Planning a trip to Southern California, staycationing, or just looking for something to do?  It is now easier and more affordable to visit three L.A. County destinations with a special Nature Pass combo ticket for the Los Angeles Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM), which allows the public to see all three attractions for $50 or less per person.

All three institutions are featuring new exhibits and offer events that are included with combo ticket admission this summer. The combo ticket can be used to visit the institutions on different dates, valid for up to one year from the date of purchase, so you can pack everything into a fun-filled weekend or spread out the visits throughout the year. Those purchasing the Nature Pass combo ticket to visit this summer can explore the Zoo’s vast collection of more than 1,100 animals, many rare or endangered, the Aquarium’s new Vanishing Animals and Horses and Dragons exhibitions, and NHM’s Dinosaur Hall, Nature Gardens, and more. The discounted combo ticket can be purchased online on the Aquarium’s website for $50 per adult (12+), $31 per child, and $46 per senior (ages 62+) or at the ticket windows of any of the three institutions.

The Los Angeles Zoo, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Natural History Museum offer insight into the importance of environmental conservation on land and in the ocean. Visitors to each institution can explore exhibits and attend presentations to learn ways to help protect the planet for the benefit of humans and animals. Arrivals at the Los Angeles Zoo in the last year include a range of babies born to Zoo residents as well as a new breeding group of four endangered Grevy’s zebras; two endangered male Tasmanian devils, the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial; and rare male and female perenties, Australia’s largest monitor lizard, with spectacular colors and patterns covering their snake-like, elongated bodies. Visitors to the L.A. Zoo, which is one of only four zoos in the United States to house Tasmanian devils and one of only two with perenties, can enjoy a variety of daily opportunities to learn more about animals, including close-up encounters, special feedings and talks, all free with admission.

The new Vanishing Animals gallery and Horses and Dragons exhibits are now open at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Featuring about a dozen species of seahorses and seadragons and their relatives, Horses and Dragons showcases the wonder and diversity of these creatures through March 31, 2017. Visitors can see and learn more about the unusual animals in the syngnathid group, which includes the sea moth (also known as Pegasus), seahorses, seadragons, pipefish, and razorfish, through exhibit displays, a film in the Great Hall, and education programs in the Marine Life Theater. Coinciding with this opening, the Aquarium transformed its changing exhibits gallery to focus on animal extinctions and how humans can take actions now to prevent the magnitude of extinctions on land from happening in the ocean. The Vanishing Animalsexhibition, also open through March 31, 2017, features about one dozen aquatic and terrestrial animal species and multimedia and interactive displays, including a new film in the Ocean Science Center. In addition, the two penguin chicks that recently hatched at the Aquarium are slated to leave their nursery and join the other penguins on exhibit in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat sometime in August.

Visitors to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County can enjoy the general admission pass with the Nature Pass Combo Ticket. Encounter dinosaurs in the new Dinosaur Hall, including the world’s only Tyrannosaurus rex growth series. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how scientist work on fossils in our Dino Lab. Stroll through the extensive Nature Gardens, and discover the true and surprising stories about city plants and animals in the Nature Lab. Enter the Gem and Mineral Hall to view diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and one of the largest displays of gold. Discover the grand mammal halls, Becoming Los Angeles exhibition, and more.

This Fall, NHM will hold its first-ever Dino Fest on September 24 and 25, two days of all things dinosaur .  Guests can meet world-renowned paleontologists from the Museum and beyond as they discuss historic and ongoing fossil discoveries from around the world; catch a glimpse of rare specimens from the Museum’s collections; dig into hands-on activities; explore amazing Dinosaur Hall with the world’s only Tyrannosaurus rex growth series; get one last chance to see our traveling exhibition, Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs; and much more.

Combo Ticket Add-Ons
Those who purchase the combo ticket can upgrade their experience at the zoo, museum, and aquarium. For $5, visitors to the Zoo can gain access to the new Dinosaurs Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo exhibition through October 31, 2016. At NHM, combo ticket holders can purchase entry to the new Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs exhibit, $10 for adults, $5 for children. The Aquarium is enhancing its Guest Speaker Series by adding talks with experts on animals and topics featured in its new exhibitions about animal extinctions and seahorses and seadragons. Lectures are $5 per person per lecture and free for students, teachers, and seniors (ages 62+) with advance reservations and valid photo I.D.

