May 15 2026 in La Jolla California is Birch Aquarium. Took my Dad and mom and brother to Birtch Aquarium. This Aquarium is amazing and wonderful. The staff are alwqys professional and polite. They alwqys greet you . And help if you need it. My dad loves the sea horses I live the sea dragons. And black and white clown fish It was some what busy today but we were able to visit and we all had fun and got to see some amazing fish and sea life. Thank you to all the Birtch Aquarium staff. I highly recommend them and I will be back read more

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I had a wonderful visit in April 2026, if you get the tickets online and go in the afternoon you get them for a big discount. I had so much fun, the penguins were delightful. I didn't get to see the octopus awake I hope to next time. Going in the afternoon, you avoid the school field trips, which gives you space to see the aquarium. It was my first time visiting, and I will be back. read more

Birch Aquarium at Scripps surprised me--it's smaller than I expected (those YouTube walkthroughs lied ) but honestly, it's adorable. The real magic? The outdoor seating with ocean views. Perfect spot to sip, snack, or sneak in a little reading while soaking up the breeze. There's even a cute kids' play area if you're into little humans learning and giggling. The café is small but mighty--the food was actually really good, and eating outside makes the whole place feel sunny and relaxed. Holiday visit = crowded, and parking = a test of patience, but still worth it for the vibes, views, and a touch of aquarium magic. read more

I used to come here in college and recently had the time to go the other week. I just love the seahorses here. They're so unique and I even got pictures. The aquarium also has a beautiful view of the sea as well. You have to come here and check out how wonderful it is here. This place can get pretty crowded even on a weekday. read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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I had visited on a Saturday to do the Animal Crossing Stamp Rally! We paid a pretty penny to be here and felt as if the event was lacking. It was hot and we had to park down the hill in a separate parking lot. It was ridiculously busy because of the event, which we expected as much. We walked to the entrance, and it was also a very long line. Once we entered, we were given a stamp book, though it wasn't a book, it was a card. Collecting the stamps around the aquarium was easy, but going through people was not easy. It was overcrowded and it had a big stench of body odor, especially near the jellyfish area. We couldn't take the photos we wanted nor could we see the characters around the aquarium. Because of the people, we couldn't spend time looking at the critters either. The only area that we could enjoy was the outside area overseeing the beach. We were able to touch some anemones and snails. Don't get me wrong, I love the aquariums and supporting them, but this review is mainly for the ANCNH Event. We've also been to this aquarium before and I adore it. We'll have to be back to enjoy our time seeing the animals. read more

Birch Aquarium - Animal Crossing Stamp Rally! - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

Very cool, no need to spend the whole day there, maybe up to two hours. The tanks were impressive with a cool variety of animals!!! There's cars that park early on in the sidewalk, but we were lucky to get into one of the lots nearby that offer a complimentary 3 hour parking. There's a Birch Aquarium x Animal Crossing tour collab going on, so ontop of my first time experience here, I was able to enjoy the exhibits. Lots of interactive ones where you can touch with your hands. Lots of kids' activities and the Animal Crossing tour provided some fun character photo-ops and some cute meet-and-greets with the characters!!! They kept the lines for the character pics going pretty efficiently. Pretty great activity to do in San Diego. read more

Birch Aquarium - Balcony view - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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I'm writing a review after they finally finished construction on the right side of the aquarium. The new wing is incredibly well built with plenty of unique exhibits. I particularly liked the jellyfish tanks, giant pacific octopus tank, the giant clam/mussel/spiny lobster tank, and the huge tank with the giant bass. I think I spent nearly 2 hours alone and the left wing was closed for construction. The penguin exhibit is also a cute little outdoor bird pool where they all gather and flop around. I also came during their animal crossing collaboration and it was nice having some blather screens for explanations as well as a gulliver plush in one of the beach exhibits. Overall, it was a fun experience and I can't wait for the left wing to finish construction. read more

