Acuario Birch

Experiencia fantástica: Beautiful aquarium, probably best enjoyed on weekday. Check th nearby Scripps meander trail. 10 min walk from Aquarium.

Experiencia positiva: Not very big, very geared toward children, beautiful location, great marine research efforts.

Experiencia fantástica: My family and I love coming here. Every time we come, it feels like there's something new to see and the kids get so excited. It's a great place to visit if you're from out of town.

Experiencia fantástica: Loved it !!! OMG the best sea life ever. Highly recommend

Experiencia fantástica: It was my first time visiting Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. I had a very enjoyable and fun experience there! A lot of marine life and plenty of displays and tanks to enjoy and view throughout the aquarium! I absolutely enjoyed the penguin exhibit! The staff is very friendly and helpful especially for a first time visitor like myself! ❤️

Experiencia fantástica: It was a fabulous experience. The aquarium had multiple jellyfish and a large octopus, both of which were amazing to see. It was not super busy so we were able to take our time. Everything was clean and well-kept, making it an absolute delight in our vacation stop.

Experiencia positiva: The location is nice on top of the mountain, and the underwater exhibits they do have are interesting. The aquarium is very small though, we were done it in 45 minutes. There is limited larger animals too, mostly jellyfish and small fish. Given the drive to get here, and the cost, this type of aquarium should probably be free entry as it is too small. SeaWorld had better underwater exhibits if you were already planning on going there.

Experiencia negativa: What a WASTE of money and time. We paid $62 for two seniors and it took all of 50 minutes to go through the whole aquarium. We kept thinking there was more to see, but we were sorely disappointed that there wasn't.

Experiencia positiva: Great new aquarium, loved seeing the all the sea animals. I would recommend just knowing before hand it is pretty small especially for what you are paying but other than that great little place for a hour of fun

Experiencia fantástica: Nice aquarium in La Jolla. Not the largest, but very manageable size for a quick afternoon activity. The little blue penguins and pregnant seahorse were adorable. Will be back again sometime!

Experiencia positiva: If you go don't expect it to take more than an hour, also pray it's not a day that has school field trips.

Experiencia positiva: Loved it and haven't been back for about 20 years. Exhibits are informative and educational! They have interactive exhibits like the build-your-own boat and VR diving on shipwrecks. Maybe steer clear of it on holidays (like father's day) if only because it was JAM PACKED.

Experiencia fantástica: Awesome exhibits and animals! Got pretty busy, id suggest going at open! Amazing adventure!

Experiencia fantástica: We throughly enjoyed the aquarium. Well worth the pass!!

Experiencia positiva: We visited right before school was out for Summer, so it wasn't too busy. We missed any Live activities w creatures happening outside. The kid's area with Cork Raft making was really busy with little ones. Beautiful view of the La Jolla Coast. Lovely exhibits, that we moved through fairly quickly, as it is not a very large Aquarium. Penguins, Jellys, Large Fish (Grouper) & creatures. No seals, sea lions or super Big mammals or fish. Still, a very nice place & was glad to visit.

Experiencia fantástica: All of the fishes were beautiful. Pretty small location tho

Experiencia positiva: Great aquarium. Was disappointed that they didn't offer discounts for teachers. The person at the counter selling tickets was not helpful at all. I asked about AAA discount, they don't honor that either. I've been to countless aquariums with my children and I've never had them say .."No we don't offer any discounts" very pricey... I know they use a lot of the money for research but I go to aquarium for educational purposes and for showing my children and students how to be good Stewart's of the ocean. Love the Sea dragons....is by far the largest I've seen in any other aquarium...and the college student and employees are super friendly and knowledgeable... except for the reception guy that sold me my tickets.

Experiencia positiva: Expensive and small. Not much to offer, two small viewing sections with mostly tropical fish to see and a small penguin session. Not much to see for the almost 40 per person price tag. Monterey Bay Aquarium has so much more to see in my opinion. The photos I took is basically everything there. Parking is hard to find.

Experiencia fantástica: Birch was super cute, definitely enjoyed it with my little. She was entertained. I loved the big orange octopus, it was definitely putting on a show ☺️ we went on Sunday around 1:30. It was a little busy in the parking lot but worth the nice little adventure.

