Drive into the rugged terrain of San Bernardino National Forest, a little over an hour southeast of Hesperia, and make a stop at Big Bear Alpine Zoo. Located in Big Bear Lake, a mountain resort town at an elevation of more than 7,400 feet, the zoo houses 85 species and specializes in rehabbing orphaned and injured wildlife, including bald eagles, arctic foxes, black bears and porcupines. Take caution when walking along potential slippery and icy pathways. The zoo is open year-round, closing only when snowfall becomes overpowering. The facility also hosts special events throughout the year, such as blues concerts and Halloween parties for kids.
Inside the massive 477-acre Irvine Regional Park in Orange is the small 8-acre Orange County Zoo. The zoo, approximately 75 minutes southwest of Hesperia, showcases animals from the southwestern United States, including coyotes, red-tail hawks, mountain lions and turkey vultures. Kids can sign-up for special events, like the junior zookeeper program which lets children ages 8 through 16 help feed the critters, clean exhibits and create toys for animals. The tiny venue charges a nominal fee for parking and admission.
In 1952, a citrus rancher donated 20 acres of farmland to build Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park. Today, the zoo is home to 80 species, including free-roaming peacocks, a variety of birds that soar through a 9,000-square-foot walk-through aviary and a pygmy marmoset exhibit which house the world’s smallest monkeys. For an added fee, kids can take a spin on a carousel depicting 33 endangered species, make their way through a Rainforest Adventure maze and enjoy a ride aboard a miniature train. The zoo is 80 minutes southwest of Hesperia.
Brave the scorching temperatures of Palm Desert at the arid Living Desert zoo. One hour and 45 minutes southeast of Hesperia, the zoo lies across 1,200 acres of land, including 1,000 acres of pristine desert. Make your way down dirt trails, through a rustic landscape, to view the more than 400 animals on hand. All of the animals in the zoo are used to extreme weather conditions, including giraffes, cheetahs, Mexican wolves and pythons from hot spots in North America and Africa.