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I came here for the Animal Crossing New Horizons Collab! However I have been here a few times in the last year. So this is my overall review. The remodel is really stunning. I love how each tank/display is set up so you see a different part of the ocean. There's reef, deep water, tropical waters, shallows, and so much more. The fish and tanks are well cared for and stunning! Each time I've been it's very clear the animals are well cared for, as are the facilities. They have gorgeous fish, invertebrates, turtles, rays, sharks, and penguins! The ACNH collab was super cute! Lots of themed displays and themed information through Blathers. I hope to see more fun collabs in the future. read more

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Birch Aquarium is currently hosting an Animal Crossing event, which is the reason why I stopped by with some family to check it out! The aquarium has its own designated parking lot, but they did have to open up additional overflow parking lots due to the popularity of the event. Inside, it is smaller compared to other well known aquariums as it is meant to be more educational. Overall, there was still a lot to see and tons of cool aquatic wildlife to learn about. We also went during the Animal Crossing stamp rally which added some additional things to do in our visit. Definitely stop by before the Animal Crossing event ends! read more

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I've visited the Birch Aquarium a few years ago but this month I visited for the Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour event. The weekend I attended was the stamp rally! We went in about an hour before it began so we got a chance to view all the exhibits before the crowd but as soon as it hit 12, the aquarium was so full. Beyond what I believe it was to be safe. I did end up tripping due to the heavy crowds. There are ledges/stair on the exhibits for the children to see but when you have a huge crowd in the halls, getting pushed around, it ends up a big tripping hazard in the dark. I would give the feedback to implement more crowd control to avoid a bigger accident since it is dark inside and there simply wasn't enough room for the people in line to do the stamp rally and those who wanted to view the exhibits. Other than that, we had an amazing time and plan to come back! read more

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Cool aquarium in La Jolla! Half off admission for museum month in February makes it a great experience ($17ish for a weekday). As others have pointed out, don't come expecting a massive space and experience like in Monterey. However, do expect an outstanding view of the coast and a delightful time. We also happened to come during the Animal Crossing collab, which added cool graphics to the informational screens. Everything was well labeled and we enjoyed seeing the variety of marine life. Parking was crowded, but there were spaces. Staff was knowable and fellow patrons were all friendly. The facilities were clean. read more

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As someone who has traveled all over the country and visited many museums, zoos and aquariums, this is one of the most disappointing aquariums I've ever been to. Thank GOD I went and tickets happened to be 50% off for February museum month. Parking is an absolute NIGHTMARE. If you insist on coming, come at the beginning of your entry time slot or sooner so that you can circle the small parking lot like a vulture hoping to snag a spot. The street parking requires SD specific paid permits and you WILL be ticketed if you park in those spots. The aquarium itself is tiny and about HALF of the exhibits are just little alcoves with screens and seating so you can watch underwater recordings. Otherwise it's just fish and seahorses and 6 penguins. The view from outside is incredible, but you will be distracted from it by screaming children because the outdoor play area for children overlooks the water. The only reason it deserves one star vs zero stars is because it IS a non profit and those funds go to education and oceanic wildlife care and funding. All in all, we walked through in about 30 minutes and I have quite literally had a better time at PetSmart. read more

Birch Aquarium - View from the back area - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

What a delightful way to spend a couple of hours esp with children. They have several good exhibits plus a water table on the outdoor patio which is always a big hit with kiddos. I really like both the penguins and seahorses. We went as part of the city pass experience so I didn't really check the cost to enter so I can't speak that. read more

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Arrived at 1 pm on a Thursday the walk from parking lot is alittle long but parking is free . What a beautiful location you are surrounded by ocean views . The aquarium is well kept and they offer food right outside which is reasonably priced.they also have Starbucks drinks . Coming at 1 pm we saw a lot of school kids leaving which was perfect since a it's not super big and can easily overcrowded. Everything was nice except for the penguin encounter the water was filthy poor guys . read more

