By Dani Dodge
SDUN Columnist

For most people in the world, a visit to the San Diego Zoo requires plane tickets, hotel nights and vacation days. But for those of us lucky enough to live in San Diego’s Uptown neighborhood, it is simply our backyard.

We buy memberships and go to educate our kids about animals and conservation in an entertaining way, we hang out with our out-of-town friends, we get exercise walking the lush grounds and when the world is spinning too fast, we get away to watch pandas play, elephants trumpet and polar bears swim. The zoo is our retreat in the middle of the city.

What if you have only two hours to escape to the zoo? What do you do then?

Here are some ideas:

If you’ve got kids along, head straight for the Children’s Zoo. It has more than 20 species of kid-friendly animals on exhibit. The bright blue of the hyacinth macaw is sure to delight, while the out-of-the-ordinary appearance of the naked mole-rat will definitely spark curiosity. (No, he didn’t just forget to get dressed after his bath!) This is also the place where folks can see a presentation with a prehistoric-looking pangolin, something they won’t see in any other U.S. zoo. And there are about two dozen creatures ready for cuddling in the Petting Paddock.

If you’ve got in-laws and gotta get out of the house, go directly to bus boarding: In 35 minutes, you will see much of the zoo from the comfort of the double-decker bus. Then you’ll still have time to take them back to their favorite animals. The bus tour is free with a one-day pass ($37 for adults) or you can get discounts with your annual membership. (Members pay $8.50 per adult; $5 per child ages 3-11.) Oh, they aren’t quite your in-laws yet and you want to impress? That’s when you book the private “Inside Look” tour. During this two-hour adventure, you will be part of a small group (maximum seven) that will tour the zoo in a VIP cart and visit off-exhibit areas. You will definitely score big points hosting them on this experience, one they’ll likely talk about over Thanksgiving dinner for years to come. (Cost is $69 per person, plus zoo admission for nonmembers. Children under 3 are free.)

If you want to spend some special time with that special someone: There are several animal exhibits that will bring out the wild in just about anyone. The San Diego Zoo is a breeding facility, after all. So you might want to check out the very friendly bonobos. This endangered species tends to resolve disputes with displays of affection. And they must have a lot of disputes, if you know what I mean. Then wander by the Galapagos tortoises. While they are believed to be the zoo’s oldest inhabitants (many are over 100), that doesn’t slow them down when it comes to showing their love. A recent move into newly renovated digs seems to have sparked an increase in the amorous activity. Afterward, go for a romantic dinner at Albert’s, the zoo’s fine dining restaurant. Or enjoy a frozen margarita at Front Street Cantina.

If you want to spend time with your best friend from college: Run down to Panda Canyon first thing when you arrive at the zoo. Spend some time enjoying the antics of Yun Zi, the youngest of our black-and-white beauties, before he takes his nap. Want to share an even more exclusive experience? Book yourselves for the two-hour Backstage Pass. This will be an experience of a lifetime for the two of you. You will get to meet some of our animal ambassadors up close and be invited to touch many of them. While the program changes every day, you could have a chance to feed flamingos, howl with an Arctic wolf or caress a red kangaroo. And you will take away a photo of you and your friend posing with one of our animal stars. (Cost is $99 per person, plus zoo admission for nonmembers.)

You have two hours to kill and you want the company of animals, not people: Come to the zoo when it opens at 9 a.m. or two hours before closing at night. (Closing is at 6 p.m. through Oct. 3 with the exception of Sept. 25 when it closes at 5 p.m. The zoo closes at 5 p.m. Oct. 4-Dec. 9.) The bulk of the tourists have headed out, so the fall is a perfect time to spend wandering the grounds, ambling through the aviary and soaring above it all on Skyfari.

Not a member? Annual memberships start at $79 for adults and include two free guest passes, unlimited rides on the Skyfari aerial tram and other discounts. For more information or ideas, go to sandiegozoo.org.

Dani Dodge is a former newspaper reporter and editor now working at the San Diego Zoo. She can be reached at [email protected].