The Monterey Aquarium

Fun With Fish

Probably the best family attraction of the Monterey Peninsula is the Monterey Aquarium. It's big, it's fun, it's educational, it's in a beautiful setting, but cheap it's not.

The Cost To Enjoy This Marvel

Tickets are $29.95 for adults, $17.95 for children 3-12, $27.95 for students 13-17, and for seniors 65 and older, and $27.95 for disabled. Children under 3 are free.

Check here for Monterey Bay Aquarium discount possibilities.

What To See

The Monterey Aquarium features many fine exhibits, over 200 of them. Kids will love walking through the wave tunnel. The Splash Zone exhibit has interactive fun for kids where they might even get wet. There's amazing jellyfish, fun loving sea otters, penguins, sharks and more.

Sea Nettles, Monterey Bay Aquarium Di...

Learn about the Monterey Bay Aquarium great white shark on exhibit.

For souvenirs of your visit, there's the Monterey Bay Aquarium gift shop.

When Hunger Strikes

It's located right down at the end of Cannery Row, making it easy to go browse shops or eat out at one of the restaurants. But the aquarium itself has a really great self service cafe, with inside and outside (bay view) dining. It has healthy and delicious items to choose from. There's also a fine dining full service restaurant open for lunch.

Getting Tickets

You can buy your tickets online at www.montereybayaquarium.org or at the aquarium itself the day you arrive.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Best Time To Come

Since the aquarium is so popular, you might try and come during off season months, or between 2 and 6 on a weekday. My family went at 2:00 on a summer Tuesday and it wasn't very crowded at all. It was more than enough time to enjoy everything, though we barely made it into the cafe in time (it closes at 5, an hour earlier than the aquarium closes). The full service restaurant closes at 3.

They're open 10-6 everyday except Christmas. In summer and holidays, they open half an hour earlier. For more information call 831-648-4888.

Where To Stay

If you want to stay within walking distance to the aquarium so you don't have to drive or park, check out this Monterey Bay Aquarium hotel list.

Monterey Aquarium

Where To Park

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is at 886 Cannery Row. If you're lucky enough to be staying at a hotel within walking distance, leave your car there rather than hassle parking at the Cannery Row parking garage. It's three blocks away anyway.

In summer, there is a free trolley that goes along the waterfront, the aquarium and several area hotels.

Have you already been to the aquarium before? If you brought any kids, what was their favorite thing they saw or did there? Feel free to submit below so others can read about it. (You don't have to give your name or email address unless you want to be notified of when your submission appears live on the site.)