Team vs team
Use your own phones and join a team. Any teammate’s answer advances everyone. Beat the other teams on the leaderboard.
City exploration game
San Diego: The Animals Have Fled the Zoo!
4.69Player rating
A DIFFERENT WAY TO SEE THE CITY
Play at your pace · usually 130 min 5.8 km San Diego App-guided
Play in
English
The experience
About this quest
There was an alarming disruption at the San Diego Zoo. The front gates burst open and many of the animals fled into Balboa Park. Leonardo the Lion tried to round them up outside the gates until they panicked and scattered again.
See if you can help him gather the herd to escort them back home. Leonardo has set out ahead of you to convince his friends that all is well. He needs your help and has dropped some clues.
Use your detective skills to figure out what or who caused the disruption.
See if you can help him gather the herd to escort them back home. Leonardo has set out ahead of you to convince his friends that all is well. He needs your help and has dropped some clues.
Use your detective skills to figure out what or who caused the disruption.
Is this for you?
Who it's for
Parents with primary-school children spending a day in Balboa Park get a detective story to follow, helping Leonardo the Lion round up escaped zoo animals while walking past the Old Globe, the Japanese Friendship Garden and a string of museums. Plan on about three hours on foot. Families with toddlers, or anyone who would rather not walk 5.8 km outdoors, may prefer a single museum visit instead.
What makes this quest special
Highlights
Take a beautiful stroll and tour the highlights of San Diego’s Balboa Park.
Learn a bit about the amazing collection of museums here.
When done grab the trolly to get a broader tour.
From people who played this quest
Good times. In their words.
4.69 / 5
16 player ratings
Selected player reviews. Original words and ratings.
Most relevant starts with detailed five-star reviews. All ratings remain available.
From your phone to the streets
A walk that turns into an adventure.
- 1
Open the app. You’re on your way.
Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.
- 2
Get outside. Follow your curiosity.
Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.
- 3
Crack a clue. Share a little victory.
Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.
CHOOSE YOUR PASS
How many are playing?
Get this questNo booking slot · play any dayFull refund until you start playing
BRING YOUR WHOLE GROUP
One city. Rival teams. Great stories together.
A school trip, a team day or friends out together. Turn your next outing into a little friendly competition.
Everyone for themselves
One player per phone. Solve clues on your own and race for the top spot on the final leaderboard.
Can a team share one phone?
Yes. Play together on one phone per team, or use your own phones and join the same team in the app. We recommend your own phones so everyone can take part.
Your walk, at a glance
San Diego
A · Start
1800 Zoo Pl, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
B · Finish
2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.
Along the way
Landmarks & Hidden Gems Included
The people behind the adventure
Created by Jane Worley.
A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.
Made by Jane WorleyWHAT MAKES A QUEST DIFFERENT
Your adventure, with a playful twist.
1 / 4
Experience
- This quest
- Discover places through stories and clues in the app
- Guided walking tour
- Hear stories and ask a guide questions
2 / 4
Pace
- This quest
- Pause for a photo, a café or a longer look
- Guided walking tour
- Usually follows the guide’s schedule
3 / 4
Company
- This quest
- Explore with your own people or on your own
- Guided walking tour
- Private and shared group tours are available
4 / 4
Guidance
- This quest
- Directions and challenges in the Questo app
- Guided walking tour
- Live interpretation from a guide
Features and terms vary by experience. Check the details before booking.
A little clarity before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is there an app game for exploring Balboa Park with kids?
Yes. This quest is played on your phone. The app guides you through Balboa Park from stop to stop, tells the story of each place and sets puzzles based on what is in front of you. Children help Leonardo the Lion find the escaped animals and work out what caused the disruption at the zoo.
Where does the quest start and finish?
It starts at the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad and loops through the park, passing the San Diego Museum of Art, the Old Globe, the Hall of Nations, the Air & Space Museum, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Natural History Museum and the Spanish Village Art Center before finishing at the Balboa Park Carousel, back near the start.
How long does it take and how far do we walk?
Most players take about three hours, including walking and solving the puzzles. The route covers about 5.8 km across Balboa Park. You can pause at any point, for a museum visit or a snack, and continue later from where you stopped.
What age is it good for?
The story about runaway zoo animals and a lion who needs help suits primary-school children, ideally with a parent reading clues and helping with the detective work. The walk is long for very young children, so families with toddlers may find the full route too much.
Can we play as a family group, and do we need to book a time?
Yes. One ticket covers the whole group playing together on the route. There is no time slot to book and no guide to meet: start whenever you are ready, go at your own pace and pause whenever you need a break.
Is San Diego: The Animals Have Fled the Zoo! self-guided?
Yes. The Questo app guides you between locations without a tour guide or fixed departure. Start when it suits you and pause if needed.
Where does San Diego: The Animals Have Fled the Zoo! start and finish?
It starts at Balboa Park Miniature Railroad, 1800 Zoo Pl, San Diego, CA 92101, USA and finishes at Balboa Park Carousel, 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA. The route is approximately 5.8 km and includes 13 location-based puzzles.
How many accesses does our group need?
This classic quest sells access per device and player. Each person who wants to solve clues on their own phone needs their own access.
Keep exploring
Every quest. One year.
Explore the annual passGive them a story
A day out, gifted.
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More adventures in San Diego
FAMILY ACTIVITY IN SAN DIEGO
A kid-friendly outdoor mission in San Diego
San Diego: The Animals Have Fled the Zoo! is for families who want an active outdoor alternative to another screen-heavy or venue-only outing in San Diego. Children follow a story, solve clues and turn the city route into part of the game.
The route starts at Balboa Park Miniature Railroad and finishes at Balboa Park Carousel over 5.8 km, with 13 challenge locations. Typical duration: 130 min; 5.8 km walking route; 13 challenge locations
Choose this when you want a flexible family mission outdoors. Choose a cinema, zoo or indoor attraction when a fixed venue and facilities matter more. Playable languages: English.
