Get Right in the Water With Gentle Beluga Whales at SeaWorld San Diego

At SeaWorld San Diego , special interactive experiences include a chance to get in the water with beautiful, creamy white beluga whales. Belugas, natives of chilly Arctic waters, have blubber to keep them warm, but your SeaWorld-provided gear works fine too, giving you a chance to stand on a submerged platform in the whales’ large pool. There, a trainer cues the gentle beasts to come over so you can touch them (they feel a bit like cold memory foam); the trainer then lets you experience a whale-kiss—a soft nudge on the cheek from one of the gentle marine mammals. The interaction also includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the walrus and polar bear habitats, and a chance to learn more about these amazing and endangered creatures.

For another memorable moment, head over to Manta , a mega-coaster experience not to be missed. Start by visiting the 100,000-gallon pool filled with bat rays that you can try to touch as they swoop by. From this peaceful encounter, the adrenaline spikes once you line up for the Manta coaster, a ride that starts off in a high-def tunnel swirling with projections of rays swimming on all sides. Then hold on tight as you blast outside to swoop, splash, and soar over the water in a heart-pumping thrill ride.