Visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is perhaps the most famous sight on the Monterey Bay Peninsula. Somehow in my previous trips to the area I failed to visit it and I was determined to not let that happen again. So one morning my sister and I headed out bright and early to spend the day at the aquarium.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located in the heart of Cannery Row and is, in fact, housed in the former Hovden Cannery. I loved that the first thing we saw upon entering was an exhibit devoted to it’s historic past.

We spent quite a bit of time circling the displays and learning about Monterey’s rich history. But soon enough we were headed inside to spend our time with the fishes (and mammals and reptiles and birds…).

I was in awe of all the sea life we saw: hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, penguins, octopi, jellyfish, sea otters and on and on and on. All were displayed in the most amazing way from giant tanks that overwhelmed us to small bubbles that we could fit in and get an up close view.

And so much of the aquarium was interactive with tide pools everywhere allowing direct contact with sea life. Seriously, there’s nothing like touching a ray as it glides by.

We couldn’t miss going outside where we saw the most amazing views of the bay.

Back inside there was even more to see including a groovy jelly fish exhibit and the new Tentacles exhibit highlighting the elusive octopus. There was also a tank housing the stars of a certain Pixar film that we all know and love.