A family day out: Monterey Aquarium, California
After we left San Francisco, on our Pacific Coast Highway road trip south, there was one place I knew we’d definitely be stopping on our California family road trip: Monterey Aquarium.
review visit/contains affiliate links*
Travelling with a miniature marine biologist in training, an aquarium always goes down well. And the vast and impressive site at Monterey puts everything else we’ve seen in the shade.
With more than 35,000 animals and plants representing over 550 species, there are nearly 200 galleries and exhibits, including the Open Sea area with one million gallons of water and the ambitious Kelp Forest with 335,000 gallons.
For my complete 10-day itinerary for a California road trip with kids along the Pacific Coast Highway, click here
In fact, it’s hard to know where to start when writing the post. I could reel off numbers and statistics. I could marvel at the creatures we saw. I could recall the friendly and knowledgeable staff who gave talks and wandered the building, sharing their obvious passion for marine life with my fascinated four-year-old.
In the end, I’ve resigned myself to knowing I can’t possibly share every aspect: we spent the entire day there (with a brief break for lunch, getting our hands stamped to pop outside on to Cannery Row) and still didn’t see everything ourselves on the 3.3 acre site, let alone try any of the special tours.
So first and most important, if you’re near Monterey, do go. It’s amazing and one of the best days out from San Francisco with kids.
Second, it’s worth trying to get to the talks – there are two daily for the penguins, three for the sea otters, two for the Kelp Forest with a diver in the tanks and a couple of others.
Thirdly, save some time for the special exhibitions. During our visit, we saw ‘Tentacles: The Astounding Lives of Octopuses, Squid and Cuttlefishes’, watching one example pounce on its tea and learning more about these intelligent creatures.
There was also an exhibition on Baja California and the life on its fragile coast, with various activities and thought-provoking pieces of information.
Fourthly, don’t miss the sea otters. Unbelievably cute. Beyond cute, in fact. I think for once Minnie was dragging me away.
Like many of the other areas, it’s very cleverly designed too split over two levels so you can see them playing and swimming on the surface as well as watching them speed through the water below.
Along the way, you can see everything from the smallest creatures including touchable anemones and other rock pool life in Rocky Shore right up to giant sunfish, sharks and tuna. If you’re expecting anything much larger, the only orca are models suspended from the ceiling, thankfully.
Half the attraction is seeing life as it would be beneath the waves: glittering shoals of sardines swirl past in a precise silvery ballet, flatfish lurk beneath the surface while sharks prowl above or jellyfish pulse silently through the water.
The jellyfish room was one of my favourites: mesmerising watching them float past, transparent and coloured, fronds dangling, as painfully fearsome as they are beautiful. In the darkness, it’s as if you’ve been transported to an entirely alien world.
The 28ft tall Kelp Forest was another self-contained little eco-system too. To Minnie’s surprise and mild anxiety, we watched the diver swimming among the swaying kelp with leopard sharks and their less toothy fishy neighbours (repeated insistence on my part that most sharks are not scary is having limited effect).
We had our own chance to get a bit more involved in the Splash Zone – not literally pulling on a wetsuit and diving in, but discovering more than 45 interactive exhibits to get a taste of exploring a coral reef, among others, before giggling at the comic hopping penguins nearby.
I suspect we spent most of our time open-mouthed, one way or another, from the Wave Crash gallery to the well-named flamboyant cuttlefish.
If Monterey built its fortune on the fishing and canning industries, today I can think of few better places to go to experience the wonders of the deep.
Monterey Aquarium: Need to know
Tickets cost $65 for adults, $50 for teens and £45 for children aged 5-12. Age four and under is are free. Several of the AirBNB properties I looked at also offered one or two passes for guests which is a bonus if you’re staying nearby.
You can also book additional tours, including a tour suitable for all the family for $35, others for age 8+ from $40.
There is an app to download and virtual tour on the website if you want to plan your whole day in advance. Opening hours are from 10am to 5pm – they suggest you allow two to three hours but you can very easily spend the entire day.
For public transport and parking information, visit the aquarium site although if you’re happy to walk a short way, the roads off Eardley Ave have free parking.
There is a cafe and restaurant in the aquarium, with picnic facilities outside. It’s fine to take pushchairs in as well.
For ideas of things to do in Northern California with kids, check out this post, along with ideas for more great days out from San Francisco with kids
MONTEREY AQUARIUM: PIN FOR LATER
Disclosure: Our entry was courtesy of Monterey Aquarium for the purposes of review. All opinions and otter obsessions are my own.
Images and video copyright MummyTravels
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Looks like a great aquarium – one for the list for our California road trip #citytripping
Definitely – it’s the best we’ve visited I think, and we’ve been to some great ones.
I visited Monterey Bay Aquarium years ago & remember it fondly. There are so many things to see & it’s a great place for kids with all of the touch tanks available. My favorite were the sea otters eating while floating on their backs, they are the cutest! I really enjoyed your video, it was like being back at the aquarium! Thanks so much for hosting #citytripping
They are SO cute – thanks! It really is amazing with kids here.
Its hard to pass up a trip to the aquarium with the kids in tow,
We have been too few around the place like sea life in Melbourne and Porto and Barcelona has a bug set up as well This one in Monterey looks just as good as any we have been
#citytripping .
