Monterey Bay Aquarium: Seafood Watch Program

Fantastic experience: Fabulous on all counts. The experience beats Amy other sea life center I've visited. Maybe a little pricey for a family but really worth it.

Fantastic experience: This is a great place to visit as a family. The aquarium is fun and educational.

Fantastic experience: Aquarium is beautiful. Watching the otters and learning about them was my favorite. They are so cute. All the employees are very knowledgeable and very nice. Beautiful displays. Worth a visit

Fantastic experience: At the onset, there was a long queue and I debated why am I here even. But some of the exhibits Into the Deep Sea and Jellies are unlike anything I was prepared to witness. Just mindboggling beauty they were. Food at the cafe was great too. A lot of veggie and gf options!

Fantastic experience: Amazed! By all beautiful creatures here. All clean and variety of stuff to see and coffee bar options

Fantastic experience: Best in the nation! You and your kids will love it and learn about marine animals, plants and their ecosystem and how plastic pollution is killing our planet. Don't miss it.

Positive experience: This place can get pretty crowded, which makes it tough to fully enjoy the exhibits. We arrived after 2:00 pm, and it seemed like the penguins, sea otters, and birds were mostly resting—almost as if we hit their break time. The busy environment sometimes detracts from the experience. MAIN PURPOSE AND AMENITIES Primarily, this spot seems designed for educating kids and raising awareness about marine animals. The good news is, all floors are wheelchair accessible, and wheelchairs are available for visitors who need them. PARKING AND TIPS FOR VISITORS Parking is limited, so it’s best to plan ahead. Arriving early or exploring alternative transportation options can help avoid frustration. Overall, it’s a great place for learning, but the crowds and parking might make your visit a little challenging.

Positive experience: It was very crowded even on a weekday. It was a great place just couldn't see everything due to volume of people with it being so expensive they should only let so many people in per hour

Fantastic experience: Lots of cool things to see. They have penguins!

Fantastic experience: Great aquarium! You can look out over the peer and see otters,seals, and dolphins.

Negative experience: Love the this place but it is always too crowded, It is hard to really take in the beauty of the sea animals and other exhibits when you can't get to them. They should have traffic control so everyone can enjoy their time. Cause it's not cheap

Fantastic experience: It was so busy. There are fast passes, but truly, the line moves quickly. We went right as it opened. The line was up and down the road. It was difficult to see the exhibits since there were so many people.

Positive experience: Tips: Be there by 10 am so that you can cover more with less crowd. Hit the major spots like open sea and kelp forest. Kelp forest feeding is interesting with the diver feeding and interacting with the audience.

Fantastic experience: One of the largest aquariums in the world, where different sea fish are located, and you can also go out on the balcony and see how whales swim to this amazing place

Fantastic experience: Love this aquarium! Best to go early on a weekday for smaller crowds. Wall to wall people on the weekend. Fortunately there are outdoor spaces to enjoy beautiful ocean views and those super cool tidal pools!

Fantastic experience: A beautiful place to visit especially if you have kids along...lots to see of the underwater world..fishes, otters, birds, jelly fishes and many more things to check out Must visit

Positive experience: My mom took me and my sisters to the aquarium on Mother's Day. It was nice but a bit boring, perhaps because it was my first time there and not as good as other aquariums I've been to. But the town is really nice..

Fantastic experience: We got in on a yearly membership. This aquarium is awesome. For free parking park on the street in Pacific Grove, just a few blocks from the aquarium

Fantastic experience: This was a beautiful experience I highly recommend! ❤️

Positive experience: Hands on experience in some areas. Overall a really Great experience!!

Fantastic experience: Impressive. Kids love the touch pool

Fantastic experience: Great place to visit with kids to learn and also play.

Fantastic experience: Gorgeous place take your time. There's a lot to see.

Fantastic experience: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an absolute delight! My kids love it here—every exhibit sparks their curiosity and wonder. The kelp forest, playful otters, and mesmerizing jellyfish keep them fascinated for hours. The staff is friendly, and the commitment to ocean conservation is inspiring. It’s educational, fun, and breathtaking. A must-visit for families looking for an unforgettable experience! Five stars all the way!

