As a San Diego local I was looking for something to do on a rainy, gloomy day and decided to check out the Birch Aquarium. It overlooks La Jolla beach and is located right outside of UCSD. I am used to bigger aquariums and wanted to see larger sea mammals so I was a just a tad bit disappointed with how small it was. However, If you're looking for the big fish then Seaworld would be a better option. We managed to see everything in an hour time. Although it was small, it was still very enjoyable. If you're looking for a short fun activity to do without breaking the bank this might be it. Parking is free. Tickets to the aquarium are around $20 for adults and cheaper for kids and they also offer discounts (students, military, etc.) The concession stand outside the entrance sells food and beverages for a very low price compared to your average theme park. read more

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Its so tiny. Just very underwhelming. Apparently they have sea turtles; we couldn't find them . Went with a dozen family and we all just kept wondering where the big tanks were or where the rest of the aquarium is. read more

Highly recommend doing Ocean Nights! Although, try to show up early as there is traffic to get into the parking lot. I loved catching the sunset outside on the balcony part of the aquarium and the DJ was pretty good. It's an amazing experience and I highly recommend it. It took me a couple of times to book the Ocean Nights event as it sells out quick! read more

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The Birhc Aquarium is an amazing place to visit. I really enjoy aquariums so visiting this one was really fun. There is also so much work that the Birch Aquarium does outside of what we see that I really respect it for that Parking can be a bit difficult on a really busy day(weekends) but it is always manageable. It is a bit of a smaller aquarium so it does tend to get crowded a bit quickly. I would recommend going to and attending the Birch at night program. It is a bit costly but I personally think its pretty worth it. There are so many different events and fun things to do there. The food at the event is just okay and the parking can be a little difficult to find but I still enjoyed it. read more

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

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I loved this aquarium. It's definitely smaller than most but the exhibits were phenomenal and vibrant. It's a nice activity to schedule if you have limited time in your day because I believe it only took me a couple of hours to get through everything. The little blue penguins were my favorite but I missed their feeding! Parking is free and there were many spaces available as I booked a time right when they opened. As I was leaving, it definitely filled up so I would recommend booking an earlier time if you can. I would definitely make another trip back! read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Visited San Diego this weekend and wanted to check out birch aquarium. I did see reviews saying this place is small and it indeed is. Positives were that we saw weedy sea dragon in a large tank with lots of them and blue penguins which are a rare find. You can spend 30 minutes and see everything. Negative is that for almost $30 I expected a little more variety but I was able to add to my photography feed. read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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My fond for sea animals grew even bigger after visiting the Birch Aquarium! I felt like a kid on a field trip when I came here. Many families and groups of all kinds came to visit on the weekend to learn about the marine life. Not only is the exhibit all indoors and full of fisk tanks, but there was also an outside patio called the Tide Pool Plaza that offers even more scenery and interactive activities. There's some audio learning and small petting areas as well. I enjoyed my first visit to the Birch Aquarium as it was fun for all ages. It was a good activity to kill some time in the area and see some cool sea animals! They recommend booking your tickets prior to your visits as they cannot guarantee walk ins, but I came as a walk in and was able to buy tickets at the booth. Student discounts ($22.95) are eligible if you bring an id and regular priced adult tickets were $24.95. read more

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

Super easy to get in and park. Entry fee is cheap about $10. Lots of interesting small fish and jellyfish. These kinds of places always entertain me. Lots of touch and feel exhibits. We touched a hard and soft starfish. Touched a sea slug, shark and sting ray. Real nice way to spend a few hours. They're really off the beaten path. I'd never heard of Birch Aquarium, part of Scripps. Now that I've been I reccomend to check it out if you're in the area. read more

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Saturday, 18MAY2024 around 11:45AM. My son and I arrived for some quality dad and son time. We've both never been here and decided to give it a shot. This place did NOT disappoint. We were amazed at all the animals and had a blast. First off, the parking was not bad, decent size for mid to full sized vehicles. There is a cafe for food and drinks, but if you're the big appetite type, eating before and after or even bringing your own food is recommended. For the adults, there's a nice little selection for alcoholic beverages. I've never seen a sea dragon til today and there's plenty of other sea animals/creatures to sea! Lol DOWNFALLS/CONS: THE ONLY downfall is it's not as big as I expected, we took our time and enjoyed every second of it but I do wish it was bigger. I was so excited to see sharks but the shark encounter is very small and dark so couldn't really see much. Overall rating: 8.5 of 10 read more