I’ve heard good things about Barcelona’s and I’d love to visit Lisbon’s as well – we’re starting to get to quite a few on our trips, and this is definitely one of the best.
This looks awesome! I can see why it was such a hit from your video – I agree the jellyfish are totally mesmerising! I’m impressed Minnie was kept amused for so long. A whole day -wow- MUST be good. Will have to visit when we finally make it to California. #citytripping
It really is – and so big, there’s masses to see. I just stood and stared at the jellyfish for ages, almost hypnotic!
I’m becoming a big fan of aquariums – this looks like a good one, and it’s reassuring to know it’s ethical in not holding larger mammals captive. Gorgeous shots, particularly of that squid!
Thanks! The squid was one of my favourites – they’re always so curious about people, which is fun. And definitely, I was surprised to see whales mentioned before we visited and very glad to discover it was models only.
Looks like Minnie enjoyed your visit! It’s kind of an expensive place to go, but no more expensive than my local aquarium. That’s when you happily give up a whole day to fish-looking. Love those pictures of the jellyfish! I always think they are so gorgeous in the water!
She really did – and it’s not the cheapest entry if you were planning a quick visit, but for the whole day it’s definitely worth it. And the jellyfish are gorgeous, aren’t they.
Hahaha, love that you have an otter obsession. Monterey Aquarium looks fab, reminds us of the Finding Dory aquarium. #CityTripping
They are just too cute… And my daughter saw the film since we went as well, so not points ‘Dory’ out in the video whenever she looks at it.
Oh wow, the jellyfish room would have been my favourite too. Your photos are spectacular! #citytripping
Thank you! They are incredible creatures, really mesmerising to watch
Those Jellyfish look amazing. I’ve not been to Monetery, but will definitely put this on my list for if I do go. Thanks for sharing. #citytripping.
It really is fantastic if you get to Monterey
Both my husband and daughter are wannabe marine biologists… they are both fascinated by aquariums. This is definitely going on the must-do list for a California visit. #citytripping
This is the perfect place for them then – so much to see.
I’ve long heard so much about the Monterey Aquarium I can’t believe I haven’t been there, even pre-kids! Doing the coastal drive is way up there on the list so I know we’ll definitely be seeing the aquarium sometime soon, I hope. Love the photo of the squid. #citytripping
Definitely one for the list when you make the drive, it’s a fantastic place – loved the Tentacles exhibition as well, they seemed just as intrigued by us.
We didn’t have the opportunity to enter the aquarium when we visited Monterey. I really wanted to go in but I knew the vist was going to take time. I plan to be back soon. This is one of the best aquariums in the world.
Absolutely – it really is somewhere you have to set time aside for. I hope you do get there soon, it really is a fantastic aquarium.
In all my years living in California, I never made it to the Monterey or even the San Diego aquarium. I guess for me swimming in the ocean was close enough! Especially after having already been stung by a jellyfish haha They certainly look pretty and nice, but the sting like a mother! #CityTripping
I definitely prefer my jellyfish looking weirdly wonderful behind a nice solid sheet of glass than swimming around next to me! I’m looking forward to being able to take my daughter swimming in the ocean, and snorkelling (maybe even diving) so she can see some of it first-hand.
We drove past this on our pre-children road trip, time to do the trip again but to call in this time!
#citytripping
You had me as soon as you mentioned the penguins – aren’t they hilarious creatures! Sounds like a great family day out, one which I know my kids would appreciate. That app is such a good idea too – more places should have those. #citytripping
They really are – that waddle! And the app is a lovely idea
We thought this was the best aquarium we’d ever been to – and that was almost two decades ago! We haven’t found one to beat it since. Absolutely loved Monterey and would definitely go back. I also fell in love with the otters!
That’s quite an accolade- I’ve got to say it was amazing, so well designed. And the otters are fabulous.
I would love to visit this myself! I especially like the idea of the jellyfish room! It’s going on my list next time we are in California though we tend to go on the train (will have to drive next time!) or get off the train at Monterey!) #citytripping
Definitely worth making a stop for – I could have watched the jellyfish for hours
I find Aquariums all the same. Jellyfish, clownfish, sharks and sting rays. I do get a little bored in there but the children! They NEVER get bored with aquariums right? They are the motivation I bring them on aquarium trips and watching them wow in wander makes me happy. #citytripping
Ah now I’m still the same as your children 🙂
Gosh this looks amazing. I think we would love it here. I like the idea of all those specimens but also being actually by the coast. The jellyfish look amazing. I bet you were all knackered afterwards! Thanks for hosting #citytripping
There is something about an aquarium by the coast I think, so much more effective when you’re learning about the ocean nearby too. Thanks for linking up!
Amazing jellies!!!
Definitely
We love Acquariums and try to visit one when we go away. San Fran is on our list do I would consider this depending on distance? I am also mesmerised by Jelly Fish. It sounds huge and the fact it has penguins and sea otters too is brilliant. Amazing photos I always struggle photographing without the flash. Thanks for hosting #citytripping
They are fascinating aren’t they, and this one is amazing. Monterey is about two hours from San Francisco if you take the faster interstate (or you can take the longer pretty route along the coast but you’d need an overnight stay then). And thank you, I ended up with a LOT of jellyfish shots 🙂