Monterey Bay Aquarium
A Wonderful Place for Families
Text and Photographs by Dawn Bonner
Looking for something special to treat your mom or dad for Mother’s Day and/or Father’s Day? A place, perhaps, where the whole family can go and all find something to enjoy?
Here’s the answer;
Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California. It is the third top family destination in the United States and once you visit–you will understand why.
Recently my parents, my 14-year-old son, and I spent the day there. Each one of us found things to fascinate. And, it’s not easy these days for teens to find things that interest them. It will not disappoint, and I can’t think of a better place for the whole family to spend a wonderful day together and make beautiful memories. Everyone from one to 111 will find something to captures their attention here.
The aquarium had undergone an extensive renovation from the last time we visited. It’s now three or four stories high and amazing. There are two restaurants on location, as well as the gift shop with lots of clever trinkets.
One of the amazing jellyfish at the aquarium.
Photographer Dawn Bonner |
It’s best to arrive when the day starts so you can enjoy all of the feedings and the shows. Grab a brochure to check out feeding schedules and shows. Take a few minutes to sit down with your family and figure out which you would like to see. Then relax and stroll through the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
There is a huge collection of jellyfish with several different kinds. It’s hypnotic in the jellyfish park. It’s as if you’re watching water ballet with the graceful, flowing movement. They have from minuscule to large jellyfish.
There is also the sea otter exhibit where you can sit down while watching the sea otters play and role and frolic.
About the Aquarium
On the border of one of the largest underwater canyons on earth (wider and deeper than the Grand Canyon), it’s surrounded by incredibly diverse marine life. One of the world’s best and largest exhibit aquariums, it’s home to more than 350,000 marine animals and plants, and about 550 species. A three-story, 335,000-gallon tank with clear acrylic walls offers stunning views of leopard sharks, sardines, anchovies, and other creatures swimming through a towering kelp forest. The 1.2-million-gallon Outer Bay tank houses open-ocean life, including yellowfin tuna, large green sea turtles, barracuda, sharks, giant ocean sunfish, and schools of bonito. The Giant Octopus exhibit is also amazing.
Upcoming Events at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
A Cooking Solutions with tickets on sale for the two-day celebration on May 15 and 16th with chefs from around the United States, who teach and share about environmentally sustainable food.
June 6 and 7 is a World Ocean Day celebration with live music, guest speakers, book signings, and auditorium presentations. There will be a family craft room, face painting for kids, and much more.
They also have behind-the-scenes 50 minute tours. You’ll see the aquarium behind the exhibits and interact with the staff.
New Exhibits
Tom Powers with the new 11 pound, 50-year
-old lobster who now calls Monterey Bay
Aquarium home.
Image courtesy Monterey Bay Aquarium |
Puget Sound king crabs on exhibit who have molted to grow a bigger shell.
One day, Tom Powers, was enjoying a beautiful day of diving off the coast of Ventura, California. He caught a lobster weighing 11 pounds. He intended to eat it. Instead, he called Monterey Bay Aquarium. They figure that the lobster is more than 50 years olds. And, now he’s got a new home. Spiny lobsters are estimated to gain 1.5 pounds every 7 years. They think this lobster was shuffling across the ocean floor before Eisenhower was president.
The secret lives of seahorses where you’ll discover their world. The seahorses dance for days, then mate and the males give birth to their babies.
There is also the sandy shore avery, the Outer Bay kelp forests and the giant octopus exhibit.
Daily Activities
A few features daily are Tagging Predators in the auditorium.
Mysteries of the Deep, which is really interesting because you see the deep-sea creatures via the robot submersibles used by the scientists of Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
The jellies show. They been around for 530 million years and are perfectly adapted to survive in the ocean. You get to ask questions and see high-definition footage footage of the jellies.
The Kelp Forests feeding at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., you can watch the diver feed the sharks, the fish, and the other sea animals. The sea otter feeding and training sessions are three times a day 10:30 AM 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM. They last for about 15 minute and you can see how the aquarist speed train. The penguin feeding is at 10:30 AM and 3 PM and the Outer Bay feeding of barracuda, bovina, and tuna.
Visitor Information
Ticket prices for adults, $29.95; three through 12, $17.95; under three-years free. Students and those including those with college ideas $27.95, and seniors 65+ $27.95. There is a military discount. not sure how much it costs but you can go
online and find several different places throughout California and one place in Nevada, where you can purchase your tickets at a discounted rate.
The address is 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, Calif., 93940. Driving directions below the slide show.
Regular hours, 10 AM to 6 PM daily in the summer months. May 26 through September 1, 9:30 AM to 6 PM summer weekends. July 5 through September 1 on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 AM to 8 PM. Holidays 9:30 AM to 6 PM and closed on Christmas Day.
Visitor Tips
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Bring your camera, athey have a pamphlet explaining photo tips from their resident photographer.
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Wear layered clothing, the average temperature is 57° year-round and cools off in the evening even during the summer.
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The aquarium says you’ll find fewer visitors between 2 PM and 6 PM and during the peak summer months Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days to visit.
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The aquarium that has the is a Wi-Fi hotspot.
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You can avoid ticket lines by purchasing tickets online.
Where to Stay
My recommendation is to stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey. Many of the hotels in the area were built in the 60s and look that way when you enter. The sea air makes them musty and ages them fast. Hyatt Regency Monterey has had a multi-million dollar renovation and it is beautiful, quiet, spacious and right now has some incredible deals. Plus, more than likely you will run into Clint Eastwood doing his morning jog or at the Friday night jazz affair at Hyatt Regency Monterey’s Fire Lounge Bar. They also have an Explorer package, which includes two tickets to the aquarium, breakfast daily for two, and a late check-out of 3 p.m.
Memberships
They have a member newsletter called magazine shorelines is online and also in print edition and you can buy membership is different membership levels of benefits and some of the benefits of Friedman said express century exclusive hours discounts on merchandise and programs, but the biggest thing is that you help support their work on saving the ocean and do they have different membership levels from mom. $90 for two seniors and students on up to $250 for separate by separate programs and the nails of Ocean advocates donor circles, where you can spend between $500-$2499, which you with that you give her a condition donor plaque in the aquarium for a geek and a gift of $1000 or more.
Grab your mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, and the children and head on out to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where you create memories to last a lifetime.
Slide Show Please enjoy the slide show for just a few aquarium highlights.