Experiencia fantástica: Went for my daughter's 2nd grade field trip. It was so fun to see all the tiny seahorses. Getting to touch some of the tide pool sea life was also very fun. Highly recommend supporting their facility.

Experiencia fantástica: Beautiful aquarium, very clean. I imagine if it were busy, it might get crowded easily since the exhibits are close together and the walking space is narrow. Highly recommend getting tickets beforehand. Admission has timeslots of availability.

Experiencia fantástica: Great aquarium! Get the season pass for sure. They have summer camps and we've signed up! Good spot. Must visit. Petting pools, large tank with large fish, penguins, sharks, crabs

Experiencia positiva: I was disappointed with this aquarium. In my mind I was excepting more, especially for the price. This is a smaller, beautifully located aquarium, the view is amazing. It is divided into two indoor sections, and 2 or 3 outdoor sections, if you count the penguin encounter. They have a cool interactive where you can make your own boat using old wine corks, pieces of wood and rubber bands. This is fun, each boat design moves differently down the steam. The tide pools are located in the other outdoor section, this is hands on too and the volunteers are helpful, knowledgeable and eager to engage. Our favorite exhibit was the giant octopus. They have a Scavenger hunt interactive using your cellphone, which was enjoyable, the prize however was a paper book-marker. It would have been nice if the prize was something more rememberable.

Experiencia fantástica: Great aquarium. Small compared to Monterey aquarium but very educational and a great resource in the community. So lucky to have this place locally and all of the science affiliated with UCSD/SIO. We bought the membership and like to stop by for an hour at a time and enjoy the view and watching all the critters.

Experiencia fantástica: Wonderfull experience with underwater creatures. Had an opportunity to touch sea anemone, star fish, sea cucumber, several snails of different types. Mainly based for educational purposes. Small penguins and different kinds of sharks can also been seen here. Turtles can also been seen here but was closed for renovation. Very nice / entertaining place for kids. Also has a restaurant outside.

Experiencia fantástica: We loved visiting the new Living Seas exhibit which was perfect for families with young kids. It’s an easy way to spend a few hours learning and exploring. There’s parking on-site, clean bathrooms (always key), and a little café where you can grab drinks and snacks to bring inside. (Pro tip: the coffee comes in a Coca-Cola cup, which feels odd... but it gets the job done!) Highlights for us: touching the sea cucumbers, spotting seahorses, and watching the octopus do its thing. A fun and educational outing that kept our 7-year-old fully engaged.

Experiencia positiva: This is a very small facility, make sure you make reservations and get there at that very opening, or you'll be waiting in the parking lot to find a spot. They have penguins, seahorses and a lot of different fish. Giant octopus! Very much set up to be super kid friendly as far as all of the different displays.

Experiencia positiva: A great little aquarium attached to UCSD. The blue penguins and jellyfish are great and you can get pretty close to them. Crowded too.

Experiencia positiva: The aquarium was a neat place, and we enjoyed it. The parking has very narrow spaces, however, and was full except for one spot next to a car that was parked crooked and over the line. We parked in the center of our spot, which would've made it difficult for that guy to get back into his car except from the other side. We came back, and the double-parked car was gone, but there were some fresh scratches he had made with a key on our rental car's door. We got his license plate, so we can report it if needed.

Experiencia fantástica: This cozy public aquarium just outside San Diego made for a relaxing visit. It didn’t take long to walk through, especially with part of it under renovation, but the exhibits they had were pretty impressive. The staff was super friendly and helpful, and the free parking was a nice bonus!

Experiencia positiva: A great local aquarium that offers more than what I expected from its humble entrance. Love the kelp forest and the Pacific sardines exhibit. Would love to learn more about the story of the sea turtle.

Experiencia fantástica: Brand new exhibit tanks - "The Living Seas" The Birch Aquarium is such a great place to visit and to learn about sea creatures. The re-designed area are interactive and great fun for kids. It is educational and awe inspiring. This facility in on a beautiful location that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, just North of La Jolla, CA.

