Visited the aquarium with family. This is my second time during my conscious memory…read more I took a look through some of the reviews here, mostly of which complain about how crowded it is. Granted, but there's a reason why this is so packed, and frankly, even though it is packed, this place is actually still quite enjoyable to visit and see everything, well within a few hours. If y'all want a less crowded museum where you can hear your own thoughts, there are plenty of other places, but this is the top level of aquariums for sure. Second knock in the reviews is the ticket price. Also granted, but you have in and out privileges, so you don't have to fork over more for the in-aquarium food, and you can spend as much time as you'd like deeply introspecting in front of the Open Sea exhibit. Plus if I'm going to spend this much, I'd rather give it to an aquarium and a research organization that's top of their class in their research and conservation efforts. All that being said, even on revisits this museum still holds up. Exhibit quality, thoroughness of informational learning opportunities, even the caliber of their volunteer docents is unmatched. Great views of the Monterey Bay too from the various balconies on a nice day. Low-key I'd be happy to even just stay in the auditorium for the entire day and watch their films which alone are good stuff. A must visit for sure, even with the crowds. Definitely plan ahead, but don't skip out.

Monterey Bay Aquarium is honestly grossly overcrowded. It feels like they either have no control…read moreover how many tickets they sell, or they simply do not care about limiting attendance enough to preserve the experience. If you arrive right when it opens, it might seem okay at first. But after about an hour, many of the exhibits become barely viewable. People crowd directly against the viewing areas, phones out everywhere taking pictures and videos, making it hard to actually see or enjoy anything. In one of the darker areas, I even saw someone walking around with a bright flashlight, completely ruining the immersion. On top of that, it is extremely expensive for the experience you actually get. The exhibits themselves may be impressive, but the overcrowding makes it difficult to enjoy them. For the price, I expected a much better managed and more comfortable visit.

I visited the Aquarium Of The Bay without doing any prior research, so i was completely surprised…read moreby how impressive it was. When i first walked in i thought it would be a small exhibit and i was totally wrong! After entering, you go through a area with smaller tanks and the gift shop. You then take a elevator down to the lower level where you're suddenly surrounded by huge glass tanks. The first exhibits feature beautiful jellyfish displays, which were mesmerizing to watch. Then you enter the large walk through tunnel, which was the highlight of the visit. The glass surrounds you everywhere even above your head. It truly feels like you're inside the tank with the sea life. One of my favorite moments was watching the sting rays glide right over the top of the tunnel. It was such a cool peaceful experience. The tunnel was much larger than expected, it tool about 40 minutes to take in everything. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend visiting if you're in San Francisco.

Aquarium of the Bay has some really cool exhibits, especially the underwater tunnels. Walking…read morethrough while sharks, rays, and fish swim overhead is definitely the highlight and was a big hit with my little one. That said, the overall experience felt much more chaotic than I expected. It was crowded, noisy, and difficult to move through some areas at a comfortable pace. My biggest frustration was the elevators to get up and down to the tunnel exhibits. They take FOREVER, and when you're visiting with a stroller or small children, the wait can feel endless. The staff was friendly, and I appreciated the focus on local Bay marine life, which makes it different from larger aquariums. However, be prepared for crowds, especially during peak times. If you don't mind a busy atmosphere, the tunnels are worth seeing, but I wish the flow of the aquarium was a little smoother and less congested.

You need a whaling of a good time... This is the place to go…read more Pro tip: it's past past the butterflies Parking is free in weekends but there are plenty of park to pay machines around Things to touch, yes! Walking paths, yes! Gift shop, yes! Super friendly staff, yes! Support science! Highly recommend!

Keep it Reel Marine…read moreScience Center is run by the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) and is located right on campus. They focus on the education of ocean research and the conservation of our oceans. The Good: * Good place to bring young kids as it's not very large, and you can see the whole thing in way less than two hours. * One-mile loop trail along the UCSC campus if you want to add a little hike to your visit. * Guided tours available, as well as self-guided. * Hands-on experiences--they currently even have a shark in the touch tank! * Picnic areas outside with an ocean view. * The whale skeleton outside is pretty "bitchin'." * EV charging available. * Bike rack. * Buy tickets online or at the door. * Very affordable at $12/adult and $9/student. The Meh: * Hours and days change depending on the season. The Ugly: * Paid parking during the week, but free on weekends. Conclusion: Great little museum located right on the coast, but don't expect it to be an all-day affair.

Full House Goldfish is a great place to purchase strong, unique fancy goldfish. This was our third…read moretime purchasing from them and we will definitely be back. They have a nice selection of different varieties. Binh is very knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and makes you feel welcome. We even got a Chinese New Year gift from them!

Binh with Full House Goldfish has some of the most beautiful fish out there! Vibrant colors,…read morehealthy, and happy fish. I want to buy a bigger tank just so I can buy more goldfish from them. Highly recommended! Binh takes the time to make sure you pick out the best fish for your tank.

Amazing Discus and great customer service. The variety is amazing multiple different colors and…read morepatterns.. It's gotta be the most discus availability in the bay..

Great owner! Exceptional fish and healthy stock. Always a pleasure to work with! Best go-to local…read moreshop.

I will give this place 4 stars for now. I will just write from what I saw and what i experience at…read morethis place. Facility was clean. Friendly staff. We came here for a birthday party. They rented a room away from the swim area. We thought we was here for the swimming. Lol but it was okay for us not to swim. We still had fun at the party. You can just a drop in for the swim activities for $13. Which is not bad. No food allowed in the swim area. You bring food but you have to eat at the lobby area which is not alot of seating area. Barely to none to seat on. I will do a follow-up review when we visit this establishment again.

Says pool is open online and we even called and didn't get a call back. Drove 30 minutes just for…read morethe pool center to be closed

I have gotten to know James, the owner of Aqua Bonsai, over the last 4 years - and I feel very…read morethankful for the knowledge he has taught me and for the wonder and harmony of life that he has brought into my home with his fish tanks. I have my own little fresh water eco-systems where I can watch photosynthesis takes place - and share this miracle with children and adults who are entranced by these lovely tanks James is amazing in so many ways. He is kind, responsible, extremely knowledgeable - and he is brilliant when it comes to setting up a fresh water fish tank! He has done this work for years and he knows so much about the right soil, the plants, the best water to use, how to keep your tank algae free - plus he teaches you how you can maintain your tank without having to put in that much effort. Also, when you need help, you can hire him - and he brings everything you need to keep your tank in the best condition - so pure and clear and beautiful! You can watch him work and learn from his soft-spoken knowledge - or you can go about your work as he gently clips and plants and cares for your tank. I have a large fish tank James has helped me maintain for four years - and I also purchased a bonsai tank from him that I have in my office. You can see what his bonsai tanks look like by going to his Aqua Bonsai site or you can visit his home - where you can see the variety of lovely tanks that you can purchase - or you can ask him to design a tank that's just right for you like I did. His prices are very good. James has truly earned my respect over time - and I give him the highest recommendation. Linda Skerbec

Love their products and the customer service is superb! For the past 6 years, James maintains both…read moremy office and home fish tanks periodically. He's very easy to work with and always teach me how to take care the tank and fishes with his new techniques. Highly recommended!