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So, the main exhibit was under construction. We saw their penguins (cute), and marveled over the seahorses and Seadragons for a bit. We left wanting more. read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

We have been visiting Birch Aquarium on and off for several years and it never disappoints. The exhibits are well maintained and provide ample information. The creatures are fascinating and just awe inspiring. The ocean views from their outdoor touch pools are absolutely breathtaking. We also love sitting down and just watching the kelp sway back in forth and the ocean friends go about their day in the aquarium's large tank. The only downside, when visiting on certain days, the place can get quite busy/packed. We visit maybe 1-2x a year and we would definitely visit again. We paid $84.85 for 2 adult tickets and one child ticket. read more

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We visited here last weekend when the renovated Living Seas exhibit just opened. Tickets increased as a result and was told to get membership beforehand when free passes would no longer be offered. So glad we did it so didn't have to reserve timed tickets. I would recommend to do the aquarium in reverse at opening. Blue penguins exhibit was our highlight to see it without anyone. Most everyone started in Living Seas new exhibit since that is where the guest desk will tell you to start. After the penguins, you can see the shark tank and then we made our way to the sea dragon exhibit and touch tank to see beach and pier. Afterwards we visited the Living Seas exhibit which was amazing to see giant octopus, huge spider crabs, and kelp forest. By 10am, the water table with build-your-own-boat was open so we were able to race boats. By 11am, the water tables were filled so glad we got there early. There are picnic tables and umbrellas for a quick snack break. We then got some souvenirs at the gift shop. We finished this place in 2.5 hours and enjoyed it so much. Parking was full when we left. Best to get here early at opening 9am and there was a line formed by 8:45am. read more

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I made a reservation in advance and had a great time! The aquarium is small, and it took me a couple of hours to walk through the entire area. The staff is super friendly and interactive, especially at the touch pool. The views of La Jolla are also gorgeous. I think everyone should visit at least once, as it's a fun experience, and the aquarium contributes beyond just their displays. There's a large free parking lot with some short dirt trails at the back. read more

If you are into penguins and marine life this is one of the best aquariums out there. We have been to over a half dozen aquariums and this was a standout for many reasons. The location is phenomenal above the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla. The views are stunning from their back porch. The building, paint colors and design elements (teal, earth tones, metals etc.) are very familiar and remind me of the large Hyatt on the east/north side of the freeway in La Jolla so possibly they were built around the same time or by the same company. All displays are so clean with excellent clarity and visuals. The signage at each exhibit is fantastic with clear readability and accurate images and the sea life is IN the tank, not on "break" in nearly every case. The JELLFISH are always cool, and the SEA DRAGON was an unexpected gem to see. The wife thought one looked like a skeleton. Our primary goal was to see my beloved LITTLE BLUE PENGUINS from New Zealand via their "Behind-the-Scenes" tour. Julian was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable and even discussed the links to dinosaurs and brought up other interesting facts on their biology. Our aviarist Kayla was great too. She coaxed a male penguin (Puck) to the behind-the-scenes room via a ball play toy. He was so tiny when compared with her large wadding fishing type boots. I think he is around 2 years old and very cute and was one curious funny chicken. The female (Pink) he was semi-protecting was guarding her egg in a box behind him. Apparently, some babies are due to hatch in a few weeks or so. She showed us the incubators and explained their hatching stages and processes. I used to own a parakeet, so I knew birds "mudded" a lot. There is a sign on property that says these penguins' poo 145 times per day. Yikes! I hope they have Tuck's medicated pads. These little penguins around around 12-14" tall which makes them one of my faves. The blue tint appearance on their feathers is another thing that draws me to them. They did explain that it is the "appearance" of blue given their feather pigment and how light hits them. We especially liked that these tours are limited to a max of 6 people which is ideal. The only con is we could not pet one of the little sea biscuits, but I pretty much expected it with avian flu. Back in the day, I petted King, Emperor, adelie, chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni penguins at Sea World. I think the last time there we did a lab petting of a macaroni (my fave penguin) back in 2005. Ah, the "good ol' days". I guess even with heavy hand sanitizer they cannot allow that any longer for health reasons. The gift shop had some decent offerings but nothing too exciting. A little blue figurine (small) would have been nice. We bought two little blue stuffed small penguins. Thankfully parking is free albeit pretty petite LA sized spots. This place is a real beaut and I highly recommend it. read more