Experiencia fantástica: Love going here! It's small but there's a lot to see, especially the beach views. You can buy tickets the day of and they take discounts for WIC, EBT, Cal fresh, and students so take your cards with you. Parking spaces were small so if you have a bigger vehicle be ready for cramped spots but that's my only complaint. They had water tables with boats for kids to build, touch ponds, and a bunch of little activities for kids.

Experiencia fantástica: Love this place so much! Unfortunately half the spot was closed today for some construction but if you come often with your little ones, you get a chance to see everything eventually. The ocean view from the patio is breathtaking.

Experiencia negativa: There is a lot closed dont go in with high expectations and you will not be disappointed . If you have ebt or cal fresh medical cards you get 4 people in for 3 $ each then its worth that price. I wouldn't pay full price while the big stuff is closed.

Experiencia positiva: I agree with the other reviewers that the aquarium is quite small; and I am guessing half of it is currently closed. Hopefully, when the other half reopens it will be a fuller experience. I think for better guest satisfaction, it would be a good idea to limit the school/pre-school field trip numbers while only half is open. All areas that were open were filled with large groups of littles. We tried to wait to enjoy pieces once a group would move out, but the next group immediately came in. It made for a very loud, hard to do anything experience (maybe setting some norms and guidelines for group behavior for field trips might help too?). The Penguins are fantastic! It was nice that you could hear them barking and communicating (between groups).

Experiencia positiva: Always a fun time, and you get to see Sea Creatures up close. The view from the patio looking West is fantastic.

Experiencia fantástica: Fascinating exhibits. A whole wing is currently closed for renovation but still lots to see. Great educational experience, passionate guides. Gorgeous location.Great giftshop

Experiencia negativa: Very disappointed with Birch Aquarium . It's very small and made even smaller by 1/2 of it being closed for construction . I feel like I only should have paid 1/2 price to see 1/2 the aquarium . The exhibits that were open were not that great either , the penguins and the sharks/rays were cool but I had seen everything in 10 min and felt robbed after paying over $20 admission . If you're like me and want to go to a legit aquarium with lots of interesting stuff don't waste your time here .

Experiencia negativa: I want to start this review off by saying the aquarium I usually visit is the Atlanta aquarium. My husband, daughter, and myself are staying one night in San Diego & we figured for $25 a person that the aquarium would be something fun & relatively inexpensive to do while we’re here. We were wrong. $72 later, we were severely disappointed. They only had a very small few sharks in a tiny exhibit. A few penguins also in a tiny exhibit. Then some even smaller exhibits inside with very few fish, seahorses, and sea dragons. The entire experience was really depressing. Even the staff seemed like they didn’t want to be there. Another review said the best part of the aquarium was the whale statues outside and I agree. Half of the aquarium is closed off for remodel, but I feel that cost of entry should reflect that. It was maybe worth $10 a person. I’m leaving the review for people like myself who were deciding between the aquarium and the zoo. Pick the zoo.

Experiencia negativa: With great expectations we traveled 85 miles to what we thought to be a 4.5-5 star rated aquarium. Arrived and found the parking lot packed. The front of the aquarium showed promise with the nice whale statues. We purchased 3 adult tickets and our 18 month got in for free so roughly about $90 We found that the aquarium to be underwhelming once we made our first stop in the seahorse area. The exhibit room was mainly screens. As we quickly walked through the exhibit room we went outside to the boundless energy area, found the shark tank to be pretty cool. We then checked out the penguin area and found malnourished penguins. Made our way to the tide pool area where there were hardly anything inside the pools. We seen an area where they had two starfish.. the set up was like a taco stand you would see on the side of the street… and that was pretty much the visit. The wall of fish was undergoing construction which we knew prior but my gosh this place charges that much for hardly anything. I really hope they put the money into this place. I’m not sure if we will ever return.

Experiencia fantástica: Best aquarium outside of Monterey Bay. Excellent seahorse conservation and exhibit, and other unique items. Wait until end of May 2025 to visit as one wing is closed for construction.

