There may be a million typos in this post about today’s black and blue margaritas, because we have been traveling and my brain is still in a fog. This past week, we spent some time as a family in California visiting the San Diego Zoo. If I’ve never said it before, I’ll say it now: vacations with kids are a lot of work. Don’t get me wrong- good times were had by every one of the animal lovers in our house, but I’m definitely still recovering.
If you’ve never been or have been considering going to the San Diego Zoo with little ones, let me be the first to cheer you on. With over 1600 acres of California real estate, the zoo and accompanying safari park are more like amusement parks than anything else. Gift shops, restaurants, and hundreds of species from all over the planet round out a destination that is somehow simultaneously fun and educational. Over the past year, my kids have turned into full-on animal enthusiasts, and the zoo was the perfect indulgence for their growing little minds.
Because the zoo and safari park are in two different areas of San Diego, we opted for two different hotels during our trip. Our first leg was spent near the zoo itself, and we stayed at a nearby Marriott on Coronado Island. The second leg was dedicated to the safari park and visiting friends in LA, so for that time, we found a Park Hyatt that was killer for kids. With water slides, multiple dining options, and even a Top Golf Swing Suite, this hotel was a destination in itself. We would 100% go back in a heartbeat.
Tips for Visiting the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park
- Do not try to do the zoo and safari park in a single day. Not only are these parks far apart locationally, it’s also physically taxing. I’d recommend setting aside two days to see both.
- Consider getting a membership! We actually saved a good deal of money by purchasing one adult and one child membership. Not only do you get discounts on food, merchandise, and some of the tours and safaris, but you also get a few guest passes and tickets discounts with some memberships as well!
- Pick a route and stick with it. You can download maps of the park on the zoo website, and I highly recommend scoping out a route ahead of time. The parks are both very expansive, and I found it helpful to have a plan that didn’t require much backtracking.
- Download the app! The San Diego Zoo app was extremely helpful for navigating the parks and exploring the animal options available.
- Consider additional excursions. We did both an inside look tour and a safari during our time at the zoo and park. I would 100% recommend the safari but would probably skip the behind the scenes option next time. Do make time to ride the double decker bus at the zoo though!
For more information on hotels, the zoo, and other San Diego attractions, I highly recommend checking out this and this site. I found her local intel to be really helpful and 100% on the nose. The San Diego Zoo is truly a great spot for young families, so keep it in mind for your next vacay! Now that we’ve gotten the travel talk out of the way, let’s get to the main event: black and blue margaritas!
Black and Blue Margaritas
These black and blue margaritas are a simple summery drink recipe from my new book, Her Daily Bread. I was eager to include a margarita in the drinks section of the book, and this one is a great way to include fresh summer produce. With muddled blackberries and blueberries as well as a honey simple syrup, these margarita is flavorful, refreshing, and beautiful, too! Let me tell you how to make it.
We start with the syrup. Water and honey come together on the stove until dissolved and smooth. Once cooled, the syrup is muddled with berries before fresh lime juice and silver tequila are added. Shake in a tall cocktail shaker filled with ice until chilled and then serve. This recipe for black and blue margaritas can easily be batched, so come thirsty or invite a friend to join.
With summer kicking into gear, I hope you’ll give these margs a try. If you have any great kid friendly vacation destinations, shoot me an email to tell me about them! In the meantime, happy baking and have a great week!
If you like these black and blue margaritas, you should try:
Mai Tai Margaritas
Ginger Margaritas
Pinot Ritas
Rose Margaritas
Sparkling Margaritas
Honey Basil Margaritas
Black and Blue Margaritas
These black and blue margaritas are made with fresh summer berries, lime juice, and a honey simple syrup!
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5
- Yield: 1 Drink
- Category: Drink
Ingredients
For the margaritas:
- ¼ cup fresh berries (I use a mix of blackberries and blueberries)
- 2 ounces tequila blanco
- 1 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- ¾ ounce honey simple syrup (recipe below)
- Coarse salt (optional)
For the honey simple syrup:
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Muddle the berries in a tall cocktail shaker until they’re broken down and juicy. Add the remaining ingredients to the shaker and fill it with ice. Shake vigorously for about 20 seconds. Wipe the flesh of the lime around the rim of a margarita glass and dip the glass in salt, if desired. Fill with ice and strain the chilled mixture into the prepared glass. Enjoy!
To make the simple syrup:
- Combine the honey and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir with a whisk until the honey is dissolved and then place in a small jar or heat-safe container to cool in the fridge. This can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to two weeks.
