Monterey Bay Aquarium
We often think of aquariums as an educational field trip for the kids, but the Monterey Bay Aquarium is also a great place for adults.
I love the ocean and have explored many tide pools and aquariums over the years. It's definitely fun to go as a child or with your own children, but the experience is also good without them.
The main benefit to going without kids was that I could explore at my own pace. Also, I didn't have to keep track of active kids darting off in different directions. There was plenty of time to see everything I wanted to see and I could read all of the informational signs to help me understand it all.
I had been watching videos of the sea otters at home and was excited to see them. They are super cute in person and that was a popular area at the aquarium. It was great to see a variety of local ocean life and to learn about conservation efforts.
The large kelp forest aquarium is awesome, but my favorite find of the day was baby jellyfish. An employee had brought out a jar of the tiny jellies for visitors to see and they were beautiful.
Photo Gallery
The touch tanks and other interactive exhibits get chaotic with excited children. If those are at the top of your list, I’d recommend arriving early and heading there first. The non-touch tank exhibits and the outdoor areas were my priority and they were less crowded, even at peak afternoon hours.
Once you get close to the Aquarium, signs will direct you to a parking structure and then you’ll walk through Cannery Row to get to the entrance. The whole area is beautiful and filled with history, so we allowed for extra time to shop, eat and wander before heading back to our car.
I have great memories of visiting aquariums when I was a child and of taking my own my own exuberant boys. However, I now also have memories of my good day at the Monterey Aquarium without kids.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
Also, check out our additional Monterey travel articles and Monterey food articles.