a gift shop.
Heading to Manhattan Beach you can also find the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium. This is a free, volunteer-run space that is a lot of fun (again this is a small facility, they do accept donations).
