Put SeaWorld on Your Summer Bucket List

{DISCLOSURE: My family and I were guests of SeaWorld San Diego and were given a VIP tour of their amazing new attractions. All opinions that follow are my own.}

We start making our Summer Bucket List around this time each year. The days are already growing longer and warmer and we usually like to do more than just the regular beach days.

Enter Sea World San Diego.

Here in Southern California, San Diego has the Mary Poppins of weather – It’s always “Practically perfect in every way.” And we could not have asked for a better day to visit and experience all the new attractions SeaWorld had lined up for us.

Because our last visit to SeaWorld was so much fun, Eric and the kids (Amy is 34, Jon is 21) were super enthusiastic about returning. Of course, my sweet Sebastian (you may call him Bash) is now a year old and so very curious, which makes it a crazy-fun experience for us as we see the world through his eyes.

We had always wanted to go up in the SkyTower and I was so glad we got to get a bird’s eye view of the park.

The view from above is all beautiful vistas and sparkling pools and all of San Diego as far as the eye could see. It was like a wonderful visual invitation to all the magic that was to follow.

Our first “meet and greet” was with with Chiole who was a warm weather penguin. Who knew there was such a thing? The Penguin Encounter has a population of about 300. Sebastian did not hesitate to reach out and say hello.

Another favorite of ours is visiting the dolphins at Dolphin Point. When you’re planning your SeaWorld day, please make time for these beautiful and friendly creatures. Again, part of the fascination for us is watching our grandson react and interact with the wildlife. It’s like looking at them with fresh eyes.

This is Lanakai the Dolphin. (I don’t think “the Dolphin” is her actual last name, but that’s not important right now.)

She “talked” with us and let us feed and pet her.

And she posed spectacularly for our family portrait! We came away from that encounter completely soaked and completely in love.

One of our other “must do’s” which you need to add to your own list – I’ll wait while you get something to write this down – is to Dine With the Orcas. DO NOT MISS THIS. (I mean it.)

Prepare to be dazzled by the fabulous gourmet lunch buffet as the orcas play and show off their natural behaviors a mere plexiglass window away from where you are lunching. I can’t recommend this experience highly enough.

Speaking of orcas, SeaWorld has rolled out the first orca experience of its kind. It’s a whole new way to learn about and connect with the orcas. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Orca Encounter.

It’s difficult to describe the impact of the expansive infinity screen behind the orcas as you witness their natural behaviors and learn about killer whales in exciting, immersive detail. Talk about a WOW moment.

We were given a closer look at the role of family and the importance of play in the behaviors they exhibit. (Two things that I obviously hold near and dear, too.) SeaWorld, you knocked it out of the park (pun intended) with Orca Encounter. DO NOT MISS THIS. ( I really, really mean it.)

I promise you will be blown away.

The newest addition to the park is Ocean Explorer.

There are rides for the littles and lots to see and explore. There are multiple aquariums, exciting rides, and digital technologies designed to engage guests.

While some of the aquarium features were designed to entertain the littles, older peeps got a kick out of the interactive features and the crawl and pop up spaces in the aquariums. “Where did Jon go?” Please appreciate my 21 year old son’s sense of humor. (Disclaimer: He would have done this when he was younger, too. *sigh*)

Our visit included a ride on the new Submarine Quest which (gratefully) does not really go underwater, so there’s no danger of claustrophobia. (Don’t judge me.)

Young voyagers climb aboard a mini-sub and monitor an onboard digital navigation dashboard to expand their understanding of the ocean ecosystem. I confess that this proved a bit too advanced for the *cough* not-so-young voyagers among us. (Shut up. I know.) But it’s bound to be a hit with the pre-teen and younger crowd.

We were a few days too early for the kickoff of the Electric Ocean, which is a new nighttime summer spectacular which will immerse guests in a glowing sea of wonder with bioluminescent-like lighting, a dance club and pathway entertainment. This kicks off on June 17th and runs on select dates through September 4th. It promises to be a-ma-zing.

2016 SWSD Electric Ocean Rendering

Every day, SeaWorld educates as well as excites park guests, creating meaningful experiences that inspire them to care more for wild animals and wild habitats, but also to help protect the environment. Behind the scenes there is a mission – one that has continued since the park’s inception – to care for the environment and the animals that extends beyond the park’s borders.

This is where SeaWorld really shines.

Let me tell you about how SeaWorld Cares. They conduct and are dedicated to helping support field research projects around the world, as well as killer whale research and conservation. Their rescue teams are on call 24/7, 365 days a year caring for injured and orphaned animals in need. To date, they’ve rescued over 30,000 animals. Impressive, no?

We just learned that the smallest porpoise, the vaquitas (“little cow” in Spanish) are in rapid decline with fewer than 30 left in the world. In partnership with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, you can purchase “Save the Vaquita” merchandise at SeaWorld parks and online. 15% of the proceeds from these purchases will go towards helping save vaquitas.

I can’t say enough good things about beautiful SeaWorld. I was so grateful that I was able to experience the magic and wonder with my family, as well as coming away a little more knowledgeable and a little more inspired to do our part.

Summer Bucket List: