San Diego Zoo - Sunrise Surprise Stroll

A few times a month, the San Diego Zoo offers a Surprise Sunrise Stroll. It's $29 and does not include admission to the zoo afterwards so you have to buy two tickets.  You get to go behind the scenes and meet with the keepers. It's a surprise because you won't know what you get until that morning when you're assembled inside and the reveal is done.

This was the first time I'd ever done this and it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I thought 90 minute stroll would be 90 minutes of mostly walking and exercise but it was mostly standing around and a short walk between the encounters. Based on this day, very light activity.

Stop one was behind the scenes of the reptile house. We had a good show and tell with a keeper and this was informative and interesting.

 After that we headed over to penguins but the sun was out and the flamingos were looking good so we stopped for a photo op

We were taken in small groups behind the scenes of the penguins at the new Africa Rocks exhibit. This was good because you really get to see them up close.

 Really close.  You can't reach in and touch them (you could but why get banned from the zoo?)

 This is why we don't see all the penguins from the viewig side. They're getting hand fed!

 This one came on over to give a penguin hello to our group. Super cute!

In the end, was it worth the $29?  To do this one time, yes. I'm not sure I'd ever be a regular visitor but it was fun and something different to do.