Fantastic experience: The last time that we were out here, correction the last time that my wife and two daughters were here our daughters were really little. Time has gone by so quickly that in the blink of an eye, our daughters grew up, and both graduated from high school. I have never been so proud of both of them. My oldest daughter ended up getting married to a Marine, and shortly after they both moved to Hawaii Our youngest daughter went to college and graduated from college. These past 3 years have been the hardest for all of us, I had the hardest of all things happen. The last time we were here was right after COVID-19, and saying goodbye to my mom was the hardest thing, the last time we made this trip was with her and when my girls were young. I know she is watching over us, with new things to come brings us to new beginnings because we get to share this with our 2-year-old grandson. As I said time has gone by so quickly, and I know she is physically not here to see my grandson grow up but I know she is watching over us. In memory of my mom MARTH O. LIMA I LOVE YOU MOM, YOUR MIJO

Fantastic experience: This by far was one of the best experiences visiting California. A friendly professional staff. Right from the start a wonderful staff member helped navigate my phone so I could get a ticket. Inside staff members gave good interactive knowledge on the marine life. Looking forward to going back.

Fantastic experience: The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a beautiful and well-maintained place with amazing sea life exhibits, especially the jellyfish and kelp forest. It’s definitely worth a visit at least once, though the ticket prices feel a bit high—maybe even slightly overpriced. Still, it’s a fun and educational experience overall. Great for families and ocean lovers.

Fantastic experience: I think its the best aquarium i have been to in California i love this place.Great place for children & adults to learn about the ocean and what amazing creatures are under the sea.Finding Nemo octopus, crusty crabs,seals sea otters, sharks,Yellow fin tuna albacore, Jelly fish and birds and alot more..Its a must see to believe..You wont regret it.Great for families. Hope you have as much fun as i did..Enjoy .....

Positive experience: It is nice for the kids but honestly it is expensive, expected more.

Fantastic experience: Lovely experience the jellyfish were very mesmerising the otters and fish all look very well taken care off gets a little bit crowded but super nice to see

Fantastic experience: Fantastic Aquarium! It's a little smaller than some others in the country but still fascinating and kid friendly. Loved every part of it! Jellyfish, octopi, fish (anchovies included!), sharks.. Penguins, puffin, etc. So great!

Fantastic experience: This was actually quite a big aquarium despite the small outside appearance. There were very many exhibits to visit and most places were easily accessible. There was lots of fish to look at and even sea otters! I’d say this place is just as nice if not a little better compared to Long Beach Aquarium. Tickets were a little steeply priced at $60 per person for adults, but I think it’s still worth the visit!

Fantastic experience: The only down side is that it costs $65 to go in. For a family of 4 that is a big chunk of money. Also, a cup of coffee inside is $7.50. I don't know why they inflate the cost of food like that when it is non-profit. I realize a limited number of people can go in per day, but lower the price of food so that someone who just maxed their credit card for entrance can afford a drink and a snack.

Positive experience: Great place for kids and family. Just a little disappointed because we were expecting to see whales and other aquatic animals it said they had but didn’t. They were just large figurines in the ceiling. The touch and feel pool was great for the kids and very educating. A lil too pricey for a family of four.

Positive experience: This aquarium is fantastic, with stunning views that make the visit even more special. It’s the perfect spot to spend quality time with family, as there’s so much to see and explore. While the price is on the higher side, the experience is absolutely worth it!

Fantastic experience: Beautiful aquarium! Sea otters were so cute. Nice music and interesting exhibits for kids. The volunteers are very knowledgeable.

Fantastic experience: Best aquarium I've been too! So much to see but would definitely recommend seeing the sea otters when they're being fed. We didn't elget to see them and I assume because it's cold so they remained didn't come out to swim much. Great views and overall layout of the aquarium.

Fantastic experience: Spectacular experience! Hands on exhibits, and a wealth of things to do. The only turnoff is the plastic psa but other than that, they stick to the subjects.

Fantastic experience: Super fun experience, young and old can enjoy the beauty of the ocean without getting wet. A must see when in the area.

Fantastic experience: Everyone was so accommodating! I'm disabled, and as soon as Dad dropped me off at the door, the guy helping people called for a wheelchair. When I lost my phone, security had me unlock it before giving it to me. The exhibits were amazing. There's a reason I consider this aquarium one of my favorite places in the world, their commitment to conservation and excitement will always be that reason. Also: I got to pet the giant isopod.

