Explore with Cornell: Optional Tours
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San Diego Botanic Garden Private Tour
10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. PST
Cornell Botanic Gardens welcomes you to an exclusive experience at our sister organization San Diego Botanic Gardens (SBDC). Start your visit with a presentation on sustainability efforts in public gardens by Christopher Dunn, Executive Director of Cornell Botanic Gardens, and Ari Novi, SDBC President and CEO. Tour this 37-acre urban oasis offers 4 miles of trails that lead to and through ocean views and 29 uniquely themed gardens, including the West Coast’s largest children’s garden and the nation’s largest public bamboo collection. Enjoy an outdoor box lunch and time to wander.
• Capacity: 35 people
• Price: $70 per person
• Transportation: Bus transportation will be provided to and from the Westin San Diego Gaslamp
Balboa Park Walking Tour
2 p.m. - 4 p.m. PST
Your tour includes a stroll through the Balboa Park, exploring the architecture, history and gardens of the country’s largest urban cultural park. Locations visited include the California Tower, the Old Globe Theater, the Timken Museum, Zoro Gardens, Bea Evenson Fountain, the NAT, the Spanish Village Art Center, and the San Diego Zoo (exteriors only, no admission included). We’ll also visit a park coffee cart and guests will be able to choose one beverage from a selection of hot/cold coffee, teas and smoothies.
• Capacity: 20
• Price: $25 per person, price includes one beverage of choice from coffee cart, tour guide, and guide gratuity.
• Transportation: Guests are on their own for transportation. Uber/Lyft rides will take approximately 10 minutes from the Westin San Diego Gaslamp.
SEAL Tour…the Land and Sea Adventure
2:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. PST
It’s a boat! It’s a bus! It’s San Diego’s only amphibious Sea and Land Adventure! Your 90-minute, fully-narrated SEAL Tour departs daily from Seaport Village. Wind your way through the picturesque San Diego streets before splashing down for a cruise through the waters of the San Diego Bay. Experience the history and ecological wonders of San Diego in the comfort and security of the unique Hydra Terra vehicle. You’ll learn firsthand of the area’s rich military history and cruise through the waters that are the playground of the California Sea Lion. Here’s a fun video of the SEAL Tour.
• Capacity:20
• Price: $40 per adult, $24 per child (ages 4-12), $8 for kids 0-3
• Transportation:Transportation: Guests are on their own for transportation. It’s approximately 6 minutes by Uber/Lyft or a 20 minute walk from the Westin San Diego Gaslamp.
San Diego Zoo – Discounted Tickets
On your own time
Enjoy discounted tickets to the San Diego Zoo. The zoo is well known for its lush, naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters and is home to more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing approximately 660 species and subspecies. Before heading out, enjoy a video message from Matt Marinkovich DVM '14, clinical veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo. Dr. Marinkovich combines his Cornell training with the mission of the Zoo and its Wildlife Alliance: to integrate wildlife health and care, science, and education to develop sustainable conservation solutions.
• No capacity
• Price: $40 per person (normally $67). Price includes entrance to San Diego Zoo, meals are on your own.
• Transportation: Guests are on their own for transportation. Uber/Lyft rides will take approximately 10 minutes from the Westin San Diego Gaslamp.