Monterey Bay Aquarium

When I told my friends and family from Maryland that I was going to be in central California for one of my placements, almost all of them said “you have to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium!” I have to say, it really is a must-see place - I got goosebumps a few times! All in all, it took me about two hours to go through the Aquarium at a fairly quick-pace solo, and I could’ve easily spent another hour if time permitted.

What To Do in the Aquarium

The Auditorium & Animal Feedings

I asked one of the ticket takers what is the #1 thing I should do here and she said the penguin and otter feedings, and the 15-minute Mysteries of the Deep video program in the Auditorium. This video is one of the sections of the aquarium that gave me goosebumps! It gives you a better understanding of how they do research on the ocean and how important it is for our survival.

Monterey Bay Habitats, Kelp Forest, & Octopus

This is the other section of the aquarium that to me was mind-blowing. It shows what can get trapped in the ocean and how it becomes a part of the sea creatures’ lives down in the deep.

Into the Deep & the Open Sea

The newest section of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Into the Deep, has an eerie feel to it; just look at that enormous crab below. Yes - that’s real! You wouldn’t want to step on that thing - eek! The Open Sea was a mesmerizing place to stop and take stare at all of the large under-the-sea creatures.

Where To Eat

Honestly, the food at the cafe in the Aquarium looked fantastic. I would have eaten here if I hadn’t eaten beforehand. Outside of the cafe is the Great Tide Pool, which is another transfixing part of this museum. There are also many places to eat on the main street, Cannery Row. One of the first sections of the Aquarium does a very good job of detailing the history of Cannery Row and is worth a walk-through.