Explore the Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Zagat Survey U.S. Family Travel Guide rated The Monterey Bay Aquarium as the nation’s No. 1 aquarium. With a 28-foot aquarium, 15 species of seahorses and over 45 interactive exhibits in English and Spanish, it’s easy to see why.

A trip to The Monterey Bay Aquarium allows you to experience ocean-life like never before. You’ll go nose-to-nose with a giant Pacific octopus, a leopard shark or a playful sea otter. Join one of the Aquarium’s Daily Activities and watch aquarists feed penguins and sea otters. For an insider’s look, check out the Aquarium Adventures Programs.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Exhibits

Giant Pacific Octopus

The two 11-pound octopuses are often described as the ultimate masters of disguise. The brainy marine sea creatures are often seen playing with aquarist Adam Frantz where they can even open jars to uncover hidden treats inside.

Kelp Forest

As the world’s tallest aquarium exhibit, you can only imagine the types of fish that live in this underwater forest. Holding approximately 333,000 gallons of water, the Kelp Forest is home to the pacific sardine, leopard shark, California sheephead and close to 80 species of seaweeds.

Life on the Bay

Get front-row tickets and discover wildlife from the edge of Monterey Bay. The Aquarium offers many great vantage points to watch the marine animals that dominate the Pacific Ocean such as sea otters, humpback whales, dolphins and much more.

Mission to the Deep

Ever wonder what lies deep on the ocean floor? High-tech tools including high-definition video and underwater robots will give you close at some of the deep-sea animals. The exhibit is also part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Monterey Bay Habitats

Sharks. They might be the most feared predator in the sea-world and they are definitely the most fascinating. Stop by the hourglass-shaped exhibit and learn everything you need to know about the white sturgeon and the sevengill shark.

Outer Bay

The largest exhibit in the world offers you an incredible opportunity to see a scalloped hammerhead shark, a pelagic ray and moon jellies up close. The Outer Bay exhibit is so large it can be viewed from three levels.

Rocky Shore

When the tide washes out, the rocky shore becomes a site of exciting exploration. Learn about various tidal pool creatures with the Rocky Shore gallery and the Touch Pool, and feel the power of waves as you walk through an acrylic tunnel.

Sandy Shore & Aviary

Explore life in Elkhorn Slough, one of the largest coastal wetlands in the state of California. Discover the wetland’s hidden treasures and animals, from foraging sandpipers to bat rays skimming along the sandy seafloor.

Secret Lives of Seahorses

This exhibit offers four multimedia galleries and 15 species of seahorses, one of the nation’s largest collections. Learn everything you need to know about these horse-like sea creatures, including the interesting fact that the males give birth!