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Reimagined from the bones of an old fish cannery, the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California, stands apart as one of the top aquariums in the world. The expansive 3.3-acre, 320,000-square-foot facility melds into the Monterey Bay taking advantage of its unique position as part of a National Marine Sanctuary.
In other words, the aquarium encompasses a history museum mixed with interactive exhibits included with lessons about conservation and biology, all with indoor and outdoor views of Monterey Bay, one of the most outstanding examples of marine life on the planet.
In other words, the aquarium encompasses a history museum mixed with interactive exhibits included with lessons about conservation and biology, all with indoor and outdoor views of Monterey Bay, one of the most outstanding examples of marine life on the planet.
Tip #1: Start your day at Loulou’s Griddle In the Middle.
Or a similar breakfast spot along the wharf – there are plenty mom-and-pop spots sprinkled throughout the area. Fill up your kids with a hearty breakfast so they’re ready to explore. We opted for Loulou’s for its laidback vibe and the promise of crab cake eggs Benedict. The quirky breakfast joint was obviously a favorite of both locals and out-of-towners. We found the wait staff to be friendly and welcoming – full of good suggestions like cinnamon-soaked French toast topped with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips that melted into a creamy sauce when they served it to our table. Dee-lish.
Tip #2: Walk to the Aquarium.
If possible, park at the wharf and walk to the Aquarium. Why? Because the Aquarium gives you a peek behind the curtain so to speak for all the sea life in the Bay, and walking there will offer you a chance to see otters, sea lions, and other sea creatures from afar before learning more about their habitats.
The route also takes you by beaches and parks, along with informational markers that guide you through the history of the area.
You’ll also pass right by Cannery Row, once an avenue of bustling sardine factories that’s been turned into a shopping and food district. Ghirardelli ice cream sundae, anyone?
Tip #3: Get to the Aquarium early. And late.
On average the Aquarium greets 1.8 million visitors a year. 1.8 million! Meaning no matter what day you go, there will be a crowd. One strategy is to get to the Aquarium as close to opening time as possible, 9:30 a.m. And hey, you’ll be up anyone after having breakfast at a local spot, right?
Prioritize the exhibits you most want to see first. For example, if your kids are set on touching a bat ray, head to that touch tank area first.
Keep in mind, you can enter and exit the Aquarium by getting your hand stamped when you leave. After a few hours exploring, take a break, go get some lunch and then come back later in the day to hit any of the exhibits you didn’t have a chance to see before. Or, if some of the exhibits were particularly crowded, try checking them out again.
Tip #4: Don’t expect to see everything in a day.
There are almost 200 (yes, 200!) galleries and exhibits at the Aquarium. All the exhibits add up to more than 35,000 sea creatures and plants representing about 550 species. Whew! That’s a lot to see. Our strategy was to visit all of our family’s can’t-miss exhibits first and then meander through all the larger exhibits, such as The Kelp Forest and The Open Sea.
Tip #5: Get Aquarium texts during your visit.
Opt to receive text alerts when you’re in the Aquarium so you’ll know about everything from Octopus feedings inside to a heads up that dolphins are swimming past outside.
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