Trying to determine the best things to do at SeaWorld San Diego?
If you want to make sure you hit all the highlights, I’ve got you covered! We’ve been visiting SeaWorld San Diego for years.
Since its founding in 1964, SeaWorld San Diego has been known for its marine animal exhibits and live shows. Over the past decade or so, they’ve really upped the ante with new educational experiences, exciting rides, and lots of opportunities for up-close animal encounters.
This all comes as we see a shift from using the park’s animals for entertainment to highlighting SeaWorld’s commitment to marine life rescue and preservation. (This is indeed a good change!)
We’ve rounded up 12 must-see spots to squeeze into your day to ensure your family has the best SeaWorld experience. Here are the top thrills, chills, and spills – old and new – that make SeaWorld San Diego truly one of the top theme parks in Southern California!
Best Rides at SeaWorld San Diego
To make this list of best things to do at SeaWorld San Diego most helpful, I’ve divided it into two sections – Best Rides and Best Shows. Let’s start with the best rides at SeaWorld and why I think you’ll love them, too!
1. Arctic Rescue
Arctic Rescue is where both the “thrill” and the “chill” come in. SeaWorld San Diego’s newest ride, Arctic Rescue has a cool snowmobile theme and a long, zippy track. It is fast and fun (hits a top speed of 40 mph) with no big drops or upside-down loops, but lots of awesome twists and turns! This is a great ride for people who love a fast, thrilling ride, but not the heart-stopping drops you find on many other roller coasters.
After the ride, wander through Wild Arctic where you can see beluga whales and walruses. You can even sign up for the Beluga and Walrus Encounter, a behind-the-scenes, interactive experience where participants have up-close encounters with beluga whales and walruses.
Kids will love running their hands over a frozen ice wall and climbing through little tunnels. This is not only an interesting spot, but a great place to cool off when it’s hot outside. We always take out time wandering through this area looking at the animals and the clever exhibits.
Also in the “chill” department is Penguin Encounter, located next to Arctic Rescue, where you can get a close-up view of penguins as they swim and waddle in the 25-degree, snow-filled habitat. The Penguin Encounter is also home to nearly 90 puffins and murres.
Arctic Rescue Height Requirement: 48″
2. Emperor and Electric Eel
Another new thrill ride at SeaWorld San Diego, Emperor opened in 2020 and is the tallest, longest, and fastest dive coaster in California! It is also the only floorless dive coaster in the state.
Named for the world’s largest penguin, this new coaster mimics this species’ amazing underwater diving ability (emperor penguins can dive to a depth of 1,800 feet). Climbing to 153 feet with feet dangling in the air, you’ll be suspended on a 45-degree angle at the crown of the ride before plunging down a 143-foot facedown vertical drop accelerating to more than 60 miles per hour!
Even more important than being one of the best thrill rides at SeaWorld, Emporer highlights the animal-conservation partnership between SeaWorld and Penguins International, an organization dedicated to penguin conservation and research. A portion of the proceeds from sales of penguin merchandise at the Emperor retail store is donated to Penguins International to support their important conservation, education and research efforts, making this new ride a win-win!
► Travel Insight
As the park’s newest ride, lines can get very long! Be sure to ride Emperor early in the day to avoid a hefty wait.
Emperor Height Requirement: 52″
If thrilling coasters are your thing, I have to give an honorable mention to the Electric Eel. When it opened in 2018, it was the park’s tallest and fastest coaster, a record it held until the opening of Emperor in 2022. My teenage son and husband loved going on this ride, but I was more than happy to sit this one out!
Electric Eel Height Requirement: 54″
3. Manta
Another awesome thrill ride at SeaWorld San Diego is Manta. This super-fast coaster simulates the moves of a manta ray. The track is long and the ride is marvelously smooth. It features a 54-foot drop and plenty of twists and turns. Though it is no longer the most thrilling ride at SeaWorld (it was when it opened in 2009 and remains one of our favorites) it is definitely worth a go.
The area right outside Manta roller coaster features a 100,000-gallon marine-life habitat with touch pools, filled with California bat rays that you can touch and feed. This makes Manta a great spot to check out, even if your kids are still too little to go one the ride!
Height Requirement: 48″
4. Journey to Atlantis
Be prepared to get wet! Part water flume, part roller coaster, Journey to Atlantis is a six-minute adventure featuring a 60-foot plunge. The ride tells the tale of Atlantis through a simulated flood, projected lights, fog and water cannons. It is a favorite among all ages tall enough to ride!
Height Requirement: 42″
5. Shipwreck Rapids
A traditional raft ride that ventures into the shipwrecks of the deep with twist and turns, the Shipwreck Rapids ride takes you on an adventure through raging rapids, roaring waterfalls, past sunbathing sea turtles and a near collision with a ship’s propeller. You’ll definitely get wet, so beware if you go on a chilly day and know the ride closes all together on days when the temperature drops below 60 degrees. One of the best water rides we’ve been on!
