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Check Out One of the Tallest Aquarium Exhibits in the World at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Published by Camilla Cheung, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Located in the historic Cannery Row district of Monterey, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the most popular aquariums in California. They have a host of state-of-the-art exhibits that allow visitors to glimpse the ocean like never before. Spectacularly situated right on the bay, the outdoor viewing platforms (one of which is free and located outside the aquarium) are outfitted with free monoculars. They allow you to get a close-up view of the sea otters floating in the beds of kelp near the shore, the rambunctious California sea lions, and fat, spotted harbour seals. The outdoor platforms are just the start of your fascinating journey into the waters of Monterey Bay as you enter the aquarium’s exhibits.

The Open Ocean exhibit is one of the newest features of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and is one of its top highlights. A gigantic floor-to-ceiling glass window allows you to look into one of the aquarium’s largest tanks, which holds a green turtle, a school of silvery sardines, several dome-headed mahi-mahi, sharks, powerful bluefin tuna, and the grotesque and gigantic ocean sunfish. Get to the Open Ocean exhibit for feeding time and you’ll see these amazing marine creatures in action. The school of sardines move as one, swimming in one direction and then another in graceful motion as they gobble up their feed. The Pacific bluefin tuna demonstrate their speed and power, darting to and fro in the tank; while the mahi-mahi turn golden in their excitement; and the more ponderous ocean sunfish follows a target to a designated feeding area. Never have fish been so interesting or so beautiful. Nearby, the extensive jellyfish exhibit showcases these fascinating creatures at their best: glowing, iridescent, and dancing gently in the water.

Another impressive exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the Kelp Forest exhibit—one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world. In this 28-foot tank, special pumps move 2,000 gallons of sea water through the exhibit every minute, creating the waves that enable the kelp to survive. The giant fronds of kelp grow an average of four inches a day, imitating the natural kelp forests out in the bay. Weaving in and out of the kelp are creatures like the leopard shark, the coloyrful garibaldi, several kinds of rockfish, and the giant sea bass.

Visitors who enjoy feathered and furred marine animals will love the sea otter exhibit, which features orphaned and adopted sea otters, as well as the penguin, puffin, and flamingo exhibits. Many of the animals at the Monterey Bay Aquarium were found injured or abandoned, and those who were unable to survive on their own now live in the exhibits.

After a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, you may wish to take a kayak out on the bay to see some of the seals and otters up close and personal. If that sounds like too much work, a stroll down historic Cannery Row is highly recommended.

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When to Go to Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is open throughout the year, although hours are extended during the summer vacation months. Special shows for kids are also best enjoyed in the summer. The vast majority of the exhibits are indoors, although the outdoor viewing platform is the most comfortable during the warmer months of summer and fall. Be prepared for overcast skies, as Monterey is known for being grey.

Odds n' Ends

Admission prices to the Monterey Bay Aquarium are reasonable and comparable to other aquariums of its size. However, due to its location in downtown Monterey, parking is scarce, and most of the parking near the aquarium is metered. Free parking can be found west on Ocean View Blvd near Lovers' Point, about a 10-minute walk from the aquarium on a pleasant trail overlooking the ocean.

More Experiences Nearby

See the Rare and Elusive Condors of California at Big Sur
One of the most well-known sights of Big Sur along the central coastline of California is McWay Waterfall, where a stream of water cascades down an 80-foot sheer cliff right onto a sandy beach. Perhaps the most photographed site, and certainly the most popular image in Big Sur, the little cove is surrounded by majestic views of seaside cliffs, towering pines, and glimmering aqua water. And as if the sight of the landscape of Big Sur was not enough, add to that the possibility of sighting the rare California condor, which has the largest wingspan of any land bird in ...39 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

The Death and Life of Monterey Bay: A Story of Revival

Elsewhere on the Web

Monterey Bay Aquarium website

Media References

Monterey Bay Aquarium's 'Open Sea' focuses on migrations (newspaper)
LA Times

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