Experiencia positiva: The pros, the staff was great with info and answering questions, the mirror meditation room was awesome. Cons, way too expensive for what is offered. While under construction and part blocked off, it should've reduced some off tickets. I also understand this is for kids, too, and that's great, but the glass looking into all the aquariums were dirty. No one was watching and cleaning once in a while. The meditating mirror room was not manned, so kids would come in, running and screaming. It's an awesome exhibit wasted at this location. The cafe is the only thing priced within reason. Put some window cleaner by the aquariums, only let one group in the mirror room at a minimum or within reason that other kids or loud adults don't ruin it for you

Experiencia negativa: There wasn’t as much to look at like what we were expecting, it’s a pretty small aquarium, we were able to look at everything in about 30-45 minutes pretty quick, usually my favorite part is the tide pools but their wasn’t much to touch or look at. The view of the ocean is great, but I think it’s pretty expensive for what you get.. $60 for 2 people and I feel for that price it’s not too worth it especially with how small the place is and how theirs not as much animals, definitely been to a lot better aquariums for better price none the less. The seahorses/dragons were my favorite part.

Experiencia fantástica: Absolutely beautiful and my 2 year old enjoyed it a lot as did we, the adults.

Experiencia fantástica: This is a wonderful smaller aquarium. The exhibits show how truly committed their scientists are to informing the public about oceans worldwide. There are several hands-on activities & tanks that are great for younger kids. Buying tickets in advance is recommended, as well being prepared to cycle through the parking lot at least once to find a spot. Luckily because the aquarium doesn't take too long to go through, there's a high turnover in parking & a spot has always been found fairly quickly when I've been there. Highly recommended for both kids & adults alike!

Experiencia negativa: I’ve been to many aquariums around the world especially in Japan while stationed there and I’ve had some truly amazing experiences for a very reasonable price. For example, in Japan, you can pay around $30–$40 for a family of five and enjoy massive exhibits filled with marine life from all over the globe. Naturally, I expected something comparable here in the U.S., especially considering the higher price. Unfortunately, Birch Aquarium was a big letdown. I paid over $50 for just two tickets, and half the building was closed due to construction something that wasn’t clearly mentioned during the ticket purchase process. What was available felt extremely limited and underwhelming: a few sea horses, a small penguin exhibit, and maybe 3 or 4 sharks. That was pretty much it. No immersive tanks, no large-scale marine diversity, no wow factor. I completely understand that renovations are necessary, but charging full price for what feels like half an experience isn’t fair to the visitors. At the very least, there should be a reduced admission fee or a more transparent notice about the limited access. I genuinely went in hoping for a memorable time, especially given the price tag, but walked away disappointed. It simply didn’t live up to expectations, and unfortunately, I won’t be returning in the future. I wouldn’t recommend visiting while construction is still ongoing.

Experiencia positiva: This visit left a lot to be desired. I felt so disappointed, their advertising is so well done that I felt deceived. I got the City Pass and this was one of the attractions we chose ( getting the city pass is 100% worth it; using it for this aquarium, not so much). It might be a matter of expectations though, after seeing adds for this around the city, and fancy entrance, I was expecting something more extraordinary. It’s a small aquarium but they try to make it more interactive. Not what I was looking for, but maybe someone else might enjoy this kind of experience.

Experiencia positiva: This is more of a glorified playground for kids. I expected way better from an aquarium in the san Diego area. When we went, one whole side was shut down for renovation. It was rather uneventful. Lackluster. Not much to see. I think I'd pass on this one unless you have small children that need some play time.

Experiencia positiva: As a San Diego native who now resides in Phoenix, I was looking forward to bring my kids here for my daughters birthday. I purchased 6 tickets on groupon and we made our way to the aquarium. It was very disappointing to arrive, along with my aunt that drove down 2 hours herself, and find out the best part was closed for renovations. There was no mention of this on groupon. I dont think it would be that difficult to add this closure to the description on groupon.

Experiencia positiva: It's pretty expensive for how small it is, but it's still a cute little spot. Loved the hands on outside and all of the exhibits.

Experiencia negativa: I had seen photos online of a huge tank and was expecting so much more… we felt scammed. If half of the aquarium is under construction then why are we being charged full price? We saw everything that there was to see in like 20 minutes. That’s not worth 30 dollars. At least everyone in the staff were super nice. Still, I don’t recommend visiting until the entire aquarium is operating again, at least. Wish we would have known.