It's a very small aquarium and probably even smaller right now (Nov 2024) because it's under renovation. What it lacks in big fancy exhibits, it makes up for in educational and interactive though. I don't think it's worth the $20+ price BUT it was included in our CityPass so we decided to go. My 4yo daughter's favorite spot was the riveropolis where you get to build your own boat (wine corks, rubber bands and popsicle sticks) and float it down a River. LOTS of toddlers getting very wet sleeves or jackets as they just play with the water. The La Jolla tank had lot of interesting fish including the California halibut which had 2 eyes that are facing up by then it has fins like it should be swimming normally. Apparently it swims like a normal fish at first and then when it develops, it changes and the eyes move and it becomes more of a flat fish. So alien-like! Leopard shark and other stingrays can also be spotted in that tank. The touch pool with sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and sea stars was fun for adults and children alike. I enjoyed it but my daughter was kinda timid around touching them. They also had some little blue penguins with some nice viewing windows that you could see them up close if they come by. read more

I love the aquarium very much because I like all the fish, the penguins were cool, and the stingrays and sharks were nice. read more

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

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I dropped by here the other day while visiting since I had heard good things about this location. Parking can be a little challenging to find but you can't miss the giant whale that's out front. Entry fee is $27 for adults, $22 if you're a college student. Upon walking in you can either go right or left to see inside exhibits or head outside where there is a touch pool with a beautiful view overlooking the beach. The inside exhibits have various fish under colorful illuminating light that highlights some cool fish. I particularly enjoyed seeing the jellyfish which were fascinating. They also had the world's smallest penguins but unfortunately I didn't get to see them swim around. There is also a decently sized shark tank outside but it was a little hard to see inside due to the glare from the sun. The aquarium itself is on the smaller side, you can probably see everything in an hour or so. Overall, a nice aquarium with a decent variety of exhibits and a fantastic view. I can see myself returning again in the future. read more

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Aww I love this nonprofit aquarium. Everyone told me this aquarium was small, so I set my expectations accordingly and I'm pleased to say that it wasn't as small as I thought it would be. At least, it feels like there's a lot to see if you really take your time to see all the different species in the tanks and observe their behaviors. We spent a good amount of time admiring each exhibit. I wish they had more jellyfish, but the types they did have were mostly cool. There's an egg yolk jelly that looks more like an egg white jelly but the others are neat lol. My favorite section was the seahorse/sea dragons area. They had more seahorses than I was expecting. Some other favorites were the baby skate, penguins, the sea turtle that was rescued and given a prosthetic shell, and the giant tank with a bunch of different fish in it and seating to take it all in for a while. I had a really great time. We only paid $25 for two people to get in because it was the last day of February Museum Month. But I wouldn't have minded paying full price either. Awesome date spot! read more

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Had family in town visiting so I wanted to take them to the aquarium. We had a great time. Sad that they had the turtle and octopus exhibit closed but we still enjoyed our visit. read more

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Small and expensive. Not that much to see or do. SIO is a great oceanographic institution, so I'd think it could put a bit more together to enhance the experience. read more

Absolutely perfect afternoon! My favorites were the giant octopus, the giant spider crabs, sea horses, colorful fish and mesmerizing jellyfish! read more

