Beautifully kept, nonprofit, little aquarium. They have a nice selection of sea life with how…read morequaint this place is. They had spots where you were able to interact with some of the animals (we got to pet a shark!) and play a seek-and-find checklist game. Their souvenir shop was cute and we got a magnet and some stickers. Definitely worth a visit.

I was raised in this area and never went to the aquarium so I'm sure you can imagine how excited I…read morewas to take my toddler here for both of our first times visiting this place! The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable! They were so patient with my baby touching a starfish for the very first time. This place is special and I'm so glad we got to experience it together while visiting Avila beach.

Absolutely the best and most knowledgeable fish guy around. Always helpful with a lifelong span…read moreof experience even if your just shopping around and trying to figure out the hobby. Good local guy always helping his local community.

We were relocating from Montecito to Solvang and needed help to move our 30G fresh water tank…read more Although we were out of Mike's service area, he was more than willing to help us with the move. He was amazing - professional and fast. He did a great job! I wish we were in his service area to handle our monthly maintenance! We've had several services and Mike is by far one of the best I've ever used - definitely recommend Mike for any of your aquarium needs!

Had such a fun time at the aquarium! The staff were super nice and welcoming from the moment we…read morewalked in. Everyone was helpful, answering questions and explaining things without making it feel rushed. You can tell they actually enjoy what they do. It's also really affordable, which makes it such a good activity whether you're with friends, family, or on a date. For the price, you honestly get a lot out of it. The best part was definitely the touch tanks. We got to touch sharks, starfish, and sea anemones, which was such a cool experience. Feeling the smooth skin of the sharks and the slightly sticky texture of the anemones was actually so interesting. The staff guide you on how to gently interact with them, so it feels safe for both you and the animals. The whole place has a chill, coastal vibe that makes it really enjoyable to walk through. It's not overwhelmingly big, so you can take your time at each exhibit and actually read about the sea life. There's such a variety of colorful fish and marine animals, and it's fun seeing everything up close. Overall, such a wholesome and interactive experience. Cheap, hands-on, and run by genuinely kind people. Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area.

Very underwhelming and much smaller than expected. My 5-year-old got bored quickly and we were in…read moreand out in about 20 minutes. On the positive side, the staff was friendly and the blue whale replica hanging from the ceiling is pretty cool. We happened to go on a free day, which was great, because in my opinion it wouldn't have been worth paying $17 per adult. Tips for parking: 90 minutes free and $4 per hour thereafter. You can also find parking on the street, but it's a bit tough (typically 90 minutes). Overall, 3 stars. Not terrible, but not something I'd recommend unless it's a free day and you're already in the area.

Took the kids here today and it was 100% worth the 1.5 hour drive from LA. MOXI is super hands-on…read moreand perfect for kids to just explore and play without getting bored. Every exhibit actually keeps them engaged not just looking, but doing. The interactive tables (like the spinning drum and dice games) were a hit. My kids didn't want to leave and kept going back to the same stations. It's also really clean, organized, and easy to navigate even with little ones. Pricing was reasonable for what you get abbout $25 for adults, $20 for kids, and under 2 is free, which is nice. Staff was friendly and everything felt well-maintained. You can tell they designed this place with kids in mind but adults still have fun too. Definitely a solid family day trip spot from LA. Would come back again

I literally planned a trip to Santa Barbara just because my toddler wanted to go back to the Moxi…read more We have a kids museum in our city but she kept saying no the one with the parachutes. I figured out it was the Moxi. I guess it make quite the impression on her last year. The museum had some new exhibits this time around. They added a fun ball launcher that I also enjoyed as well. The water exhibit could use some love. Some of the hydraulic levers was either not working or you had to really work at it. My toddler was not strong enough to use them. One thing I like is that we were able to leave and come back after lunch. We got to make the most if our trip. I'm sure we'll ge back next year.

Yay! I like the look of this place! I hope it will meet my expectations! But I think that maybe I…read morecould live near this place and go there all the time!

From the owner: Aquarium Science is a family owned business that provides residential and commercial aquarium…read moreservices including, custom aquarium installation, fish tank maintenance, aquarium supplies and aquarium livestock for Santa Barbara County. The owner Craig Gutshall is a Santa Barbara native and has extensive knowledge on saltwater aquariums, reef tanks, planted aquariums and freshwater aquariums. Aquarium Science has friendly professional services at competitive rates.

