Take a Trip Under The Sea at Monterey Bay Aquarium

We loved the variety of fish, anemones, jelly fishes, corals and cute otters. Pretty amazing! I also saw a hammer shark, many leopard sharks and giant sea bass, tuna fish. Many places for kids to play, plenty of restrooms, a restaurant. We really enjoyed spending time with our 1 year old.

Absolutely incredible aquarium! I’m so grateful that I just got to visit for the first time in my life and it certainly won’t be the last! You get to experience a sense of child-like wonder getting to see new creatures and ecosystems up close that you may never have the chance to experience otherwise. There is such a beautiful variety of creatures, each and every one seem so happy and healthy (I know I would be if I could live here!). The attention to detail and care for the natural world is truly amazing. There is a beautiful balance between the history and hope for the future with acknowledging the area’s unique history and incorporating technology in helpful ways. All the staff we interacted with were incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and passionate. The experience is certainly worth the price of admission and it is easy to spend all day here then not want to leave!

This place is AMAZING! I think this is my favorite aquarium I've visited. It is pretty expensive for admission, however I think it's totally worth it! There are so many neat exhibits with amazing animals in them. There are so many different species of fish and massive tanks. You can watch them forever because it's so mesmerizing! The Jellyfish area is so cool like I could just watch them forever. Pro tip, go check out and vibe with the Jellyfish before they close - there's no crowd! The outdoor bay observation area is so unique too! Near sunset time, there was a group of sea otters swimming around eating crabs. Employees let you borrow binoculars to watch them! For parking, we were staying in downtown Monterey so we took a $2 (one way) bus to the aquarium! Beats finding and paying for overpriced parking. It can get pretty crowded and stuffy in there so be mindful of which day you go!

The Monterey Aquarium has always amazed me, and our most recent visit with my two children, aged 2 and 11, was no exception. It was a wonderful experience that reminded me of the joy and serenity I feel every time I visit and observe the underwater world. No matter how many times I’ve been here, I always find myself wanting to return again and again. This visit was truly magical for our family. The kids were absolutely thrilled, and we saw so many fascinating exhibits. One of the highlights was stepping out into the open courtyard, where we were able to enjoy breathtaking views of the ocean. To our delight, we even spotted dolphins diving in the distance! Despite being short on time, we chose to visit the aquarium over the beach, and it was absolutely worth it. One thing that stood out this time was how quickly we were able to get inside. On all my previous visits, I had to wait in a long line to buy tickets, but on this particular day—a Saturday in the middle of the day—there were only a couple of people ahead of us. It made the experience even more pleasant and stress-free. However, it’s important to note that, like many public attractions, the aquarium can get very crowded on weekends. If you’re looking for a quieter experience, visiting on a weekday might be a better option. The Monterey Aquarium never fails to create a memorable experience, both for kids and adults. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a unique and peaceful way to connect with marine life. It’s an unforgettable experience every time!

This aquarium is really a neat experience with lots of beautiful scenes, inside and out. There's an excellent sardine packing museum section... for when you tire of watching otters and live fish. We really enjoyed the deep sea sections, but you really can't go wrong looking at the variety of fish, birds and art.