Visitors are transported under the sea and given a unique experience at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Southern California residents should take advantage of this renowned learning environment in our coastal backyard.
Learning Experiences
Children learn to love the sea and beaches at such a young age so why not educate them on the ways to help the ocean and environment.
The Aquarium of the Pacific does a stellar job educating all ages about conservation and preservation of our beloved oceans and sea life.
Ocean Science Center
A unique experience to explore and learn about our planet including extreme weather, ocean aquaculture, importance of local seaports such as San Pedro Bay and much more.
Southern California / Baja Gallery
My daughter’s favorite section and main focal spot of our aquarium visits. This gallery includes a journey along the coastline and eco systems from the tip of Baja to Santa Barbara. You can experience the wetlands, tidepools and native habitats of seals and sea lions, jellies, eels and more.
Visitor tip: start your exploration walking the underwater viewing tunnel. You’ll discover why this is our favorite stop in the aquarium as the sea is alive above and around you at all times.
Marine Life Uncovered
What do fish eat? One of the many questions asked by my daughter on our first visit to Aquarium of the Pacific. The answer was uncovered during our exploration of the kelp forest exhibit. The aquarium does such a fantastic job teaching about marine life and the importance of protection for breeding and ultimate survival.
Through interactive displays and tanks it’s a learning environment to peak curiosities and satisfy inquisitive minds.
Shark Lagoons & Stingray Touchpools
My daughter is obsessed with these exhibits but you’ll never see her hand in the water. She refuses to touch the water and instead will watch others use two fingers to properly touch the marine life. She takes it all in and trust me it’s near impossible to get her moving from this area of the aquarium.
The best moments of our visits are spent watching my daughter observe the beauty of these creatures. She is fascinated by their moments, their speed and grace. For me, this is why we come here. She is learning to appreciate the beauty of the sea.
I know her love of the sea will be transferred into a lifetime of caring and protecting nature’s gifts from the sea.
Helpful Links
Ticket prices and annual membership
Hours, directions and general information
Discovering local gems is one of my favorite activities as a mom. I love to explore these finds with my daughter and share with you all. I take it all in and often times find myself learning alongside my daughter.
There is so much more to explore at the Aquarium of the Pacific including the penguin habitat, bird sanctuary and Lorikeet Forests so I encourage you to visit this summer. After our first visit we opted to purchase a family membership…a great investment to learn about marine life.
I’d love to hear about your family adventures! Where are your kids exploring this summer?