Positive experience: Fun. I appreciate all they do for conservation. But for the price, we've been to better Aquariums in the USA.

Fantastic experience: This aquarium is simply amazing. Modern and with an enormous variety of sea life you could ask for. The exhibits for children and adults are interesting with on-hand activities. The shows are also a big plus. These start with a fun trivia to watch before the actual presentation, and once that is started, the presenters are knowledgeable and keep you engaged with the content. I am excited about sharing this comment and invite you to visit this most memorable aquarium.

Fantastic experience: If you are visiting the aquarium and you get a chance to watch and listen to a African penguin feeding talk this is a must. The penguins are so cute but, you will learn so much. Alberto was amazing and engaging he a lot of really interesting information and it was definitely the highlight of our trip!

Fantastic experience: Always love the aquarium the staff is friendly and knowledgeable always have great experiences here it's a must do every chance we get

Positive experience: It's a great place to learn about our oceans and animals. The tanks are nice to observe the animals and they also have educational activity zones for children to learn and play. We did not try the food this time or have time to look at the ship but maybe next time.

Fantastic experience: It's not the cheapest ticket in town but I personally don't consider it something I would do every other weekend but I would definitely do it at least once if not twice a year so it's well worth it for what you get to experience.

Fantastic experience: My mom first took me to this aquarium when I was 10 and it's been a fond memory every since. I'm now 37 and just took my wife and three children. The new memories made are invaluable and excitement in their eyes while walking up to each exhibit is worth the price of admission alone. The information you can learn while here is wonderful and can rejuvenate a passion for nature and conservation.

Fantastic experience: It was such a wonderful experience .life presence, decorating, collection, all stuff members, the colors, and the outside ocean views are simply beautiful, amazing to watch live fishes, and various colors of jelly. It's a great place to visit with family, friends and relatives. Especially family with kids who will enjoy the most.!!

Fantastic experience: Such a variety of aquatic life. Beautifully arranged and family friendly.

Fantastic experience: Monterey Bay Aquarium is an AMAZING place! The water tunnel is one all of my children have enjoyed. Definitely well worth the visit!

Fantastic experience: Lofty entrance fee but worth every penny. Loved the size, set-up, atmosphere and educative info about the sea and its wildlife. Great for toddlers and older kids. Perfect visit!

Positive experience: Nice aquarium but expensive. It's been twenty-five years since I was there. The original part of the aquarium is the best part. I was surprised their was only one big aquarium and a couple of small ones. New Cafe and a couple of newer gift shops are nice.

Fantastic experience: Worth th $60 admission. This coming from a family man in his late 40s! There is no military discount because the area is surrounded by military.

Positive experience: I enjoyed the penguins, otters and the jellyfish. Saw some whales from the observation deck. Staff are very friendly. Happy i got to see the aquarium that holds so much of what Monterey offers.

Fantastic experience: Stunning! The jellyfish exhibit is my favorite. But oh, so much more to see. Large location. Areas to be hands-on, we saw a lecture on Albatross the day we visited with an actual bird, views throughout each window. Super wide variety of sea life and animals to see.

Fantastic experience: One of the best aquariums we have ever seen. Massive tanks with diver feeding. Highly recommend. It's worth the pricey entrance fee.

Fantastic experience: Beautifully designed, buy tickets ahead of time. Good for children and adults. Curated to perfection. You'll need a minimum 2 hours+ to see everything. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: Great exhibit and aquarium, shows and information, very busy awesome views inside and out

Fantastic experience: Great place to take your kids. Plenty to do in here and lots to see. A lil pricey for adults though. Make sure you get there early so you can get your money's worth.

Positive experience: We feel the aquarium has good to offer but not extensive. 3.5 stars is appropriate. South African penguins, otter, tropical fish (colorful) are the most popular with kids. Jelly fish are present of multiple types - they seem as if there is a screen behind the glass but I know it can't be it. Or else it will be a big fraud.

Fantastic experience: We had the best time ever! The place is loaded with ocean life. Stingrays, Hammerhead sharks, all kinds of different exhibit areas. Including hands on events for the kids.

