The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-see stop along the Pacific Highway for families looking for things to do on their California road trip. Find out all my tips for visiting the sea otters, jellyfish, tide pools and more! Let the Aquarium inspire your child’s curiosity about the ocean through all their underwater exhibits! The following is my list of the best exhibits and kid-friendly portions of the Aquarium.
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Navigating The Aquarium
Let me just start by saying the Aquarium is huge. We wandered aimlessly, which was fun, but I would recommend using this map to navigate a little better than we did! There is also a Monterey Bay Aquarium app you can download which includes a map, feeding times, and much more to help you plan your trip.
The Best Exhibits at Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Open Sea
This is the Aquarium’s largest exhibit and as you stand before it you feel so small in comparison. It has a scalloped hammerhead shark, sea turtles, sunfish, stingrays, and schools of fish all in one. You may be able to catch a glimpse of some of them on their live web cam, but seeing them swim by in such a massive tank in front of you is a whole different experience. This was the one exhibit my friends had to drag me out of because I could have sat there and watched for days! They also have an Open Sea feeding time, so be sure to check the time for that while you’re there!
The Jellyfish
These exhibits all had a stunning, illuminated blue backdrop making the jellyfish in each tank extremely vibrant and easy to see. Each jellyfish had something unique about them, like their distinctive colors based on what they eat. The jellyfish exhibits are mesmerizing to watch, as they gracefully pulse through the tanks. Make sure to check out my favorite jelly, the Comb Jellyfish, while you’re there! The reflection of light off of the Comb Jellyfish produces rainbow colors, in addition to it being a bio-luminescent creature which means it also creates its own light! Luckily, Monterey Bay Aquarium has been able to to successfully cultivate them in order to study their unique characteristics and share this incredible jellyfish with us.
- Travel Trick for Families With Small Children – Put a few glow stick bracelets or necklaces on you and your child. The exhibits get very dark especially when going from a lit portion of the aquarium to the darker areas. There were so many times where my eyes just didn’t adjust properly and I had such a hard time seeing where I was going, let alone trying to find the people I came with. I especially noticed this in the jellyfish exhibit.
Jellyfish 
Jellyfish
Kelp Forest
This tank is one of the tallest in the world and is filled with giant kelp, along with wolf-eels, leopard sharks, an octopus and more. This was a pretty awesome tank because it can be viewed from the 1st or 2nd levels so there is much more space to check it out. If you time it right, you might even be able to watch the divers hand feed the sharks and other fish!
Tentacles – The Giant Pacific Octopus
This smaller tank is easy to miss, but it is pretty neat to see this creature up close. You’ll likely see a small crowd gathered in a corner of the tentacle exhibit. I stood there for awhile watching the octopus suctioned against the glass. Octopus are very smart and can even complete complex problems such as mazes. As it was methodically crawling from one side to the other, it seemed as curious about us and we were about it.
Kid-Centered Exhibits at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Coral Reef Kingdom
This section is specifically geared towards infants and toddlers up to 34 inches tall. There are colorful and sensory objects at their eye level for them to interact with as they crawl about. There is also a waterbed play area for these little ones to play on, mimicking the waves felt when on a boat! It’s never to early to teach your toddlers movement, math, and science concepts!
Splash Zone
The touch pools allow you to get hands on with starfish, kelp, and even a batray if it’s feeling playful. There are volunteers there to help you hold the creatures and learn everything there is to know about what you’re holding. This area got pretty crowded when we were there too, so make sure to have patience as you navigate this area. We didn’t see anything we as adults particularly needed to hold so we moseyed on through, but the kids loved this area and were definitely enjoying the experience!
Sea Otter & Penguin Exhibits
The Sea Otters and Penguin Exhibits were also very popular with the kids! The Sea Otter exhibit is on the first floor as you walk in, and every time we passed it there were always ton of people there. If you plan on viewing a sea otter feeding, I would suggest getting there early so you can inch your way to the front before it begins. You could also try to grab a spot upstairs instead of downstairs to avoid some of the crowd.
Sleepover at the Aquarium
If you’re looking for a unique experience, book a sleepover at the Aquarium! You get to choose from four exhibits to sleep in front of, including the Open Sea, and they have a night filled with activities planned for you! Adults are able to purchase beer and wine for the first part of the evening, and they’ll also serve you breakfast in the morning. This will set you back $125 per person, but sounds like quite a unique experience for the little ones.
Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Monterey Bay Aquarium
Location
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: 831-648-4800
Hours
9:30am-6:00pm
Admission
$49.95 / adult
$29.95 / child 3-12
$39.95 students 13-17 or with college ID
- Travel Trick – If you’re planning on going for more than one day, you’ll want to get a membership to save some money. You’ll also get express entry to the Aquarium if you do this, as well as discounts on the sleepover or special events.
- Travel Trick – If you have AAA, book discounted tickets through their website. The Aquarium does not honor the discount at their main entrance, so you’d have to do this ahead of time.
- Travel Trick – Be sure to book your hotel before you book your Aquarium tickets. Some hotels like the Monterey Hotel have an Aquarium Package that includes tickets in the price. This is a great way to save money and it might even be worthwhile to look into a hotel that offers this, as they are often cheaper that way.
Website/Tickets: montereybayaquarium.org
- Travel Trick – Print your ticket ahead of time to skip the longer line. You are also able to leave and renter as long as you get a stamp by the front doors before exiting. We did the bottom floor of the Aquarium, went and had lunch on Cannery Row, then reentered to do the top floor. This was much more enjoyable for us because we were able to spread our visit out and didn’t feel as rushed.
Aquarium Map https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/-/m/pdf/maps/monterey-bay-aquarium-map.pdf?la=en
Feedings (Only last for 15 minutes)
- Sea Otter 10:30am, 1:30pm, & 3:30pm
- Penguin – 10:30am, 1:30pm, & 3:00pm
- Open Sea, Mysteries of the Deep, – 11:00am & 3:00pm
- Kelp Forest – 11:30am & 4:00pm
Shows (15 minutes)
- Luna: A Sea Otter Story – 11:30am, 2:00pm, & 4:00pm
- Turning the Tide: The Story of Monterey Bay – 11:45am, 2:15pm, & 4:00pm
- Project White Shark – 12:00pm, 1:30pm, & 3:30pm
- Journey to Baja: A Tale of Three Travelers – 12:30pm, 2:30pm, & 4:30pm
- Mysteries of the Deep – 1:00pm
- Albatross Encounter – 1:30pm
- Behind the Glass – 5:00pm & 5:30pm
Food at Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Aquarium has a few places inside such as The Café, Coffee Bar, The Restaurant (reserve through OpenTable), and of course gift shops with snacks. There are also a myriad of places to eat along Cannery Row or the Fisherman’s Wharf (see my review of The Old Fisherman’s Grotto). Remember, you can leave to grab a bite to eat and then re-enter as long as you have the stamp.
Parking
- Cannery Row Lot 7
160 Irving St.
Monterey, CA - Cannery Row Parking Garage
601 Foam St.
Monterey, CA - Cannery Row Parking Lot 21
32 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA
- Travel Trick – If you’re already at The Wharf, downtown Monterey, or even on Cannery row, take the free trolley to get to the Aquarium. Look for the green and yellow MST Trolley signs at these locations. More information about the trolley here!
Place To Stay Nearby
If you’re looking for a place to stay check out my review of The Monterey Hotel – I have a discount code of 35% off for June and July only. Enter ‘Tammy’ at checkout to receive your discount and don’t forget to snag their aquarium package so your entry tickets are included.
I hope you enjoy your trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium! Leave a comment below with your favorite exhibits or tips from your visit!