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Great place to bring your kids to keep them busy for a few hours. It really caters to kids, there's plenty of interactive spaces. It's not huge, but they really pack a lot in the small space. I have even been here for a kid party. We have membership and have come often throughout the years. The kids always enjoy it, and our kids are aged 13-4. You can head down the hill and visit the beach afterwards. The snack bar outside has something to drink or munch on, but I recommend packing a snack. read more

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I haven't been to Birch aquarium in years and my daughter-in-law bought me a membership so I could take my grandson. It didn't disappoint. The fish tanks are mesmerizing, and the interactive exhibits are worth the price of admission. We had a wonderful time together and then ate lunch at the restaurant on site. read more

I was so excited to visit however I was extremely disappointed in the overall experience. Many of the display tanks were dark and lacking what was said to be inside. No maps or directions on viewing or the layout of the facility. Staff not particularly helpful. No information on when feedings were. We happened to overhear someone that such things were even available. Penguin exhibit had only 6 penguins. Shark tank dark. You Must have timed reservation. We went on a weekday morning (9:30) and it was over run with loud unruly kids and moms pushing huge strollers. The outdoor tide pool exhibit girl was very nice and informative. I think this place is a research center with public aquarium as an afterthought! Overpriced entry fee for what is actually there. read more

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We visited during construction which is okay because the rest of the exhibits were really cool. Our personal favorite were the seadragons which were incredibly fascinating. I had never seen anything like that before. The seahorses and the penguins were a close second as they were so adorable. We visited the tide pools and got to touch the fish and sea life in there. Although it was an activity targeted for kids, we enjoyed making our own little boats and testing them to see if they can float. They also had a cool projection room that projected sea life and nature which was also pretty cool to walk inside. Cool place and can't wait to visit when they finish their construction! read more

We love coming to this aquarium because there is so much to see, they have the pool area where you can touch some of the sea creatures, and they have an amazing view of La Jolla. They have parking spaces along the side of the hill, you walk down to the aquarium and you can purchase your tickets online. We also like that the aquarium is like a large circle, so whichever way you start, you will have a chance to get to everything. The staff is always so nice and very informative. Definitely recommend for a date idea, for the family, or if you are visiting out of town. Also, can we enjoy their baby stingrays (forbidden ravioli) read more

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This place is great for young kids! My kids loved all the animals and the outside deck with all the game/activities. Great place to spend a couple hours. Cute holiday decor too! read more

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

I visited a year ago, and they were renovating and they still renovating according to a sign i believe. Also there are expeditions starting around 5,600$ to the Arctic and norway related to this place there is a sign outside with link, exedition around novemebr and may. Back to this place they are focused on seahorses penquins and you get to touch some sealife like starfish and plointon. For the price of around 30, per member, its a wuick hour visit also penquins and partnering up and fun. And you get insight to whales and the gift shop has items from the movement of reusiing sandals to shape into animals. Very cool. Lots overpriced though. read more

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This place is a bit on the smaller side, but I always love aquariums. My mum and I wanted to visit San Diego to try out a specific restaurant recommended by a friend, but we also needed to find a way to pass the time. I actually had a work meeting on Zoom just outside the aquarium by necessity. I had never worked at an aquarium before, and never imagined it would be like that LOL. It will still be on my bucket list to actually work AT an aquarium. There are helpful squeegees for the tanks as they appear to develop a lot of condensation. I have never experienced that before but maybe it is to do with the climate and the temperatures the aquariums need to be kept at. We went in the summer and so maybe that was also a factor. I loved seeing the different climates/biomes/habitats represented by the different tanks. I always love to see Cnidaria so it was lovely seeing all the different tanks. There is a dedicated shark tank outside the main aquarium building. There is also a touch pool out in the back. Lastly, there is a blue penguins exhibit, but they were sleeping when we were there. I always believe in supporting local institutions of learning, especially aquariums! read more

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Honestly, the fact I got to pet a shark makes this place somewhere I would come again. My other favorite part was watching the Juvenile Big Skates. Its little legs were soo cute! And I got to see a Sea Lily, which I had never heard of before. Lilies are my favorite flower, so this was pretty interesting to me. The outside space where you can touch creatures is interesting and unique and it has a beautiful view of the city. Good place to drop the kids off for a bit while you sit and relax. Other than these few things, the rest of the place was just a standard aquarium with an expensive gift shop. Solid 3.5 stars, but rounding to 4. read more

