Smart Destinations and San Diego Zoo Expand Partnership, Launch Safari Sweepstakes

BOSTON, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Winter is a great time to don your safari hat, escape the cold and take off on a grand expedition. To make a wintertime getaway even more enticing, Smart Destinations and the San Diego Zoo today announced the expansion of their six-year partnership by kicking off a new Go San Diego Safari Sweepstakes contest that will give one lucky winner the chance to explore San Diego, the Zoo and the Safari Park in VIP style.

New for 2012, Zoo guests may now purchase Smart Destinations' Go San Diego Cards at the main gate at both the Zoo and Safari Park. The 3-Day Go San Diego Cards will also remain available online at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/.

Both the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are included in Smart Destinations' Go San Diego Card, which allows visitors to gain entry to 49 area attractions for one low price. Both parks can also be added to a custom Go Select Pass, on option on the Smart Destinations website where visitors build their own pass for specific attractions in San Diego and/or Los Angeles.

To celebrate the expansion of their cooperative program, Smart Destinations and the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park will give away one 5-day, 4-night trip for four to San Diego, complete with airfare, hotel accommodations at the Radisson Hotel San Diego-Rancho Bernardo, plus four 3-Day Go San Diego Cards and a special VIP Caravan Safari experience. The Caravan Safari lets families get up close and personal with Safari Park animals on their own turf, including an opportunity to feed the giraffes and rhinos. Guests must be age 8 or older at the time of the trip to participate.

To register, go to www.facebook.com/smartdestinations and enter now through February 14. The winner will be announced on February 21, and must make the trip by December 31, 2012.

"The San Diego Zoo has long been one of our most popular featured attractions, and we're so excited to expand this partnership and offer one of our travelers this unique opportunity to get an special behind-the-scenes view of the Safari park— and enjoy a total trip value of around $4,000," said Cecilia Dahl, president and founder of Smart Destinations.

Visitors using Go San Diego Cards can return to the same park more than once during the span of their card, which provides a great option for families who want to see more than just one visit will allow. In addition to the included admission to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park, Go San Diego Cards also allow free entry to LEGOLAND® California, SeaWorld San Diego and more than 40 other major attractions in the city. 

"Smart Destinations offers the easiest and most affordable way for our guests to see the best our city has to offer," said Ted Molter, Corporate Director of Marketing with the San Diego Zoo. "Making Go San Diego Cards available at our gate expands our already exceptional guest services by allowing us to ensure visitors have a great time even after they depart our facility."

For more information about Smart Destinations, and to register for the Go San Diego Safari Sweepstakes, visit www.smartdestinations.com.

About Smart Destinations:
Smart Destinations provides the only multi-attraction passes that maximize the fun, savings and convenience of sightseeing with flexible purchase options for every type of traveler. Available online and at walk-up retail outlets, Smart Destinations passes, including Go City Cards, Go Explorer and Go Select, provide admission to more than 400 attractions across nine North American destinations, including New York, Orlando, San Diego, Chicago and Boston. All passes come with valuable extras, including the ability to skip the line at select attractions and comprehensive city guides that offer insider tips and bonus discounts on shopping and dining. Smart Destinations passes leverage the company's patented technology and the industry's largest network of attraction partners to save consumers up to 55% compared to purchasing individual tickets. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA. For more information, visit www.smartdestinations.com.

About The San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy is dedicated to bringing endangered species back from the brink of extinction. The work of the Conservancy includes onsite wildlife conservation efforts at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, and international field programs in more than 35 countries. In addition, San Diego Zoo Global manages the Anne and Kenneth Griffin Reptile Conservation Center, the Frozen Zoo™ and Native Seed Gene Bank, the Keauhou and Maui Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Centers, San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Breeding Facility, Cocha Cashu Biological Research Station, the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center, and a 900-acre biodiversity reserve adjacent to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.

SOURCE Smart Destinations