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Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA

Photo: Rhinopias, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsIconicFamily FavoriteRainy-Day Pick

Monterey Bay Aquarium

886 Cannery Row · Monterey, CA

Why you should go…

The aquarium opened in 1984 on the site of the Hovden Cannery, a former sardine plant on Cannery Row. Its Kelp Forest exhibit stands 28 feet tall, and the Open Sea tank holds 1.2 million gallons with hammerhead and sandbar sharks, stingrays and sea turtles. You can watch the sea otter feeding and training sessions and walk through Into the Deep, an exhibition of animals from the deep sea. Buying tickets in advance makes for a smoother entry.

  • #aquarium
  • #sea otters
  • #cannery row
  • #kelp forest
  • #family attraction

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Monterey Bay Aquarium, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Monterey Mirror Maze

    Under $25

    Walk-through mirror maze and laser challenge arcade on Monterey's Cannery Row.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Eat & Drink
    Date Night

    Fish Hopper

    $25–$50

    Seafood and steak restaurant on Monterey's historic Cannery Row.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Cannery Row Antique Mall

    Free

    A two-story antique and collectibles mall on Cannery Row set inside a restored 1927 sardine cannery building.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Cannery Row

    Free

    Monterey's historic waterfront row of former sardine canneries turned shops, restaurants and hotels.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Links Club

    $25–$50

    Indoor golf simulator lounge in Carmel-by-the-Sea with TrackMan bays, a full bar and live music.

    4.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    History Buff

    Carmel Mission Basilica

    Under $25

    Historic 1797 Spanish mission church founded by Junipero Serra, now a minor basilica with a museum and gardens.

    5.3 mi awayMore like this