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Arrived at Birch Aquarium at the perfect time and it was free for the Big Exchange. Learned about the 26 yo sea turtle with a prosthetic back shell who was found in Jersey. She's a Jersey girl! She stared at me straight in the eyes for a long moment. It was awesome! People were surprised by it. But I've had a similar experiences with an orangutan and serval at the zoo. Then learned about the smallest penguins called little blue penguins. It was so educational and fun watching them get fed. And my favorite was seeing the sea dragons for the first time! Straight out of Dr Seuss! Amazing! read more

We heard good things about Birch, and was hoping it'll be like the Dallas Aquarium or Monterrey. It was a bit of a let down with the size, still something to do with your little one though. It's $40ish for adults and free for 2 and under. You can do the whole thing in less than 30 minutes. For the price, I would say it's not really worth it but something to pass time if you're a local and have a toddler. We got memberships because it'll pay itself in 3 visits. The view is beautiful. They have some cool fishes, penguins, and an interactive tide pool where you can touch starfish, sea cucumber and others sea life. Pretty cool. My toddler son loves it because it's not too overwhelming, but we just wish they had more exhibits so that we can spend more time here. Just thought it was a big aquarium. Free parking for 3 hours. The food in the front isn't too bad. The pretzel was really gourmet. The sandwiches were ok. Lots of tables and chairs to enjoy the food. read more

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I purchased my first family membership here postpartum. He was tiny at the time, and we ventured out around 3 months as postpartum for us was difficult. Birch wasn't too big however it was nice for our son L. (We're a family of first names beginning with L). Plus it was nice to just walk in instead of having to reserve a time. There also is plenty of parking, we never had any trouble find a spot when we came. Our son L would gaze at the exhibits in awe and surprise, to see all the fish swing by and was quite intrigued. The aquarium isn't too big, but it's definitely nice to go to when it's super hot outside or raining. We have continued to visit this past year, and it is a treat for him to stumble around as he started walking. The new exhibit, Living Seas that opened up recently this summer is definitely a nice addition. It's cool to see all the sea animals like the octopus! One perk is that in May there is Museum Month where you can use your membership towards another museum on the list. We ended up using it to check out the Children's Discovery Museum in Escondido and also the Fleet Center in Balboa. We will continue to drop by here often until our son is no longer as interested when he gets older. There are some interactive things to outside, however he's still too young to understand the water is not to splash and play around in when we were trying to show him a starfish. read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

Birch Aquarium is a cute aquarium, especially for families. Adult prices are about $40 a person. Parking is free. For the price you'd hope it would be a little bigger though. Easy to maneuver around. Vast array of fish , jellyfish, and other sea life. Checkout the outside views, good location! read more

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We went here after visiting La Jolla cove, it is just a few minutes drive. The aquarium is on the small side but the view of the ocean from the entrance is spectacular. There are just a couple of big exhibits: penguins and sharks/rays. Tickets for adults cost $39.95, but if you order online in advance (you pick your entrance time) the price is $34.95. And, if you choose to enter at 3:45-4pm, the price drops to $29.99 online. The aquarium closes at 5pm. I wish we had done this because one hour is plenty of time to see everything. The kid enjoyed it so it was worth the time and money, but it is not something that you can return to over and over. Parking is free. There is a good gift shop and I was amused to see that a lot of the stuff is from China so I thought of Mr. Trump and his tariffs. read more