Really great animal park. Some of the animals might need a bit more enrichment, some seemed to be…read morestressed out. Other than that great exhibits and space for them to roam. Really enjoyed every bit The train ride was also fun, kind of wish their was some secret exhibit if you went on the train but still fun nonetheless I bought a t-shirt Would recommend going at least once

FALSE ADVERTISING My…read morewife and I have had some lovely visits to the SB Zoo over the years, but our last one... wasn't. We entered the zoo at around 4pm, and by the time we got to the back to see the lions and gorillas (our favorites), they had been put to bed. We learned from staff that the "superstars" of the zoo (lions, snow leopards, mountain gorillas, etc.), are put to bed at 4:30pm! This meant we'd spent $80 and wouldn't see what we came for. We brought this to the attention of a guest relations staffer who told us it was just bad luck, that they move in and out of their enclosers. The internet revealed the lie, "The Santa Barbara Zoo's lions usually start heading off-exhibit and into their behind-the-scenes holding areas between 3:30 PM and 4:00 PM, though the specific time can occasionally shift depending on the season and the keepers' daily routine." And the zoo's own site says the gorillas aren't visible after 4:30pm! We contacted Tanner, the Guest Experience Manager, and he reiterated the lie. That same lie is repeated on a poster at the entrance, where a picture of a lion at magic hour advertises "Twilight Hours until 7pm" (see attached pic). I cc'd the CEO of the zoo about the matter and received no response. So, go visit the animals, but know that the Twilight Hours is an easily proven con job and the management could use some serious improvement in guest relations.

Overall, this was a wonderful experience…read more It was scary in the beginning because the waves were a little rough. We sat in the front and experienced "flying boat" - as in the boat was rocking so hard it left the water for a bit. Lesson learned for me - in choppy weather make sure to always ride in the back. The Captain was extremely knowledgeable and customer service was flawless. He knew the ocean very well. When he realized we were getting pretty nervous he made sure that the boat stayed in a position that limited the rocking. He kept checking on us to make sure we were doing ok. We saw whales, otters, birds, sea lions, and porpoises. It was amazing seeing them in the wild and they were beautiful. Make sure to dress in layers. It was cold in the beginning but warmer when we were heading back to the dock.

Astounding is not a big enough word to describe our experience with Avila Beach Whale Watching…read moreyesterday. We took the 10:15 AM tour and we found ourselves in the midst of a feeding pod of whales surrounded by a raft of sea lions and hundreds of sea birds. we followed them for about two hours. Captain Mark knew exactly how and where to find them. He is very knowledgeable and shared with us many interesting facts about sea life. It was a day filled with wonderment! Thank you Captain Mark!

I have been going to this store since I Moved to the central coast. The owner knows a great deal…read moreand though I am no Beginner in the reef keeping hobby I will often bounce ideas off Paul or Ricky as I know i can get a second opinion that is trustworthy. I prefer not to buy Fish online and Paul will work hard to get the specialty items i am looking for. I am grateful they are in the area! Thanks again to the staff at Tropics

Honestly I don't know where to start with my experience here…read more I've been here only once and that was enough to ruin my experience. As I was looking at the fishes I noticed that the tanks were filthy. I told the staff and they lied to my face telling me they cleaned the tank recently. I swear if you could touch the inside of the tank your finger would be covered in algae. I asked about clown fish and they were obviously over charging me for the fishes, the tanks, equipment, and other items. I should have know that considering how filthy the inside of the shop was. The staff here obviously didn't care too much about this place since all they did was just pretend to clean the area they were at. Hell there was so much tripping hazards on the floor that it felt like Saw puzzle. I swear a homeless person can come in the front door and immediately walk away due to the condition of this place. I spent too much money here for stuff to break as well as my fish being incredibly sick. 1 star is still too high for this review

I love the AquaDoctor! If you are in need of aquarium set-up or maintenance, or the same for a…read morepond, this is your guy. This company is amazing. The AquaDoctor will visit your home or office to attend to the needs of your fish. He is polite and knowledgeable. With over twenty years experience, I trust the care of my fish to The AquaDoctor and am never disappointed!

From the owner: We specialise in all aspects of tropical fish care,maintenance,design and installation of aquariums…read moreand ponds.