During the warm and beautiful months here in California, my family can be found at the beach every Friday. We love everything about the beach. We surf, picnic, search for shells and sea glass, build sand castles, and bath in the sun.
But when the weather turns cooler and it’s hard to enjoy a day at the beach, the next best thing is enjoying ocean life at an aquarium! We are so happy to live close to an amazing and fun aquarium. We love heading to The Aquarium of the Pacific!
Aquarium Of The Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific is located in Long Beach, California, the aquarium makes it easy for guests to park and walk to the aquarium. Be ready to discover more than 12,000 animals and more than 100 exhibits. There is truly something for everyone. The aquarium houses ocean life in 3 major galleries.
- Tropical Pacific Gallery – find the most colorful fish and other warm, tropical animals.
- Southern California/Baja Gallery – See giant sea bass, leopard sharks, eels, seals, sea lions and more.
- Northern Pacific Gallery – enjoy sea otters, diving birds, sea jellies, giant spider crabs and more.
An Interactive Experience
One of my family’s favorite parts of visiting The Aquarium of the Pacific is the interactive exhibits. My children (and let’s be honest… my husband and I as well) love getting the opportunity to touch and interact with some of the sea life.
You can touch starfish, sharks, sea anemones, and stingrays! A new exhibit really got us excited. The Blue Moon Jelly Lab allows guests to actually touch a jelly! My kids were a little hesitant at first but once they realized how gentle the jellies are, we spent a long time at this exhibit.
Tips and Tricks
- Arrive Early – Skip the line to get in and enjoy the amazing lobby before it gets busy. Many of the animals are more active in the morning as well.
- Start With The Outdoor Exhibit – Head outside to see the lorikeets, sea lions and touch tanks first. You will avoid the crowds and really get to enjoy your time here
- Check Feeding Times – One of the best ways to get a good look at some of the animals is during feeding time.
- Enjoy a Local Restaurant – the aquarium has a cafe you can grab a bite to eat but you might want to enjoy a local restaurant. You can walk to many great spots. My family personally likes to walk just across the street to Bubba Gump!
- Bring A Stroller – If you need a stroller make sure to bring your own. The aquarium does not have rentals.
- Validate Parking – You can validate parking.
- Pick Up a Visitors Pamphlet – Don’t miss getting a visitors booklet at the front. There are stamps throughout the aquarium to stamp in your book. My kids absolutely love finding them and stamping the right page.
A Great Day
My family always has a great day when we visit The Aquarium of the Pacific. With so much to see and how engaging the aquarium is, your family is sure to have a great time too!