Experiencia negativa: Well, the large aquarium was not in use, no viewing. I'm very disappointed with the run-down shark tank. And the penguins, too. I think there were 2 total birds. The viewing glass was so heavy in film. And the pool where kids can touch plants was so high the little ones couldn't see! If you helped a child, one of many staff members would quickly stop us. I'm very disappointed

Experiencia fantástica: Birch Aquarium has a sweet partnership going on with the San Diego Air & Space Museum, and the best part, tickets were free! Even though they’re renovating, the current exhibits are already super cool, so I can only imagine what’s coming next. The projection art and modern displays were awesome, and those sensory spaces really added a fun and relaxing touch throughout the visit. The staff made it even better—they were friendly, upbeat, and had a great sense of humor. If I were sticking around for summer, I'd be first in line to check out the new exhibit!

Experiencia positiva: I like how they had some educational climate change. However, this really should be labeled as a kids aquarium. This compares nothing to the one in Monterrey. Nothing at all.

Experiencia negativa: This aquarium is definitely not worth it! It is so small that when I visited I was shocked that they didn't have much to show. The penguins look sad and depressed. The "tide pool" isn't even interactive and the water is dirty. They're undergoing renovations right now so there's even less exhibits to see. Only reason why it gets two stars is because of volunteers in the Coral Classroom. Don't waste your time or money here!

Experiencia fantástica: If you like sea animals, Birch Aquarium is a must visit! I absolutely love those quirky Little Blue Penguins, the Dancing Seadragons, and the friendly Leopard Sharks. Plus that gorgeous seaside view just incredible! It’s a perfect place for kids and families even couples!

Experiencia fantástica: We went to Birch on a field trip where my son dissected a squid. The staff were wonderful needful and extremely educational. Afterwards we discovered in the waterways making boats and enjoyed a snack outside looking over the ocean. It was a great day and we fully enjoyed our experience.

Experiencia positiva: This was a cute little aquarium with a lot of beautiful things I haven’t seen at other aquariums. It is VERY quaint, we were done in 40 minutes but enjoyed our time there . For reference I have an 8 year old . A smaller child may want to spend more time there . The staff is very kind , the view and location is gorgeous. My only gripe would be the cost. $55 for us both to get in and the gift shop is obscenely expensive. Like $20 for a jar of slime with toppings, $29 for a baby t shirt.

Experiencia negativa: I only give this place one star because I have to rate it. But I'd rather give it no stars. Three adults $80.85 for entry. Your souvenir prices are outrageous. And you call this an aquarium? Yet 15-45 minutes and a guest will have experienced all exhibits and max entertainment. That's being generous. This is no more than a quick glimpse or exhibit of some of the sea life right off our coast. So make sure you don't arrive with the expectation of the big named aquariums. Or else you will find yourself totally let down. For what they offer guests. That entry fee should be more like $25-$30 range. And those souvenir prices could come down some as well. Again I understand that you gotta feed and maintain the animals. But not from the guests pockets. Sorry to come across as a Debbie downer. But I've gotta call it the way I see it. There's plenty of other attractions to be seen. We don't need to leave feeling ripped off.

Experiencia positiva: Went at the recommendation of my cousin’s co worker who really was impressed by the seahorse exhibit. Wish we would have done a little more research before we went. The outside tide pools had an amazing view of La Jolla, but that’s where the fun kind of ended. Tom’s of children were left to run around and literally lay on the floors while their parents or guardians sat on the nearby benches on their phones. I made it hard to access certain areas. And there was a surprising lack of fish for an aquarium. I ended up seeing more at an aquarium store downtown than I did here. $30 is a big stretch for what you get here. I’ll have to come back for one of the adult only nights, hopefully no one brings their kid anyway.

Experiencia positiva: Second time coming, my kids really enjoy themselves.. kind of expensive since you can go thru the whole experience pretty fast but we like it.

Experiencia negativa: It is the smallest lamest aquarium I’ve ever seen. Takes 2 minutes to see all exhibitions. They should not even charge for entrance . It can be called play area for kids maybe but I wouldn’t call it aquarium . Save your time and money and go to sea world instead if you want to see some sea life. Do not recommend.

Experiencia positiva: Very nice place with a beautiful view over the Pacific Ocean. Some areas was closed for reconstruction.

