Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey

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Did the Carmel Monterey trip. We loved Carmel and the little town of carmel by the sea. It so happened the day we were there it was Concours on the avenue. Exceptional cars and fabulous restaurants.

At at AW shucks clam chowder was divine. The oysters were really fresh and fish tacos were divine. Oh and the Bloody marys' are awesome.

Also at at the Clint Eastwoods Hogs Breath Inn, Nice service but the food was a little out dated and nothing special. i wouldn't eat there again. I had the Lobster shrimp special sauteed in Butter garlic My husband had the Prime rib, his was better.

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We lived in California when I was little, but we moved from here in 1966 when I was three before this aquarium existed. At least one cannery was still operating at that time. The Monterey Bay Aquarium wasn't started until 14 years later.

I took my daughter and her friend on a whirlwind trip of the state that included this aquarium My husband is an aquarium fanatic, so I have been to a lot of aquariums with him. This was the best one I have ever been to. The shows were spaced out and the traffic was regulated well so everyone coul see everything.

The Kelp Forest exhibit holds approximately one-third of a million gallons or 1,268,109 liters. Montery was the first aquarium in the world to exhibit a living kelp forest.

Adult Admission Ages 18-64 and not in college. $29.95
Child Admission Ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free. $19.95
Senior Admission Ages 65 and over. $27.95
Student Admission Ages 13-17 or in college.$27.95

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We spent one morning at the aquarium in Monterey. It was very informative and the jellyfish exhibt was awesome. There are large decks that extend the length of the back of the aquarium that lookout over the ocean.

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We had a fun afternoon at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

They have some lovely sea creatures here, especially the sea otters. There are some really huge tanks and so you get a chance to see big fish, sharks and rays swimming around. The kelp tank is good and is well worth plannng your time to get to see one of the Kelp Forest Feeding talks by one of the keepers. They have a diver in the tank, who helps out in the talk.

It's not cheap to get into the aquarium, so give yourselves enough time to get your monies worth out of the visit. We were virtually the last people to leave.

Try to avoid the aquarium on a crowded day, it definitely changes your experience in a less than positive way. If you can't, it is still worth a visit if you are in Monterey. Tickets can be a little pricey, but they are for a good cause and you get to see and learn a lot. In my opinion, the best parts of the aquarium are the sea otters and the jelly fish, but there are other awesome things there as well.
There is a large section for kids to play. There is an outdoor section that is pretty awesome. Bring a sweater because it can get windy outside, but it is worth getting a chill because of the opportunity to view wildlife. While I was there this past visit, I was able to see at least 2 seals and 2 sea otters.
Tickets can be pricey, but if you are a member of AAA, you may be able to get $3 off. If you have the time and are trusting enough to do so, you can also find tickets on craigslist. It is better to buy your tickets in advance because the ticket line can get long.

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This is one of the best aquariums I've ever been to. Its different compared to Sea World, because the aquarium's focus is exhibits, rather than trained animal shows. Most of the exhibits center around sea life local to the Monterey and Northern California coast areas. They have sea otters, of course, and you can see them being fed during several regularly scheduled "feedings" that they do during the day. Other things to see include sharks, jelly fish, birds (albatross), kelp forests, and penguins just to name a few. We enjoyed the "hands on" area in which you get to touch various creatures in a tide-pool like setting.

One of the more interesting things we say during our trip was an exhibit called "The Secret Lives of Seahorses". It featured many different kinds of seahorses, including one species that looked like a swimming plant! (see my pictures attached to this tip).

The jellyfish seemed to glow in the dark, and some looked like miniature amusement park signs complete with "tracer lights".

If you come to Monterey, don't miss this attraction. Its good for all ages, but especially for children - they'll love it.

In the evening for the hour or two before closing, there was a jazz band playing on the day we visited.

Actually under the Pacific Ocean to be exact! Unbeknownest to many, the area surrounging the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a Marine sanctuary and is home to one of the largest Kelp Forests in the world (one of the reasons the Pacific Coastline in these parts is a nice murky green color). The Aquarium is a must do if you'll be out in Monterey. In addition to sharks, stingrays, and barracudas...(oh my!) and a very cool Jellyfish exhibit (but go soon...this exhibit is closing down in mid-2008), you can also learn the history of the old Cannery that used to be housed there....pull out your copy of Cannery Row by Steinbeck before you end that way for an extra enriching experience.

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The best aquarium on the west coast and Travel Channel's 8th "Best Shark Encounters Without Getting Wet"! Though the Monterey aquarium is the only place in the world that has been able to keep a great white shark for more than 16 days, they recently released the young male they had been taking care of. No great white sharks there now, but there are plenty of other species, plus they have a new otter exhibit that opened in March! The aquarium is the 9th most visited park in California with just under 2,000,000 visitors a year.

After eight months in town I finally got around to checking out the aquarium. Regular admission is about $25, but if you know someone who is a member or a donor, you can get in for free. While fish are interesting, our main reason for visiting was to see the otters. Besides the ever popular sea otter exhibit, they have a new river otter display with three or four species from around the world. We also enjoyed the kelp forest, the penguins, the glowing jellyfish, the massive giant octopus, and the huge tank with the butt-ugly sunfish. This is a great destination for young children as many of the displays are interactive and the kids can touch shells and even the live manta rays. We spent about 3 hours here, and that was plenty. With kids, I could see spending a little more time as there is plenty to keep them busy, but about a half day would be enough to drive me crazy. Summer crowds are massive, especially on the weekends, so try to visit in the off season and/or on weekdays.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium occupies the site of the former Hovden Cannery on Cannery Row. When the Hovden Food Products Corporation closed in 1972 the facility was vacant until the aquarium was opened in 1984. In the center of the aquarium buildings is a corridor called Hovden Way, which offers public access to a coastal overlook. This area looks into the Monterey Bay over an area of kelp, birds, sea lions, and otters.