SeaWorld San Diego Reviews and Guide

SeaWorld San Diego offers the chain's standard selection of live shows, interactive animal exhibits and large-scale theme park attractions. Located on Mission Bay, it is best known for its killer whale shows, and also offers performances starring sea lions, dolphins and even cats and dogs. While its selection of rides are on a slightly smaller scale than those at sister park SeaWorld Orlando, it is home to a rapids ride (Shipwreck Rapids), a water coaster (Journey to Atlantis) and a launch coaster (Manta).

History: SeaWorld San Diego was the first park in the SeaWorld chain to open, back in 1964. Originally, four graduates from the University of California planned to open an underwater restaurant on the site. Though this was deemed impossible, they were able to open a set of marine exhibits instead. The park proved to be an instant success, with further parks being opened in Ohio (in 1970, since closed), Orlando (in 1973) and San Antonio (in 1988). Along with the rest of the chain, it passed through the hands of the Anheuser-Busch chain, and was acquired by the Blackstone Group in December 2009. Significant investments have been made since then, most notably the addition of Manta in 2012. A new water park, Aquatica San Diego, will open in summer 2013 on a site around 20 miles away.