Experiencia fantástica: It was perfect. I traveled all the way from SF because my friend highly recommended this aquarium. And wow… what an experience. Absolutely thrilling. If you enjoy watching little sharks in tiny fish tank and exhibits that make you question your life choices, this is the place for you. 10/10, would totally recommend to my bestie

Experiencia positiva: A bit depressing but maybe it would be fun for someone. The trip left a lot to be desired honestly, apparently to my sister there was a big chunk of the aquarium that was closed off. So there was only half of the aquarium, but still there was a bit of stuff. I petted a mini shark that was asleep, it was a bit lack luster but cool. But also, I got to pet 2 sea cucumbers, and a star fish. They were slimy and didn’t move at all, it made me feel bad for them. They seemed depressed a bit, and I’m sure other people where more rough with them then I was. And after that there was tiny aquariums with small fish inside of the building, the building was small but it wasn’t really cramped. I thought the sea horses were cool, so I did enjoy seeing them. The penguin aquarium was so small also, it was a bit depressing. The penguins were all right, they didn’t really do any thing but I felt weird looking at them. After that, i was in the back of the aquarium already, in the blue section where you can make a boat. I made one and raced it along the water they have there, it was pretty fun but it was sort of lack luster. Behind there was an Aquarium sort of with a few dishes. Some of them were swimming but another one, a flounder, was just staring at me. I didn’t really enjoy it. It had 2 eyes on one side of its face so it was definitely a fish that doesn’t move. The aquarium just sort of felt lackluster and really small. By the end, I was using the restroom, and there was a sign of the penguins, it said “They poop up to 145 times a day” with a picture of a penguin. It was a little funny, but it also made me sad because I already seen the penguins and I can’t go back now and they where so morning. The coolest thing was the shark statues at the start of the entrance.

Experiencia negativa: I went to the Aquarium on 2/28, my experience was not that great. I paid about $30 a piece for 2 tickets and was unable to see everything in the aquarium. It was a quick walk through to see a couple of fishes and seahorses and maybe one shark that we weren’t really allowed to touch because the staff didn’t want us to wake it up. It was a weird experience wouldn’t really go back. The pictures attached below were the only things I saw, the only good thing was the view of the ocean that’s literally it.

Experiencia positiva: Overall wonderful visit very good at being educational. However, a large portion of the aquarium is closed for renovation. Making a rather short trip for your dollar. If there was no renovation likely a higher rating but at the moment, 3 stars.

Experiencia positiva: Nice collection just not that much options & big size aquarium. I was kinda hoping for a bigger size aquarium with the money pay for the ticket as that's all to see.

Experiencia fantástica: Great place to take kids or a quick place to explore. A bit on the smaller side for an aquarium but still exciting! Great views of the ocean as well

Experiencia fantástica: Went on a Sunday, it was pretty packed. Not many attractions to be honest but they are under construction so that makes sense. Can't wait for the opening of the new section. My kids still enjoyed their time. It was very nice to see the awesome fishes and other sea creatures. They also have a beautiful view overlooking la jolla beach. And a good amount of seating, if you want to take a little break and enjoy the ocean view.

Experiencia fantástica: The Birch Aquarium is currently doing a partnership with the San Diego Air & Apace Museum and tickets were free! It was a shame that they're renovating, but if the new exhibits are as cool as the existing ones, I sure it will be even better, if that's possible. I really enjoyed the projection art and contemporary pieces throughout the different areas as well as the sensory spaces all over the aquarium. It was a really cool place to go to and the staff were very friendly and funny. If I was still in the area this summer I would definitely go see the new exhibit.

Experiencia fantástica: Nice small aquarium for the kids! Enjoyed the many seas horses they have on display as well as the outdoor patio area for kids to run around.

Experiencia positiva: This is a small aquarium. For $30 I think you are mostly paying for the view WHICH IS GORGEOUS but I expected a lot more for $30 admission and for part of the place was closed for construction (Hall of Fishes). Theres no jellyfish or turtles or octopuses, so if that’s what you’re looking for this is not the place for you. They do have a couple of touch ponds which was so cool and they employees are VERY knowledgeable about the species there. I learned a lot about venomous vs poisonous fish and coral. They have a small section for the penguins too. We arrived at 9am, right when it opened and stayed for 45 mins and then spent 15 mins in the gift shop. I was a little disappointed being here because I was expecting to get more for my money but I still had a good time. I will advise that arrive EARLY. On a weekend by 10am all the families and kids will arrive. And since this is a small place, it will feel crowded fast. You have to buy tickets in advance.