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TLDR: Disappointed by the Animal Crossing collaboration, but okay about the penguins and fish overall For a Thursday morning, the parking lot was surprisingly jam-packed. After circling around for a bit, we did manage to find one spot that was still a bit of a walk away from the entrance. The good news is that parking is free. When my friends and I first heard that there was going to be an Animal Crossing collaboration here at this aquarium, we were so excited that we cleared our schedules and got our tickets online. Tickets are about $35. We are big fans of the game and had seen videos of this collaboration with other aquariums. The videos definitely raised our expectations too high. Let me just say now that this aquarium was not worth the 2.5 hour drive down from LA. I can see on their website that a few of the collaboration events are only offered on very specific days and times like the stamp rally (2/21-2/22 and 3/7-3/8), character meet and greet (3/13-3/15), and game night (3/12 from 6pm-8:30pm), which is really such a shame. What that tells me is that anyone who buys a ticket can only experience ONE or NONE of these things during their visit. The game night is also a separate ticket since visiting hours normally end at 5pm. The things that are available daily are sadly not very good. The "themed signage throughout the aquarium featuring animal descriptions presented by Blathers" was nothing more than a couple of tablets with an option to read one sentence about one fish in the tank. While the advertising is not technically wrong, it was disappointing. If the aquarium is missing that many fish from the game, then maybe it should have just printed out its own descriptions for the fish and slapped it on a speech bubble from the game. Alternatively, it could just not participate in the collaboration at all if it doesn't have any of the fish from the game and can't do it justice. I will give them some credit for the few photo opportunities throughout the aquarium with these cute character standees and single Gulliver doll. They did help make the aquarium a little more on-theme. My final complaint about this collaboration is with the gift shop. The small table of merchandise included a few unimportant characters, some clothes for children, a few small Lego sets, and one sticker book. I actually think the sticker book wasn't too bad. I just think that the store should at least carry SOME of the main characters. I will now talk about the aquarium in general. I'm not sure why there is a single kookaburra bird out by the entrance, but it was pretty cute. The penguins were also very cute. I loved seeing them swimming around. It was probably my favorite exhibit. The fish tanks looked well-maintained with interesting descriptions as well. I think I learned a few cool facts, which is always nice. The lighting was kind of dark in some parts though and I could not read the words at all. I also enjoyed seeing all the manta rays and sharks outside in the patio area. I didn't know manta rays could be that big, so I was thoroughly impressed by them. Oh, I also liked how each tank has a step stool. That's such a thoughtful idea. It seems like a new area is being added to the aquarium as well. It looked like it was about amphibians. Overall, I think the aquarium is fine. It's small, but it has some charm to it. Many of the exhibits are tailored to children, which isn't bad, but adults are being charged more to go to this, so it would have been nice to keep adults in mind too. I do think they should work on improving their collaboration experience some more if they plan to do this with Animal Crossing or any other entity again. I probably would not come back just because it's kind of far. read more

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came to visit the Animal Crossing collab with this aquarium! this particular aquarium is a bit tinier so you can finish within 1-2 hours. a few spots were under construction. the pathing was a bit confusing -- we somehow kept going the opposite way from the flow of traffic. they had very cute nods to animal crossing, would've been cuter if they played the music around the aquarium! read more

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Get your ticket on Groupon and you'll save about $10 :) Parking was very convenient and easy! Free parking for the first 3 hours on a Sunday. read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

What an absolutely lovely day at Birch Aquarium. Perfect for the family or a date with that special someone. Walking around you realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. We think the world revolves around us but in reality we are just a small drop in the ocean. The actions we take though can cause ripples or waves for those around us. Be a positive force and Birch Aquarium provides action steps to help make our world a better place. read more

Birch Aquarium - Sea Turtle - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This is a great way to spend an afternoon. The Exhibits are easy to get to and the sea life is well taken care of. It's actually quite hard to maintain a huge Salt Water Aquarium Tank and these are all Salt Water. Then , I consider how to feed all the individual appetites. It must consume a team just for those two parts. The afternoon was a delight. We were there about 3 hours including a delicious Hot Dog break. read more

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The aquarium is on the small side, but the kids enjoyed seeing the blue penguins, tide pool exhibits and sea horses. We spent a bit over an hour there. We purchased tickets at the gate which ended up being around $40 each. read more

Birch Aquarium - Oarfish - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

I chose to stop by here on a whim while visiting San Diego! I came by myself and was able to get a discount on my ticket with EBT so I think it made the experience more worth. I'm not sure how much a ticket for an adult would've been without the discount. I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived. I've been to several aquariums before, most of them huge with lots to see. I will say, this aquarium is smaller than I expected, but also not the smallest aquarium I've ever stepped foot in. Walking through the entire place (inside and out) only took me around an hour to an hour and a half but I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. It was super busy when I went (Saturday afternoon) and there were TONS of families with small children. Many aspects of this aquarium did feel to be catered towards kids and there were many activities the place offered for children so I think this would be a better place to bring young ones rather than adults. Overall, I had fun. I'm glad I took myself but I would say this is definitely better for the little ones! Still worth checking out at least once, especially if you can get a discount on tickets. read more

