Our trip was great as always! Getting as membership is totally worth it if you live close! Who doesn't like the zoo. Most animals are almost always visible here. Not like some zoos where you don't see animals. Granted some animals like the big cats and the bears take patience but if you use the feeding schedule you'll definitely get to see them. Food is pricey but it's a non-profit so it's worth it. The view is as mazing for the top of the zoo where there is as whole new set of animals that are new to California as well as z great new play area with sand and water play, a zip line and some other fun things to do for the kiddos. The top is a quiet area so the animals will come out. The only animal I have never seen is the wolf on the way up to the play area. There is a fun petting zoo area for hands on kids. The train ride gives you access to animals you wouldn't see otherwise. Likewise the Skyride which is different than the gondola also gives an amazing view of the lions that are good at hiding. The new gondola is free but the Skyride is $3 per person. It doesn't go as high as the gondola but it takes a different route so the view is different. Also, there are rides that you can purchase tickets for. There is a roller coaster (kind of jerky), a merry go round, a little car ride, an airplane ride that goes up and down like the Dumbo ride at Disneyland. The zoo is very big. It's hard to do it all in one trip especially with little ones but getting the pass makes it easier to come back as many times as it takes to see it all. For adults this makes a good day trip. Like all day. To do the train ride, the Skyride and the gondola, grab a bite and of course see the animals and read about them.