Penguin Island

Penguin Island is one of the most beloved spots at the San Francisco Zoo, drawing crowds of families to watch a colony of Magellanic penguins go about their very charming daily lives. The island habitat features rocky outcroppings, a large pool, and glass viewing panels at ground level so even the youngest visitors get an unobstructed look at the birds waddling, socializing, and launching themselves into the water.

The real magic happens at feeding time, when keepers arrive with buckets of fish and the penguins transform into a jostling, honking, hilarious mob. It's one of those zoo moments that gets the whole family laughing and talking about it on the drive home. Outside of feeding times, the penguins are still plenty active — swimming laps, preening on rocks, and occasionally waddling right up to the glass.

Penguin Island is an outdoor exhibit, so dress in layers — the SF Zoo sits near the ocean and is often foggy and cool. Strollers navigate the surrounding paths easily, and the exhibit is included in standard zoo admission. Pair it with the South American Tropical Forest and Hearst Grizzly Gulch for a complete zoo day.