Hi,

We have a short while in Monterey before we proceed down Big Sur. Should we visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium? We enjoys aquarium visits and so does our 3 yr old daughter, but we do have 2 great aquariums in this part - NY Aquarium and another one in Norwalk CT. So I am thinking a nice drive and a picnic along the 17 mile drive may be a nicer alternative?

I would like to hear your opinions on this.

Thanks

I like the aquarium. It is mostly based around the native inhabitants of Monterey Bay, so it will be quite different than the NY or Norwalk aquariums.

We just did the 17 mile drive in March. I can't remember the fee, but it was something like $10 to do it, which we felt was a little bit of a ripoff. It's a lot of driving through a nice neighborhood. There are several nice beaches, but you can see that for free in California. My DH really enjoyed seeing Pebble Beach golf course, but I don't think a small child would be impressed.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is definitely worth a stop. Because it has native habitats it is different than anything you have in NY. And your three year old will love the Splash Zone.

If you are driving 1 down to Big Sur I would skip the 17 mile drive, unless you are really fond of golf courses and big houses. Go to Point Lobos, which right below Carmel instead. When people ask if you went on the 17 mile drive, you can say no, you discovered something more spectacular.

As for the Acquarium, it will be different from those you have seen on the East Coast as it only exhibits marine and sea life from the Monterey Bay--I have yet to encounter a child who is not enthralled with the sea otter exhibit. However the Acquarium is always my overcast day alternative, if it is a beautiful day I would much prefer to be a Point Lobos, looking at seals, sea otters, and sea lions in the wild.

Definitely. I have been to many aquariums around the US and the Monterey Bay Aq. stands out the most! My 3-yr. old daughter loved watching the scuba divers feed the fish in a huge tank. There are also Sun Fish that are huge and really cool to watch. Can't remember if this on has a dolphin show??

Almost forgot -- I completely agree with SAB -- go to point lobos! Pick up a picnic lunch and spend an afternoon there! I lived in Monterey as a kid, and this park was always entertaining and beautiful.

Yes to the aquarium! We have been several times and never tire of it, great exhibits in a beautiful setting. They a have a special area there just for toddlers that your daughter should enjoy. Have fun! ***kim***

Absolutely. No comparison to either of those you mention. Very, very nice aquarium.

Just adding my vote for point lobos in lieu of 17 mile drive - for all the reasons already mentioned 17 mile drive is on a beautiful stretch of coastline, but then someone went and put a bunch of houses and a gold course there and ruined the whole thing

Actually, I think the Aquarium is better on a sunny day, as the sun shining into to the tanks that have access to the open makes them look even more remarkable.

Allow plenty of time. We usually plan 2 hours and end up staying well beyond that.

Agree with the picnic at Point Lobos idea. It is a unique and wonderful place that should not be missed.

I can't advise on whether to visit, but if you decide to, make advance reservations. The line is toooooooooooooo long

Definitely visit the aquarium. If you are staying in a hotel in the area, you may be able to buy tickets ahead of time at the hotel. That way you can avoid the line.

I will be the lone dissenter, I guess. The aquarium in good, but unless you have time and are in the mood for in-depth learning, I would much prefer to spend a limited amount of time outdoors looking at the scenery and eating! Point Lobos is great, but unlike the others, I really like 17 mile drive, also. Yes, there is some driving through rich housing areas, but some of the views and beach areas are spectacular. Most of the animosity toward 17 mile drive on this board seems to center around the entrance fee, but if you are even contemplating visiting this area of the world, you certainly have the $10 for this spectacular drive.

Thats' the thing, though--the 17 mile drive is primarily a DRIVE, which a toddler is not going to dig that much. Yes, you can get out, but the views are much more limited than the ones at Point Lobos, and the choices of where to picnic are, too.
At Point Lobos, it would not be at all unusual to see otters, deer, hummingbirds and seals quite easily, and you could picnic in the sand, in a grove, on a cliff--you get the idea!

And I agree that the Aquarium is well worth a visit, it is arguably the best in the country, and has lots of exhibits a little one would go ape for.

Have fun!

If it's a weekday (not a holiday weekday though), the lines shouldn't be bad.

I visited the M.B.A. last week and it is extraordinary. When I arrived there was no line at all.

Don't miss the amazing ocean sunfish -- the largest one weighs in at over 800 lbs.

The Aquarium is definitely worth a stop and the views of the ocean from the back deck are fantastic! Have also taken the 17 mile drive and it was one of the most beautiful, scenic, amazing drives I've ever been on. Made a short stop at Pebble Beach to have a look see and what do you know, more draw dropping views. What a gorgeous area. Enjoy a great trip!

We loved the aquarium, try and see the otter feeding and other interactive action!

Living in Norwalk, I am very familiar with our acquarium - we visited the one in Monterey with our kids a few years back and they really enjoyed it - it is on a much grander scale - well worth the visit!

The aquarium sounds interesting...however if there are that many things to see then it would probably be a 'heavy' visit and we may not have energy or time for other stops along Big Sur.

I have decided on visiting Point Lobos instead of 17-mile drive. The park website says it can only allow limited number of visitors. Is there a possibility that we might get turned away on Sunday (May 20)?