Fantastic experience: This was one of the highlights of our trip. That’s saying a lot when you have so much outside nature in the Carmel highlands, Monterey and sites off highway 1. Love the huge aquarium of large fish. We were there at the time of a feeding and it was really cool to see the diver feed the different fish.

Fantastic experience: Weekday is the way to go. Less crowded , you can see at leisure all your favorites, we could even get to the penguins feeding .

Negative experience: Huge disappointment!! Sea Life is a nicer aquarium than this place is...

Fantastic experience: The premier aquarium in my book. Fabulous exhibits, education series, and views to die for.

Positive experience: Great place to take the family. We have an amazing time learning and seeing everything. I would advise you to arrive at least an hour ahead of opening. Otherwise, you'll be waiting in line to get it. Parking is not that bad or too far away either. Cannery Row 7 parking lot is what was recommended to use.

Positive experience: Very large aquarium. Visited 20 years ago. Was quaint then. Very nice for kids. Too warm inside

Fantastic experience: Absolutely amazing close up looks at the marine life! So much to see and learn. food was good as well, a bit pricey but pretty good. Building was clean as well as bathrooms. ,staff were helpful and welcoming. We will be back soon

Fantastic experience: We spent at least 5 hours at the aquarium and could have spent all day. This is a must see.

Fantastic experience: This is one of the best places in the world, period! You can see all this marine life and be with people that care about what they're doing so they're helping the marine life and at the same time you can learn about it and or teach your children. What a wonderful place that has been here my whole life. Thank you so much Monterey Bay aquarium! The staff is absolutely incredible! So nice and informative!

Fantastic experience: Perfect place to bring family. Membership is the best deal, then you can return multiple times

Fantastic experience: We love this aquarium! Such a magical place for a family trip. The otter feeding was enjoyable to see along with all the other amazing attractions. Stamp on your arm if you plan to return. I stamped both hands and unfortunately the invisible ink washed off! I was allowed reentry because members of my group had theirs intact. Purchase tickets in advance to expedite entry.

Fantastic experience: My husband bought tickets In advance, there was still one line for entrance. Once you arrive at the front they either scan your pre-paid ticket on your phone and you make entry or your directed to another line to pay for tickets. And that line was long. We waited in line 5 mins. In my opinion for a week day it was very crowded. Probably because it's summer. With that being said, we still had a good time. There's alot to see.

Fantastic experience: It's an awesome experience! I got there early enough. It was kind of crowded but that's to be expected. No flash photography and remember to be polite to others who want to view the aquarium as well.

Fantastic experience: It was a good experience to observe all kinds of aquatic animals in the aquarium, I loved it and enjoyed it.

Fantastic experience: Love the place, but for 2 adults and an 8 year old, it was about 170 dollars. Add 20 dollar parking to that, and I'm not sure if it's worth it. I mean, if it's a once in a lifetime visit sure, but if you live in the area you might reconsider.

Fantastic experience: Super great exhibits and great views of the whole bay with viewing scopes all over the place. We did a behind the scenes tour and it was totally worth every penny. Cool to see how feeding happens, the animal vet spaces , and so much more. Would highly recommend the tour and aquarium.

Fantastic experience: Is the second time coming to this aquarium and is always being a great experience, the staff is very friendly my favorite aquarium!

Fantastic experience: Nice aquarium. Recommend going during a week day we went on a wens day and it was still very busy. You can also buy your tickets online recommend this so you can skip the large line at the front

Fantastic experience: Eye popping place to visit. Excellent place to spend a whole day. Lot of fishes, octopus, water splash area.

Positive experience: Amazing experience. Smart, well executed displays and exhibits. Loved the trash-inspired art on display. Imaginative and forward-thinking. The only black-eye in my visit was the very overpriced entry fee; about $65USD), ugh! Half that would be steep enough.

Fantastic experience: Incredible aquarium, would highly recommend to anyone. The animals and experience are the best of any aquarium I have visited

Fantastic experience: First time here in years, what an incredible and beautiful facility. Exhibits are extremely well maintained, inspiring and educational. Significant accommodation to the kids, too! Love how the interior spaces flow with the outside decks and views on Monterey Bay, where you can see seals and otters in the wild.