Height Requirement: 42″
6. Rescue Jr.
When my son was little, this area of the park was called Sesame Street Bay of Play and featured rides and attractions based on Sesame Street characters. He absolutely loved it!
But in 2023, Bay of Play was rethemed and is now the Rescue Jr. The rides and play areas are still there and still perfect for small children, but everything has been completely overhauled to go with the new theme of animal rescue and conservation. The rides inside Seaworld’s Rescue Jr. include Rescue Riders, Rescue Rafter, and Tidepool Twist.
There is also a splash zone water play area, soft play area, real rescue vehicles, and fun presentations by the park’s Animal Conservation Ambassadors where kids can learn about rescued animals. The Rescue Jr. section of the park is just one of the things that make spending time at SeaWorld one of the best things to do in San Diego with kids.
7. Skytower and Bayside Skyride
Skytower and Bayside Skyride are two landmark SeaWorld San Diego rides, so it makes sense to group them together! The Skytower takes passengers high above SeaWorld for some amazing panoramic views, while the Bayside Skyride offers a scenic ride over Mission Bay.
Opened in 1969, Skytower is one of the oldest rides in the park. The 6-minute ride takes passengers high above SeaWorld and offers great views of SeaWorld, Mission Bay, downtown San Diego and beyond, all from 320 feet up in the air.
During Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego, Skytower is transformed into a soaring Christmas tree.
Built just two years prior to Skytower, Bayside Skyride also takes guests up in the air – 80 feet up to be exact – and travels across the bay and back aboard suspended gondolas.
While Skytower and Bayside Skyride are both iconic SeaWorld experiences, they come with a price tag. There is an extra cost of $6 per attraction for guests ages 3 and older to experience each of these rides, however they are included if you have an annual pass.
If you can only do one, I recommend the Bayside Skyride. It is a relaxing flight with beautiful views and cool breezes drifting in from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
► Looking for a great place to stay near the park? Check out these Hotels Near SeaWorld San Diego.
Top Shows and Experiences
8. Explorer’s Reef
The very first thing you’ll see after passing through the park entrance is Explorer’s Reef, a group of shaded touch pools with reef sharks you can watch and touch. Kids will love this hands-on experience and there are plenty of Animal Care Ambassadors around to share interesting insights about the marine life and answer questions.
While it’s tempting to dive right in (pardon the pun) as soon as you enter the park, resist the urge and hit some rides first before the lines get long! A better idea is to come back to Explorer’s Reef later in the day between shows or when you need a quiet break.
9. Dolphin Adventures
SeaWorld San Diego currently has three major shows – Dolphin Adventures, Orca Encounter, and Sea Lion and Otter Spotlight. But if you could only choose one, Dolphin Adventures is our pick for a show the entire family will love! It features SeaWorld’s family of Bottlenose Dolphins and the team of trainers that care for them as they show off their incredible skills and athleticism.
If you are visiting on a busy day, be sure to get to Dolphin Stadium early, as this show tends to fill up fast!
► Travel Insight
Sit in the first couple of rows if you need a cool-down splash.
10. Orca Encounter
Gone (thankfully!) are the days of trainers riding on the backs of these beautiful marine animals.
The majesty of the orcas and their amazing size and strength are the focal points the Orca Encounter show at SeaWorld San Diego. Learn about how orcas hunt, communicate, and play, and find out what people can learn from these orcas to help killer whales survive in the wild.
Whether or not you catch the show, visit the underwater viewing area right outside Orca Encounter for an opportunity to come face-to-face with these majestic animals and watch them swim and play.
11. Turtle Reef
Head below to watch the turtles swim above you while you stay dry. Come face to face with peaceful green sea turtles, loggerheads or hawksbill turtles (along with tropical fish). As you exit, you’ll be in the perfect spot to hop in line to visit the sharks at Shark Encounter.
12. Shark Encounter
A family favorite you won’t want to miss, Shark Encounter takes you under water with sharks and tropical fish.
The 280,000-gallon attraction features a 57-foot acrylic tube running the length of the sharks’ habitat. Sand tiger, bonnethead, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks are among the species living in this popular attraction. There is a line to get in during busy times and it can be crowded, but it is totally worth the wait!
A helpful tip if it very crowded – as soon as you are about to enter the tunnel pause for a few moments so there is a gap between you and the people in front of you. That way you’ll be able to see more of the sharks swimming around you than you would if crushed in a crowd!
► For more San Diego travel tips, be sure to also check out these Family-Friendly Things to Do at Night in San Diego.
Final Thoughts: Best Things to do at SeaWorld San Diego
When you think of a San Diego family vacation, it’s hard not to include SeaWorld on the itinerary. Part zoo and conservation center, part aquarium, and part thrilling amusement park all spread over 200 acres along Mission Bay, choosing the best things to do at SeaWorld San Diego is no easy feat.
The truth is, there really aren’t any shows or exhibits that don’t deserve to be on this list! But by narrowing it down to these 12, I hope we have given you a great foundation for planning the perfect day.
Save These SeaWorld San Diego Rides and Attractions for Later!
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