Monterey’s most mesmerizing experience is its enormous aquarium, built on the former site of the city’s largest sardine cannery. All kinds of aquatic creatures are featured, from kid-tolerant sea stars and slimy sea slugs to animated sea otters and surprisingly nimble 800lb tuna. The aquarium is much more than an impressive collection of glass tanks – thoughtful placards underscore the bay’s cultural and historical contexts.
Every minute, up to 2000 gallons of seawater is pumped into the three-story kelp forest , re-creating as closely as possible the natural conditions you see out the windows to the east. The large fish of prey are at their charismatic best during mealtimes; divers hand-feed at 11:30am and 4pm. More entertaining are the sea otters, which may be seen basking in the Great Tide Pool outside the aquarium, where they are readied for reintroduction to the wild.
Even new-agey music and the occasional infinity-mirror illusion don’t detract from the astounding beauty of jellyfish in the Jellies Gallery . To see marine creatures – including hammerhead sharks, ocean sunfish and green sea turtles – that outweigh kids many times over, ponder the awesome Open Sea tank. Upstairs and downstairs you’ll find touch pools , where you can get close to sea cucumbers, bat rays and tidepool creatures. Younger kids love the interactive Splash Zone , with interactive bilingual exhibits and penguin feedings at 10:30am and 3pm.
To avoid long lines in summer and on weekends and holidays, buy tickets in advance. A visit can easily become a full-day affair, so get your hand stamped and break for lunch. Metered on-street parking is limited. Parking lots offering daily rates are plentiful just uphill from Cannery Row.