Experiencia negativa: Parking easy on a weekday. This venue/exhibit is simply horrible. Great if you are an 8 year old hanging with your classmates…. Not so good if you are an adult who paid to visit this attraction. I read the other reviews and your explanation of upcoming attractions and renovations is lame. Lower the entrance prices then…. Very nice staff was the only positive!

Experiencia positiva: A fairly small public aquarium outside San Diego. At the time of our visit part of the building was closed for refurbishment, so it probably took around an hour to look around. Some of the exhibits were impressive. Not sure they covered all aspects of the ocean life, but they had a good try. Staff were lovely, helpful and knowledgeable. Free car park.

Experiencia positiva: We went during museum month so it was half price. They are doing construction on the fish tanks so there isn’t that much to see. There are only penguins, seahorses, coral and a small amount of tide pool area outside. There are some kid play activities. Overall, it’s ok at half price but we won’t visit again until the construction is finished

Experiencia negativa: I wish I read the REVIEWS before I went here. Paid about $30 for an adult ticket, definitely was not worth it. Walked around the entire place TWICE in 30 mins, that’s how small this place is. Great place for little kids, terrible place for adults. They should be charging more for kids tickets than the adult tickets , because the adults barely get to enjoy the place. They better make sure those construction workers are doing their jobs because I saw lots of them just standing around, wish I saved my money and just went to a pet store for FREE. I’ll be back when “construction” is done, but I don’t think I’ll be coming back in anytime soon.

Experiencia negativa: What a disappointment. I find it a stretch to call this an aquarium. It would be better labeled as a museum or children's learning center. There were a few tanks, most very small. There were more screens and things to read than live fish to look at. The lone penguin was cute, and the sea horses were interesting, but save yourself $30/ticket and go to your local Petco to get a better aquarium experience.

Experiencia positiva: They are remodeling so not a lot of exhibits are open. I don’t think it’s worth the price at the moment.

Experiencia negativa: A ticket for an adult and a child cost $ 50. The only reason it was worth coming was the beautiful view of the ocean. There's almost nothing to see. The entire aquarium can be viewed in 5 minutes. And of course, a gift shop and expensive prices.

Experiencia fantástica: Small aquarium but fun for kids. They loved seeing all the sea life, creating boats to go down the water, and playing with the foam blocks. My husband and I enjoyed the views while they played. My favorite part was the penguins area. They’re so cute.

Experiencia positiva: Worth visiting, even if it's in transition with a new exhibit under construction. Especially wonderful are the Blue Penguins, really blue and so small. And the coral reef display has been set up so that you can view creatures up close with a special water magnifier. The giant clam lips are astonishing psychedelic.There are loads of volunteers to help with questions and to staff the many creative interactive stations for young kids. Can't wait to see the transformed aquarium.

Experiencia positiva: I would say I had a decent experience. It was fairly small and had a hard time enjoying just because I had high expectations. But, I can see all the little kids enjoying the area where you can create your own raft and watch it float down the little stream they made specifically for it.

Experiencia positiva: A pretty underwhelming aquarium honestly. More of a children's education center which is great and such, seems like the kids really liked the interactive material. Adults like aquariums too tho :'(

Experiencia fantástica: My family of three had a wonderful experience! Before we entered we are at the restaurant right out front and you'll 100% get your money's worth when buying food. Greg the chef made very great food he was a very kind man we enjoyed talking to him. Once we entered the aquarium it was peaceful, very educational with the employees doing a great job explaining what some exhibits were. We needed to refund a ticket and the service desk was very helpful and quick so we weren't there long. My son is two, they have plenty of activities for the little ones and nice areas to be in case it gets a little hot. 10/10 I would recommend for a family.