PTEROSAURS: FLIGHT IN THE AGE OF DINOSAURS opens at NHM on July 3 and runs through October 2, 2016. This interactive traveling exhibition showcases these prehistoric reptiles that ruled the skies during the time that dinosaurs walked the land. It features the latest research of museum scientists and leading paleontologists, extremely rare pterosaur fossils, and displays about discoveries in Italy, Germany, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil, as well as life-size models, videos, and interactive exhibits to immerse visitors in the mechanics of pterosaur flight. Several interactive exhibits help visitors see the world from a pterosaur’s-eye view. In “Fly Like a Pterosaur,” visitors can “pilot” two species of flying pterosaurs over prehistoric landscapes complete with forest, sea, and volcano in a whole-body interactive exhibit that uses motion-sensing technology. The exhibition is organized by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), and will underscore the vast and newly revealed variation among these ancient creatures, which ranged from the size of a sparrow to a two-seater plane, as well as how they evolved to dominate the sky millions of years ago.

DINOSAURS: UNEXTINCT AT THE L.A. ZOO, an all-new exhibit produced and presented by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, features a pack of 17 life-size, life-like prehistoric creatures residing in a once off-limits corner of the Zoo.  For a limited time only, these animatronic dinosaurs, brought to life with electronic “brains,” take visitors back in time for a colossal adventure, providing a rare chance to discover a lost world from millions upon millions of years ago while warning about the very real threat of extinction faced today by many endangered species.  Among the exhibit’s added features is the Fossil Dig, a stegosaurus robot with controls guests can operate to make the creature move; a climbable pachyrhinosaurus; and a free downloadable augmented reality app to access special content, including 3-D views of all the dinosaurs.  The experience aims to give visitors gargantuan levels of awe and plenty of “aha”s, with facts about the prehistoric era, the featured dinosaurs, and their similarities to L.A. Zoo animals.

About the Zoo, Aquarium, and Museum
The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.75 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered. Its lush grounds on 113 acres feature the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles); Elephants of Asia; Campo Gorilla Reserve; Rainforest of the Americas, an extraordinary collection of endangered and exotic mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians living in spaces that exemplify their natural habitat in the rainforest biosphere; a Hippo Encounter contact opportunity; Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States; Red Ape Rain Forest, where visitors can walk among orangutans; the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo; one of the largest flocks of flamingos in any zoo in the world; a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants; and much more.  Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare, the Zoo has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife. The Zoo, open daily except Christmas Day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is located in Griffith Park. For more information, visit lazoo.org or call (323) 644-4200.

The Aquarium of the Pacific, a nonprofit AZA-accredited institution, is dedicated to conserving nature and its resources by building relationships among people. Home to over 11,000 animals and visited by 1.6 million people annually, the Aquarium invites visitors to explore the waters of Southern California and Baja and the Northern and Tropical Pacific. The Aquarium features its interactive Shark Lagoon and Lorikeet Forest aviary, June Keyes Penguin Habitat, hands-on discovery labs, the Molina Animal Care Center, Ocean Science Center, and new Horses and Dragons and Vanishing Animals exhibits. Beyond its exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists. It is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and important topics facing our planet and our ocean are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in the search for sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and is closed on December 25 and during the Grand Prix for three days in April. For information, visit aquariumofpacific.org or call (562) 590-3100.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is located at 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. It is open daily9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Museum was the first dedicated museum building in Los Angeles, opening its doors in 1913. It has amassed one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history—with more than 35 million objects, some as old as 4.5 billion years. The Natural History Family of Museums includes NHM, the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum (Hancock Park/Mid-Wilshire), and the William S. Hart Museum (Newhall, California). The Family of Museums serves more than one million families and visitors annually, and is a national leader in research, exhibitions and education. For more information, visit nhm.org or call (213) 763-DINO.

