SEA WORLD

SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO TEXAS
by Paula Hughes Court

SeaWorld San Antonio is a great theme park for adults and children of
all ages. Covering over 200 acres, the adventure park offers world-
class shows, thrilling rides and hands-on animal encounters. Unlike  
other amusement parks, SeaWorld San Antonio is large and spread-
out so you'll never feel crowded. Several reasonable San Antonio hotels
are located close-by, so your best bet is to visit in the morning, go back
to your hotel for lunch and a swim, them return to SeaWorld San
Antonio in the cooler evening hours.

If time is limited, the following attractions are the ones that you don't
want to miss.

SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO THRILL RIDES:
THE GREAT WHITE
Hop aboard "The Great White" - Texas' first inverted steel roller coaster!
You'll dangle your legs from ski-lift-style seats and go heels-over-head
five times during more than 2,500 feet of breathtaking loops,
corkscrews and other thrilling maneuvers at speeds of almost 50 mph!
The multi-million-dollar ride also was the first coaster ever built at a
SeaWorld Adventure Park. Height Restriction: Riders must be at least
54" tall.

RIO LOCO
Get ready for a wild ride on Rio Loco - an exhilarating river rapids
adventure! You and five of your friends will hop aboard a circular raft that
churns through a 1,800-foot raging stream with dips, bends, and a
drenching waterfall. Height Restriction: Riders must be at least 42" tall.
Other

THE SHAMU EXPRESS
"The Shamu Express," a family roller coaster themed to the park's
signature killer whale, located in Shamu's Happy Harbor. The killer
whale-themed cars, holding twelve passengers per cycle, will zip along
220 feet of track at 14 mph. Young children and adults can enjoy their
first coaster ride together. Height Requirement: A parent must
accompany children smaller than 41 inches. Children must be at least
38 inches to ride.

STEEL EEL
SeaWorld San Antonio boasts the Southwest's first hypercoaster, the
"Steel Eel", with its pulse-pounding, 15-story initial drop, speeds of
almost 65 mph and non-stop peaks, valleys and camelbacks that
create maximum "air time," or weightlessness - a hypercoaster's
signature feature. This "eel-lectrifying," state-of-the-art coaster zooms
along 3,700 feet of track and covers the serpentine route in two minutes.
Height Restriction: Riders must be 48" tall. Other restrictions may apply.

TEXAS SPLASHDOWN
Plunge down five stories not once, but twice on Texas Splashdown, the
longest and tallest flume ride in the Lone Star State! Four-person boats
take you through a twisting, turning half-mile route, which includes two
steep drops and a panoramic view of SeaWorld San Antonio. It's filled
with non-stop thrills and chills along the way! Height Restriction: Riders
must be 46" tall or accompanied by an adult 16 years of age or older.

LOST LAGOON
There is no better escape from the summer heat than at Lost Lagoon
waterpark. True to its name, this hideaway transports adventurers to a
tropical paradise of crashing surf, slides, hidden lagoons, inviting
beaches and swaying palms. It's a complete beach experience inside
SeaWorld San Antonio. Premiering May 28 is Castaway Cruisin', a 3.5
acre floating attraction complete with geysers, misters and water
shooters.

SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO ANIMAL EXHIBITS:
AVIARY HABITATS
Lorikeets, colorful parrots from Australia and other islands in the South
Pacific, can be fed in their habitat near Seal and Sea Lion Community.
Habitats with birds such as bar-headed geese, Chilean flamingos,
golden pheasants, green-naped pheasant pigeons, laughing
kookaburras and white-cheeked turacos also can be found nestled
throughout the park. SeaWorld San Antonio is home to Hawaiian nene
geese and Attwater's prairie chickens - two of the most endangered
bird species in the United States.

PENGUIN ENCOUNTER
More than 200 penguins will entertain and delight you at the Penguin
Encounter - a sub-Antarctic environment where temperatures hover just
above freezing and snow falls daily, no matter the season! A moving
walkway will transport you past large viewing windows and into the
Learning Hall where you can learn more about polar life and
exploration. Another nearby habitat also houses alcids, aquatic birds of
the northern hemisphere.