Experiencia positiva: Unfortunately the aquarium was partially under construction when we went so there wasn't as much variety as we thought and was a shorter visit than expected. What we did see was great though and the staff where knowledgeable and friendly. The penguin exhibit was really great. We got to see one penguin repeatedly steal grass from another penguin's house and bring it to its own house. We also caught one of the penguin feedings which was adorable. The seahorse and sea dragon area was cool too. They had a huge variety of sea horses. The kiddo in our crew lovedddd the river boat building activity and the touch pools. Also all the people at the stations where amazing. They all knew so much about the animals and habitats. It was also pretty good for wheelchair access, but in crowded areas, like by the penguins during feeding, it was hard to navigate.

Experiencia positiva: Some exhibits closed at this time. 2 new attractions since I was there last- -sock skating rink and Riveropolis. My 7 year old grandson loved them. He built numerous boats to go down the “river”. The docents here are knowledgeable and so helpful. One of them told my grandson all about the sharks hanging just inside the front entrance. The Splash Cafe outside the entrance has a great variety of tasty food. I love the French fries. My grandson is allergic to egg. The chicken nuggets batter is egg-free here!!!! Small compared to other aquariums but definitely worth a visit.

Experiencia negativa: I understand that "you're undergoing a big transformation" that doesn't make it right to pay full price to see 5 fish. It takes less than 30mins to see everything you got. You're crooks plan and simple. The drive to the aquarium had more value than actually going in. Happy thieving!

Experiencia fantástica: *Contribute to Birch Aquarium & research & purchase your very own ceramic star fish showcased on a wall honoring a loved one with their name & personal message. Honor those you loved with a contribution to research. Some of these messages reflect a lifetime of love for the ocean. Very touching.

Experiencia positiva: One of the main attractions called the Hall of fishes closed on September 2024 for renovations, this is the big fish tank that you see in most pictures, and it was disappointing not being told about this until were were inside. The aquarium is rather small, penguin section is very nice and the place is absolutely a fun place for kids. Ticket prices are a bit expensive for what you are getting, but parking is free, and the views towards the beach area are really good, specially at sunset.

Experiencia fantástica: Glad we went, but about half the exhibits are under construction. The larger tanks and mammal and fish exhibits. Call first.

Experiencia fantástica: Absolutely love this aquarium . Went for Indigenous Ocean days. Was not disappointed

Experiencia fantástica: Birch Aquarium is a nice little hidden gem. It’s never too busy, and perfect for our two toddlers aged 3 and 5. It has interactive experiences, lots of fish, and takes roughly an hour to go through. Highly recommend it to parents looking for something to do. The sunsets are amazing to watch with the family.

Experiencia fantástica: It’s not a very large aquarium and can be walked through at a leisurely pace within 1-2 hours. Free parking, slightly pricey ticket. The diversity of the animals is actually quite nice, there are entire sections devoted to seahorses, coral, and little blue penguins. Very impressed with the staff keeping an eye on children regarding the touch tanks and coral exhibit and gently urging them not to over stimulate the animals. I enjoy places where staff keep the animals wellness in mind while also being informative about their life and behaviour.

Experiencia fantástica: Never got a chance to visit when I was a student. Didn’t realize the school owns this fabulous place too, wow. Why didn’t I study oceanography or marine biology? Must be super fun. I had a wonderful day here during the homecoming event! Saw lots of amazing creatures.

Experiencia positiva: Took my two toddlers here over the weekend on a early Sunday morning. When we got there the nice friendly staff told us that half the aquarium was under construction. I do wish they might have discounted the price due to that but overall my kids enjoy the experience, and got to see penguins and some stingrays

Experiencia fantástica: This place is always a pleasure to visit. Great for bringing your kids and exploring what the sea has to offer. I love the layout of this space and how it has indoor and outdoor experiences. They did a nice job setting up the penguin viewing area and made it really immersive towards the left wing. I appreciate how close the bathrooms are and how well-thought out the space is.

Experiencia positiva: This is a cute, small, reasonably priced aquarium with a child-friendly collection of interactive exhibits, touchable sea creatures, and birds. Parking is free but limited with a gift shop and cafe. Fantastic views of the Pacific.

Experiencia positiva: We had a great time at the Birch Aquarium. They participate in the Museums for all. So if you have an EBT or WIC card you can get in for $3.