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific, Los Angeles Zoo and The Natural History Museum. Photo credit: LA Zoo: Jamie Phan, Natural History Museum and Aquarium of the Pacific.

Last week my son and I had the opportunity to go to a Nintendo Kirby Robobot Event put on by KidzVuz. This was held at Smashbox Studios and there was even a special guest appearance from  Kirby himself! The celebrity hosts at the event were Peyton List from Disney’s “Bunk’d’ who is starring in the upcoming feature “The Thinning” and Spencer List from “The Bachelors.”

There was a really cool Candy Bar, we were able to get Kirby T-shirts made and I loved the really fun photo opps! It was also great that this event was just perfect for all ages from little kids, to teens and even adults love Kirby! I have always been partial to this happy pink character when I play video games with my son. More often than not, I select Kirby!

But, the best thing was checking out the New Kirby Planet Robobot Nintendo 3DS Game! My son checked this one out for me but stay tuned! I will be reviewing it soon!

Check out the game microsite for more information!

Don’t forget to stay tuned and check back to see my review of the Nintendo 3DS Game Kirby Planet Robobot!

Self Disclosure: I received compensation to facilitate this post.

Denny’s is offering guests a chance to experience an exciting behind-the-scenes tour at one of Southern California’s most beloved family attractions, the San Diego Zoo. Five (5) lucky winners and their families will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the Zoo’s most exotic animals.

“We’re delighted to once again partner with the San Diego Zoo to bring families together for a fun-filled adventure everyone can appreciate,” said Denise Marmolejo, senior field marketing manager for Denny’s. “We hope our guests enjoy their quality time together taking in all of the sights and sounds of the animal kingdom.”

Now through June 30, guests at participating Denny’s can request a Zoo-themed activity sheet from their server and fill out the entry form for a chance to win one of five (5) prizes. The grand prize winners will receive an Inside Look Tour for four (4) including same day admission to the San Diego Zoo to enjoy amazing animal encounters with trainers and Zoo ambassadors. Plus, each activity sheet also includes a coupon for 50 percent off one child’s 1-Day Pass to the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park with the purchase of one full-paid adult 1-Day Pass, valid through Aug. 31, 2016. Even if you don’t win the grand prize, you still win by receiving a special discount off admission to the San Diego Zoo.

The San Diego Zoo is celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2016. The century-old Zoo is a not-for-profit conservation organization, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums. Well known for its 100 acres of lush, naturalistic habitats and unique animal encounters, it is home to more than 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing approximately 660 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 plants.

With 219 participating restaurants in Southern California, guests will have plenty of convenient Denny’s locations from which to choose. Denny’s restaurants are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a  year, serving fresh, quality breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dishes in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.

Credit:

About Denny’s Corp.

Denny’s is one of America’s largest full-service family restaurant chains, currently operating 1,700 franchised, licensed and company-owned restaurants across the United States,  Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Guam, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Chile, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. For further information on Denny’s, including news releases, please visit the Denny’s website at www.dennys.com or the brand’s social channels via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest,Instagram  or YouTube. About the Aquarium

About San Diego Zoo Global

Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the goal of San Diego Zoo Global. As a leader in conservation, the work of San Diego Zoo Global includes onsite wildlife conservation efforts (representing both plants and animals) at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, as well as international field programs on six continents. The work of these entities is made possible by the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and is supported in part by the Foundation of San Diego Zoo Global.

Self Disclosure: I received gift cards to feature and will soon be reviewing our local Denny’s so stay tuned! Photo Credit: Denny’s (top photo) and other photos: San Diego Zoo.

A salute to 1980s music with tributes to David Bowie and Prince has been added to the Roaring Nights lineup in September by the Los Angeles Zoo during its slate of six unforgettable summer evenings, including the popular four-part “Roaring Nights” Summer Music Series and “Brew at the L.A. Zoo,” both for adults only, and “Family Jam at the L.A. Zoo” for youngsters and families.  Guests at all six evenings experience after-hours viewing of popular animal exhibits, up-close encounters with smaller Zoo creatures, music, food and fun.