Sharks/The Coral Reef
Take an underwater adventure to the depths of the sea. The 450,000-
gallon shark habitat brings you face-to-tooth with some of the ocean's
most mysterious creatures! Nearby, in a 300,000-gallon coral reef
setting, thousands of fish from the Indian and Pacific oceans create a
living rainbow of colors - while moray eels reside in another habitat.
Narrated tropical fish feedings are presented during regular operating
hours.

World-Famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales
The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales, in their spacious home near the
front of the park, are known as "Gentle Giants" to fans from all over the
world. Regal ambassadors of Anheuser-Busch for more than 50 years,
Clydesdales stand 6 feet at the shoulder and weigh as much as 2,300
pounds. On display while the Clydesdales are not traveling is the
classic Budweiser brewery wagon. Surprisingly heavy, the wagon
weighs nearly four tons, yet moves smoothly and easily as the team
works together. A Dalmatian mascot rides atop the wagon to lend
enthusiastic support.

Seal and Sea Lion Community
Guests can observe and feed seals and sea lions in an outdoor habitat
simulating the rocky and rugged Pacific coastline. The community also
features harbor seals, California sea lions, North American river otters
and Asian small-clawed otters. Hawaiian monk seals, located in
separate pools nearby, are found only at SeaWorld San Antonio and in
the Hawaiian Islands. They are the only endangered marine mammal
that lives entirely within the borders of the United States. The area is
adjacent to the "The Cannery Row Caper" show at Sea Lion, Walrus
and Otter Stadium.

SHOWS AT SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO:

THE SHAMU ADVENTURE
Thrill to the awesome power and grace of world-famous Shamu and
other killer whales in ‘The Shamu Adventure’ show! A two-story video
screen and television cameras above and below water at 3,800-seat
Shamu Stadium capture the exciting interaction between killer whales
and their trainers. The show, hosted by world-renowned animal expert,
Jack Hanna, gives guests the opportunity to witness the magnificent
beauty of the park’s biggest star and experience such exotic locales as
Alaska and Norway.

During the high-energy water sessions, guest seated in the first 14
rows must be prepared to become splash victims. An interactive
website www.Shamu.com highlights the breathtaking displays of grace
and beauty during The Shamu Adventure.

VIVA!
The White Whale and Dolphin Stadium comes alive with the
revolutionary "Viva!" show. This colorful production features
professional high divers, aerialists and synchronized swimmers
performing with the acrobats of the sea, Pacific white-sided dolphins
and beautiful beluga whales, all against a dramatic backdrop of water
screens, waterfalls and fountains. It's the first of its kind at any
SeaWorld Adventure Park.

ROCKIN' SKI PARTY
Check out the rock-and-rollers on water skis as they fly across the
Water Ski Lake during the Rockin' Ski Party show, which includes
daredevil feats performed to the sounds of rock-and-roll music. The
Rockin' Ski Party starts May 28.

SEA STAR THEATER
SeaWorld San Antonio's 4-D attraction, Sea Star Theater, presents "R.L.
Stine's Haunted Lighthouse," a film based on an original story written
by R.L. Stine, author of the popular children's book series,
"Goosebumps" and "Nightmare Room." The film is projected by four
cameras operating simultaneously to create the three-dimensional feel
of the film. Nine audio channels project surround-sound inside the
building and theater-goers don 3-D glasses to maximize visual effects.
The theater seats also have speakers and the capacity to shoot air and
water during the "haunting" adventure.

THE CANNERY ROW CAPER
Comical sea lion duo Clyde and Seamore, star in "The Cannery Row
Caper" detective show, where they attempt to unravel the mystery of
disappearing fish in a nearby cannery. The set features a wharf exterior
with a cannery, ice house and loading dock, as well as the interior of a
diner and an office. Built-in special effects like water cannons and water
jets are part of the fun and practical effects featured in each show.

Contact SeaWorld San Antonio at www.seaworld.com.
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN
SEAWORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO