GUIDE TO THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM

The extraordinary Monterey Bay Aquarium, in Monterey, California, takes you right into the undersea universe of moon jellies, sardines, sea turtles and sharks. From the moment your family ventures past the doors of this enormous museum of all things "sea," the oohs and aahs won't stop. Two million marine life enthusiasts come each year—so buy your tickets early (and don’t forget your camera!); you’ll want to document your adventure into the world of underwater creatures.

KELP FORESTS AND OCEAN DEPTHS

You don't just ogle the sea creatures in Aquarium exhibits, you get a sense of what it feels like to be one. The moment you enter, you're immersed in the undersea world. Gaze up in wonder at the soaring 28-feet Kelp Forest, one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world, where sardines, leopard sharks and wolf eels swim through forests of kelp. Embark on a virtual dive with the Mission to the Deep exhibit, where a 360-degree video projection sends you on an exploration of giant jellyfish, black-eyed squid and other one-of-a-kind animals that inhabit the deep, dark depths of the ocean.

SHARKS AND TENTACLES

All kids to the Splash Zone! Your family can explore the ocean together in this wet indoor playground the younger kids will love, with 45 interactive displays that take you right into coral reefs, kelp forests and rocky shores. Or get touchy-feely with the inhabitants of the touch pools, including sea cucumbers and bat rays. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, sign your little ones up for the Underwater Explorers program, where children ages 8 to 13 can scuba dive with staff and meet sea creatures in the Great Tide Pool.

FINS AND MORE

The Aquarium is not just about the fish, though. In the Sandy Shore & Aviary, you’ll be able to watch birds forage for insects in mud flats and marshes. Don’t miss the two-story Sea Otters exhibit: on the first floor, you can watch these furry creatures swim and glide underwater; on the second floor, you’ll be able to catch them tumbling and frolicking at the water’s surface.

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