ROARING NIGHTS AT THE L.A. ZOO, a summer music series open to guests ages 18 and up, kicks off on Friday, June 24, 2016, 7 pm, spotlighting 90s music, followed by three additional Roaring Nights events with all-different lineups on Friday, July 29* (country music), Friday, August 26 (indie rock) and Friday, September 16 (80s music with tributes to David Bowie and Prince).  While full details are set to be announced shortly, each evening features a live band, DJ dance party, food trucks, full-service bars, pop-up zookeeper talks, animal encounters, visits to Zoo animal habitats, a game zone and an “Animal Artistry Paint Party” for guests to paint a favorite animal (or whatever inspiration strikes them) on a small canvas to take home as a souvenir.  Ticket prices are $25, and $22 for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members; prices include admission to the Zoo’s special Dinosaurs: Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo exhibit.  For additional event information and to purchase tickets, visit www.lazoo.org/roaringnights.  For questions, call 323-644-6001.  *July 29 date was previously announced as July 22.

On Saturday, July 9, 2016, 6 pm, FAMILY JAM AT THE L.A. ZOO presents family entertainment for all ages featuring live music, dancing, food trucks, up-close encounters with some of the Zoo’s smaller residents, a rare opportunity for youngsters to experience after-hours viewing of popular animal exhibits and more.  Tickets to Family Jam are $25 for adults and $20 for children ages 2 to 12; tickets for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members are $22 for adults and $17 for children; prices include admission to the Zoo’s special Dinosaurs: Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo exhibit.  For additional event information and to purchase tickets, visitwww.lazoo.org/familyjam.  For questions, call 323-644-6001..

The 6th Annual BREW AT THE L.A. ZOO on Friday, August 5, 2016, 7 pm, is one of the city’s most popular 21+ events.  Known for beer tasting samples from close to 50 local craft and microbreweries, it also features live music, karaoke, a DJ, pub-style grub, Zookeeper talks, up-close encounters with some of the Zoo’s smaller residents, and visits to animal habitats.  Advance tickets to Brew at the L.A. Zoo are $65, $60 for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members, $25 for Designated Drivers (includes free fountain drink refills all evening at four Zoo locations), and $125 for VIP tickets with access to exclusive lounges serving complimentary food and specialty drinks/pours AND early entry to the entire route.  Tickets at the door, if available, are $75, or $70 for Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association members.  For additional event information and to purchase tickets, visit www.lazoo.org/brew.  For questions, call 323-644-6001.

The landmark Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, drawing 1.75 million visitors each year, is home to a diverse collection of 1,100 animals representing 250 different species, many of which are rare or endangered.  Its lush grounds on 113 acres feature the LAIR (Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles); Elephants of Asia; Campo Gorilla Reserve; Rainforest of the Americas, an extraordinary collection of endangered and exotic mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians living in spaces that exemplify their natural habitat in the rainforest biosphere; Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel; Chimpanzees of Mahale Mountains, home to one of the largest troops of chimpanzees in the United States; Red Ape Rain Forest, where visitors can walk among orangutans; the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo; one of the largest flocks of flamingos in any zoo in the world; a botanical collection comprising over 800 different plant species with approximately 7,000 individual plants; and much more.  Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), whose members meet rigorous professional standards for animal welfare, the Zoo has achieved renown as an international leader in the preservation of endangered species and a conservation center for the care and study of wildlife.  The private, non-profit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), which has supported the Zoo in partnership with the City of Los Angeles for more than five decades and provides funding for and operates seven essential Zoo departments, has 60,000 member households representing more than 240,000 adults and children.  As evidence of the Zoo’s popularity, GLAZA attracts one of the largest membership bases of any cultural organization in Los Angeles.

Programming subject to change.

The Los Angeles Zoo is located at 5333 Zoo Drive in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways.  Plentiful free parking is available for the summer evening events.  For additional information about the Zoo’s summer evening events, www.lazoo.org.  For general information about the Zoo, call (323) 644-4200.

Credit: Los Angeles Zoo. Photo Credit: Jamie Pham.