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If you've never been to this aquarium, you're not missing much. It is very small, and extremely overpriced. There are maybe 3 memorable exhibits, which are the penguins, the (rescued) sea turtle, and the octopus. There are a couple of touch tanks outside, with a total of about 4 areas inside to explore. We took our time, and still struggled to make the experience last about an hour. This place is definitely geared more towards younger kids, my 9.5 year old was a little too old for most of the activities they offered aside from the touch tanks. Great views of La Jolla though, but not worth the price in my opinion. read more

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I hate to add bad reviews, but giving this place a three was a stretch. The parking lot was under construction, and it was hard to find a place to park after we parked. We walked to the aquarium and a good share of the outside also was under construction. I was surprised at the admission cost which of $39 per person, but assume the inside would be amazing. It was the smallest aquarium that I've ever seen in my entire life. You could get through the whole thing in about 15 minutes, very few sea life. And the penguin area was beyond sad. If you're looking to see animals, I would definitely recommend SeaWorld I would take this place off your list because it's just not worth the money. It took more time to get parked and walk there than it did to make my way through the aquarium. read more

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I love aquariums, and had to make a stop at this one while in San Diego. Didn't really interact with any staff, but I did see and hear them interacting with other customers explaining the exhibits. All of the creatures were super active which makes me think (and hope) that they're happy and well cared for. We got to see an Octopus moving around her tank which was really cool and other aquariums I've been to, they don't really move around. This is a very small aquarium. I did notice trash on the floor which isn't great. Parking is free for 3 hours. Tickets are a few dollars cheaper if you buy online in advance. read more

Such a wonderful experience! Very hands on and fun-educational, more than any other aquarium I've ever been to. I love that each station is run by the students. Even though it was under construction at the time, still so many exhibits to check out. read more

4.2 Stars First time visiting Birch Aquarium in La Jolla with our 5-month-old and it was a hit, for him and us! Parking is a bit scarce, especially on busy days (and yes, even on a Thursday, it was packed). There were a couple EV spots on Level 1 with ChargePoint for fellow electric vehicle drivers, which was a nice bonus. Inside, the aquarium is beautifully done, very educational, interactive, and still tons of fun. It's definitely geared toward families, so expect lots of kids and strollers, and yes, it can get pretty loud at times, but that just comes with the territory. The views of the La Jolla bluffs are stunning, don't skip the back deck or outdoor exhibits! There's a small snack area and I saw someone devouring a giant pretzel. I asked, and he confirmed it was "worth it" if you're in the mood to carb load mid-aquarium. Also appreciated the unique eco-friendly souvenirs, a lot of items were made from recycled plastic, including sea creatures and sharks. Our little guy grabbed one off the shelf (classic move), and we left $39 lighter but with a new favorite toy that he proudly fell asleep with in the car. All in all, well worth a visit, especially for families. Just come early, bring patience for the crowds, and maybe leave room in your bag (and budget) for a surprise toy or two read more

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In our recent three generations family vacation, the highly recommended Birch Aquarium was the highlight of the week. Everyone in our party of 6 adults and two kids had a wonderful experience in this wonderfully designed top tier aquarium. One suggestion is either arrive as they open, or plan on extra time to find parking as their official lots fill quickly. read more

Went here last year during winter break on our San Diego trip. We weren't going to go here initially because it's such a small aquarium, but we went anyways. So worth it because I think this is the only place in California with fairy penguins. The other parts of the aquarium was well organized and pleasant too. Just look at these cute lil penguins, that alone was worth the money and time to go. read more