Positive experience: Part of the aquarium was closed. Tickets have to be purchased online. Loved the Otter feeding. Just wish they had a larger viewing area, though.

Positive experience: There were a lot of children and many not monitored. There are too many strollers. Very very crowded. If you're in a wheelchair then forget about it. Not worth the high cost.

Fantastic experience: Let me just say WOW! This was so much fun and to see the smiles and eyes brighten for my child just made my day. This is definitely an experience and totally worth it. To also explore the shops and hidden gems in the area as well as playing on the beach was so much fun. One day we will go back.

Fantastic experience: Great family visit. Lots of ocean fish . Welcoming staff. Large venue for easy strolling w family. Visited on a Thursday morning.. weekends i here are full capacity. Leopard Sharks . Beautiful Rainbow Trout. Kelp tanks full of colorful fish. Big Tuna Large leather back Turtles . Sturgeon, Crabs Minnows Tank is amazing! I got dizzy. Clean & well lit facilities. Bookstore highly recommended. Picked up a children's books for family. Most important my daughter & i had a great time laughing. Watched an amazing Biolumeneces showing of sea creatures. Wow !

Fantastic experience: Jelly fish and Octopus displays are amazing!!!! 100% worth the ticket prices!

Positive experience: Very interesting place, lots of cool exhibits. It was a little pricey and crowded, but overall, it was a fun experience.

Fantastic experience: A really great place to bring the family for a fun and educational experience. You can see most of the aquarium in a few hours, or sign up for a guided tour if you don't want to miss anything. Recommend that you get all day parking in one of the lots nearby that let you in and out an unlimited amount of times for the day. The aquarium is spread out so that there's kid activities in multiple areas like touching pools, petting the stingrays, and different play areas combined with the exhibits. The year pass is worth it if you're going at least twice in one year. The line isn't too bad before entering, around 10-15min wait.

Fantastic experience: One of the best aquariums around. Do yourself a favor though and get your hand stamped and get something to eat outside of the aquarium.

Fantastic experience: There are not words to express how wonderful and amazing this aquarium!!!!! The best place in Monterey city!!!

Fantastic experience: One of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been in! Very beautiful, so many colors, in the crew was amazing, they just explained when ever they could! it was an amazing experience. I will definitely go back there.

Fantastic experience: If you're in Monterey, this is a must - what a fun, well laid out aquarium!

Fantastic experience: This is an incredible aquarium. A few notes: -food is expensive, I recommend bringing your own. -there is LOTS to see. You’ll want a bare minimum of 3 hours here, but you can easily spend the whole day. -there is an excellent lounge for nursing mothers, tucked back near the restrooms past the Open Sea exhibit. -there are filtered water bottle filling stations in multiple places. -on that subject, don’t miss the Open Sea feeding!! The “eruption” of a massive school of sparkling sardines is amazing. -most days, you can see wild otters from the outdoor balconies with the telescopes. Ask a volunteer to help you find otters and they’ll point the telescope for you. -take a second to plan for parking before coming. There are less expensive metered parking options, and very expensive parking garages. -the facility is very clean, and the employees are friendly and helpful.

Fantastic experience: We loved it! It was worth the price of admission for sure!

Fantastic experience: One of the best aquarium I’ve ever been to. It’s a little bit pricey but you can spend a few hours visiting the aquarium. We loved the jelly fishes area, it was amazing to see all those different species. My niece enjoyed the "touch pool" section where you can touch few fishes and plants.

Negative experience: The exhibition is nice, but even when we came on a weekday the place was all crowded. It’s really difficult to see and appreciate the beautiful sea creatures with so much people, otters were imposible it was a like a summer concert.

Fantastic experience: Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium for the chance of a lifetime to see sea creatures from around the world. The aquarium's mission is to teach and protect regarding ocean life! See amazing animals like octopus, penguins, sting ray, jelly fish, sharks, tuna, etc. Learn through touch at the touch stations and tanks. The aquarium shows films, has feeding and behind-the-scenes opportunities, has a restaurant and shops with exclusive items!

Fantastic experience: This is a beautiful aquarium. It's not as massive or as great as Atlanta which is on another level. BUT, it's a top 3 aquarium I've ever seen. The building is perfect. Highly recommend!