Monterey Bay Aquarium Review

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Monterey Bay Aquarium

Write a review | Avg. member rating: 4.8/5

Fodor's Review:

The minute you hand over your ticket at this extraordinary aquarium you're surrounded by sea creatures; right at the entrance, you can see dozens of them swimming in a three-story-tall, sunlit kelp forest tank. The beauty of the exhibits here is that they are all designed to give a sense of what it's like to be in the water with the animals—sardines swim around your head in a circular tank, and jellyfish drift in and out of view in dramatically lighted spaces that suggest the ocean depths. A petting pool gives you a hands-on experience with bat rays, and the million-gallon Outer Bay tank shows the vast variety of creatures (from sharks to placid-looking turtles) that live in the eastern Pacific. The only drawback to the experience is that it must be shared with the throngs of people that crowd the place daily; most think it's worth it. To avoid the crowds, arrive as soon as the aquarium opens or visit in midafternoon, after the field trip groups depart and youngsters head home for their naps.

  • Cost: $25
  • Open: Late May-June and early Sept., daily 9:30-6; July-Aug., weekdays 9:30-6, weekends 9:30-8; early Sept.-late May, daily 10-6
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Member Reviews and Ratings

Reviewed by CalifTraveller from San Francisco Bay Area on 8/6/09
This is a "don't miss". To avoid crowds, go on a Sat. or Sunday evening when they are open late (until 8pm - summers only). The employees tell me they get positively bored 'cuz the crowds are so light!

See the 5 resident sea otters up close, watch their training session, and learn how they act as surrogate Moms to orphaned otter pups. Watch the shark and tuna feeding in the big tank, and maybe even get to see a great white shark. Visit the new Seahorse exhibit and learn how it is the male seahorse that gets pregnant. Visit a Touch Pool and pet a Sea Cucumber, or touch a starfish. Watch the penguins eat their fish breakfast... and fish lunch... and fish dinner. And much more. Remember that you can go early in the day, then get a hand stamp to go back to your hotel and relax or eat lunch and come back in the afternoon. Lots of stuff to delight the kids.

Member Rating: 4.8
Ratings details: Experience: 5.0 Ease: 4.0 Value: 5.0 Don't Miss: 5.0
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