Birch Aquarium - cute fairy penguins! - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This is a must stop if you are visiting La Jolla. It's not your typical big aquarium, but a good visit for about an hour or so. Many great fishes, penguins, sharks, jellyfishes, and much more to see. Very unique spot which overlooks the beach and ocean. We did visited on a busy day, so was a bit chaotic. Parking was easily accessible without any hassle. They do offered food, snacks, and drinks for purchases outside the aquarium so you can enjoy with your friends or family. read more

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Have lived in SD most of my life and just went to the birch aquarium for the first time in October and fell in love. I can't believe I had never been before. It's small and you can see everything in about an hour or so but great for little ones to explore and they have some interaction tables too for them. read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

The Birch Aquarium is perched on the La Jolla coast, with a beautiful view of the ocean and the dramatic coastline. There are some one of a kind exhibits here, like the oarfish, which is kind of creepy in a good way and worth lingering over. I also loved the penguin exhibit, the tactile "touch tank" exhibit (where you can touch sea urchins, rays, etc,) and watching the scuba diver feed the fish. I loved spending time looking at all the various fish and sea creatures. The reason for the 4 star (vs. 5 star) rating is the aquarium is on the small side when compared with more dramatic aquariums elsewhere (eg. Long Beach Aqarium of the Pacific). It's also a bit on the pricey side too. But definitely worth a visit. read more

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The Birch Aquarium at Scripps is a nice aquarium. It's not very big or robust like the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, but it is exceptionally well-maintained and provides a genuinely pleasant, intimate atmosphere for its visitors. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and passionate, always ready to answer any questions you might have. A visit to the penguin exhibit is a absolute must-see, especially if you can catch their feeding time! Keep up the great work, Birch Aquarium! You guys rock. :) read more

I visited during a Friday morning and it was surprisingly pretty busy! There were a lot of exhibits to check out and keep the attention of the young and old alike. There were both indoor and outdoor exhibits and I enjoyed seeing the different marine animals. They had a few shows throughout the aquarium as well. I was here for work, but it seemed like everyone was having a great time and the workers were all very pleasant and nice! read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

We loved visiting the new Living Seas exhibit which was perfect for families with young kids. It's an easy way to spend a few hours learning and exploring. There's parking on-site, clean bathrooms (always key), and a little café where you can grab drinks and snacks to bring inside. (Pro tip: the coffee comes in a Coca-Cola cup, which feels odd... but it gets the job done!) Highlights for us: touching the sea cucumbers, spotting seahorses, and watching the octopus do its thing. A fun and educational outing that kept our 7-year-old fully engaged. read more

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Birch Aquarium is part of UCSD oceanography research and education. It's on the smaller side, but perfect for school age and younger children. It's not an overwhelming experience and one can easily see all the exhibits and explore all the aquarium has to offer. We went on a Thursday and there were lots of school groups - the kids were having a fun time running around with their clip boards for a scavenger hunt of sea life facts. The free parking lot is small and one lane, so depending on the time you arrive you'll have to be patient. There was a backed up line when we arrived because someone was waiting for a car to leave and was blocking everyone else. Probably waited around 5 minutes. But if you can get a spot in that lot it's very close and convenient. I suggest buying tickets online- you'll save $5 a ticket and guarantee entry- you'll pick a 30 minute arrival window. Depending on how busy (capacity) walk ups may not be accommodated unless you're a member. A perk is February is museum month in San Diego and I was able to get 50% off after downloading a free museum month guide and locating their discount code. The aquarium has an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla Shores from their hilltop outside area which features tide pools. The exhibits include a living sea gallery where you can view life under the pier and a large pacific octopus ( he or she) was amazing. Sea dragons and sea horses. I have never seen a sea dragon (Australia) - very unique and cool looking. Little blue penguins in an outdoor environment where there also is an amphitheater. They walk sooo cute. Shark and ray exhibit located in a separate tank outside of the aquarium main building. There is also an oarfish exhibit-a preserved 11 ft oarfish found off the coast of Southern California in 2024. I love the ocean and its creatures, so it was a good experience while visiting San Diego. The aquarium also has a food area and gift shop. read more

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