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This review is about an event held there and not the aquarium in its normal use. We were all here for my daughter and her fiancé's wedding. The wedding was held outside at their Tide Pool Plaza. The weather was good, so it offered a beautiful background for the ceremony portion. After the ceremony bur before dinner and dancing, we all enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvre out on the Smargon Exhibit Court. The catered dinner was very good and the party after it was fantastic. The whole event staff there did a fantastic job of getting everything ready and set up for the wedding. It's definitely an evening we will all remember and treasure read more

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To me it feels unreasonable to be paying 40 to go to an aquarium to look at algea filled tanks. I have never been to an aquarium that had tanks that looked like this and this one by far was my least favorite. read more

Birch Aquarium - Jellyfish that were consistently getting tangled in eachothers 3 foot tentacles. - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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On a recent trip to San Diego, we had some time to kill and as an avid fan of zoos and aquariums, I really wanted to check this one out. Overall, it was cute. It had a decent amount of different animals (the penguins were super cute) and the views from the deck were amazing. But the price was a bit steep for the size. I think we were in and out in just about an hour. It would probably be best to go with kids so they could spend the extra time and make it last longer but for two adults, I'm not sure it's super worth it. read more

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First I want to say the employees are absolutely amazing, caring and patient. They took the time to answer ALL and I mean ALL of my littles questions. They didn't rush them or send them away. Instead they explained everything in a way 4/5 year olds could understand. Second my littles could have spent the whole day building their own boats/rafts and watching it go down the river. They thought it was the best thing ever. Lastly they enjoyed comparing all the different Seahorses, we didn't realize there were so many. read more

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The Birch Aquarium is a small yet beautiful aquarium located in an amazing spot in La Jolla. It overlooks the beach and you can probably go through it in about two hours or less. There are many interesting, fish and ocean creature specimens to see, from all different types of ocean habitats. The science behind maintaining these giant fish tanks, some which look and function like a small piece of the ocean, is really impressive and quite beautiful. There is a blue penguin exhibit, which are miniature little penguins from New Zealand, that are quite energetic and beautiful in coloration. They also have real science going on here as it is part of UC San Diego's Oceanography Institute and the Scripps Institute, which explore the oceans and document it, so we can better understand the Earth and how it works. Overall, this is quite a fun day trip to make and worth a stop if you are visiting San Diego. read more

Birch Aquarium - Huge octopus! - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Love this place,always fun for the kids. Easy access and plenty of parking,nice break from the beach and sun. Great to get out of the sun for a day. read more

Cool entrance. Nice little fun place to take children. Outside they allow you to pet starfish and a shark. read more

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The parking is free, but it had completely filled up when we arrived around 11AM on a Wednesday in February. There was a line of cars circling around the parking lot. We tried to find a place to park nearby, but all the spots in the surrounding area required a permit. We noticed that in the summer they allow people to park in some of the permit areas, but if it's not the summer, then I don't think there is a legal space to park for a long way (maybe a mile?). The aquarium itself is fine. We were fortunate to be there when the great pacific octopus was being fed, which was very interesting. Other than that, it's a pretty small aquarium. read more

Good place for kids. On the small side and can get crowded. Come first thing in the morning, especially during summer, or they run out of parking. read more

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

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Anyone who reads my reviews will see really quick I have a hard time giving most places the benefit of the doubt. I have no question that Birch Aquarium is a main stay for tourists visiting San Diego. I love the location looking over La Jolla Shores, I did like that they have indoor and outdoor features, but I have to be honest and tell you it was one of the more underwhelming aquariums I've ever been in. Maybe I have been spoiled by going to some larger aquariums in the past, but there really wasn't one thing in the entire place that jumped out at me as a "must see". I will point out that facilities were nice and clean, the staff was friendly, and all those are important elements. On a more positive note, I guess if you have a little kids, they would probably really enjoy what this aquarium offers. Overall, three stars is my review. read more

Birch Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - La Jolla, California