Located in the city’s beautiful Balboa Park, and one of the world’s most innovative, the facility has many features to offer visitors. There are nearly 4,000 animal and bird residents, representing more than 650 species.

This year’s expansive new attraction is Africa Rocks. It duplicates many of the continent’s most dramatic rocky features. The exhibit displays natural, free-roaming habitats for lions, tigers, bears, elephants, apes and many exotic bird species.

A thrill for kids from age four to 94 is the Skyfari, an overhead moving cable of observation cars. Riding above the many natural gatherings of animals and plant species in their own surroundings is a highlight for all visitors. 

For schedules, ticket prices and other info, go to zoonation.org

Visiting Senior Sojourner PLMcB, Sandusky OH: Our cruise ship sailed into Copenhagen harbor, and when we went ashore, the immediate impression was as if we were happily back in time 200 years.

Everywhere were classically beautiful gardens, soaring castles, busy canals, brightly-painted houses and smiling people on bikes. (www.visitcopenhagen.com)

The welcoming aura remained with us throughout the two days we spent there. Spring daytime temperatures are in the mid-60s, with nights in mid-50s. English is taught in Danish schools, so we had no language problems in shops, restaurants, parks and museums.

If you’re interested in seeing one of the world’s most beautiful sites, visit Monument Valley. For old Western movie buffs, it is a kind of Valhalla of Hollywood immortals John Wayne and director John Ford. In 1939, Ford first brought his film crew and young actor Wayne to the Valley to make "Stagecoach".

Together they created other great movies there, including “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”, “Fort Apache”, “The Searchers” and a dozen more. Other films made in the Valley include “My Darling Clementine”, “Sergeant Rutledge” and “Cheyenne Autumn”.

My first experience with "The Rock" prison in San Francisco Bay happened on a disturbing April day in 1946. With World War II ended, our troop ship was returning from the Philippines to the Navy base on Treasure Island, located under the Bay Bridge, between San Francisco and Oakland.

As our ship passed close by Alcatraz, we could see Navy landing craft unloading armed Marines as they stormed onto the rocky shore. It resembled so many wartime operations in the Pacific, we at first believed it was a realistic training exercise.