California holds the reputation of having the world’s best aquariums, which most tourists love to visit as their first place to visit in California. So if you are planning to visit California in the USA, then never forget to visit the aquariums were a great experience is ensured and almost certified.
In this article, we bring you the list of the best aquariums in California, with almost everything you need to know about them. So we invite you to stick around until the end to find out what you’ve been looking for about the great aquariums in the USA.
Table of Contents
- Which California aquarium is the best?
- 1. Birch Aquarium
- 02. Aquarium of the Pacific
- 03. Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- 04. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
- ● Heal the bay aquarium.
- 05. Aquarium of the Bay.
- 06. Steinhart Aquarium.
- 07. Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.
- 08. Sea life aquarium.
- 09. Ocean world, Crescent city.
- 10. Roundhouse Aquarium
- 11. Santa Barbara Museum
- What are the best aquariums in Southern California?
- What are the best aquariums in Northern California?
- Is the Monterey or San Francisco aquarium better?
- What is the biggest aquarium in California?
- What is the #1 aquarium in the US?
- Some related FAQs.
Which California aquarium is the best?
No one can exactly say that a particular aquarium is the best because each large aquarium has different kinds of species, leisure activities, kids’ areas, and other related things to enjoy.
But the following list will bring out the best of the best. So there is no need to wait so long. Here are the best aquariums in California.
1. Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium immerses visitors in the fascinating world of cutting-edge research as the public outreach facility for the renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
A rescued Loggerhead Sea Turtle, a Giant Pacific Octopus, Leopard Sharks, and jellies are just a few of the exciting animals you can encounter while exploring interactive exhibits.
Don’t miss the two-story Giant Kelp Forest or the outdoor touch pools, which offer breathtaking ocean views and the chance to touch baby sharks, rays, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and other marine life.
All visitors over the age of two must cover their faces, and everyone, even members, must make reservations in advance.
02. Aquarium of the Pacific
In exhibits ranging in size and volume from roughly 5,000 to 350,000 gallons, the aquarium of the Pacific hosts a collection of over 11,000 animals representing over 500 different species.
The Pacific Ocean is introduced through exhibits, which also emphasize specific conservation messages related to each region’s ecosystems and seascapes.
Three significant permanent exhibits center on the Pacific Ocean: the warm waters of Southern California and Baja, the chilly waters of the Northern Pacific, and the vibrant reefs of the Tropical Pacific.
03. Monterey Bay Aquarium.
In Monterey, California, there is a nonprofit public aquarium called the Monterey Bay Aquarium. When it first opened in October 1984, it was the first to feature a living kelp forest and was well-known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay.
It was the first country to successfully care for and exhibit a great white shark, and its biologists were pioneers in the husbandry of jellyfish. Sea otters, various birds, and tunas are also the subject of the organization’s research and conservation efforts.
The aquarium’s publication of Seafood Watch, a sustainable seafood advisory list, in 1999 had an impact on the conversation about sustainable seafood.
Is a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium worthwhile?
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located in the Monterey town at the conclusion of Cannery Row. While admission to the aquarium is pricey—$39.95 for adults, $34.95 for youths aged 13 to 17, and $24.95 for kids aged 3 to 12—most visitors believe the attractions inside make it worthwhile, with some even calling it the best aquarium they’ve ever seen.
04. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an adventure, just like a biology lab in school should be. A wave tank demonstrates how sand is pushed up onto the beach, and life-size models and whale and dolphin skeletons hang from the ceiling.
Marine life is displayed in aquariums and touch tanks. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the exhibits by enthusiastic docents, some of whom are students.
Sea stars, anemones, urchins, and a leopard shark are all present in the tidepool touch tank (out of reach). Visit the “Aquaculture Research Lab,” where jellyfish are hatched and raised on brine shrimp, as well as the Garibaldi, one of California’s state fish.
● Heal the bay aquarium.
Through education, interaction, and discovery, Heal the Bay Aquarium encourages appreciation for and protection of California’s coastal waters, watersheds, and marine life.
Heal the Bay Aquarium is open to the public every day and draws close to 100,000 visitors a year. It is situated at beach level, right below the Carousel at the Santa Monica Pier.
In addition to over 100 local animal and wildlife species on display, the Aquarium offers interactive games and activities for kids of all ages.
The Aquarium has served more than one million guests during its 16 years in business, and its internal educational initiatives and field trips annually reach more than 100,000 students.
05. Aquarium of the Bay.
Head to the Aquarium of the Bay for a unique underwater experience if you find yourself at San Francisco’s famous Pier 39, which is likely to happen if you’re visiting the City by the Bay.
Visitors can delight in the aquarium’s two immersive walk-through tunnels in addition to the stunning views of the San Francisco waterfront.
It’s quite an experience to walk through these tunnels, which are the length of a football field.
They give you the impression that you are taking an underwater stroll because they have about 700,000 gallons of water and more than 20,000 different animal species. Discover everything underwater, including fascinating sharks, from the smallest to the largest.
06. Steinhart Aquarium.
One of the most interactive and biologically diverse aquariums on the planet is Steinhart Aquarium. It provides visitors with an unparalleled view of aquatic and terrestrial habitats because it is home to nearly 40,000 live animals that represent more than 900 distinct species.
A trip to the Steinhart Aquarium is full of discoveries, from species on display that are found nowhere else in the world to exhibits about cutting-edge research in little-known ocean ecosystems.
You might need an entire day to complete everything, including meeting Claude, the albino alligator at the aquarium, admiring “The Philippine Coral Reef,” the world’s deepest indoor reef, and being mesmerized by the starfish at the Discovery Tidepool.
07. Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.
Even though Santa Monica Pier is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in Los Angeles, the aquarium is much more than just another attraction there.
Heal the Bay, a nonprofit organization “dedicated to making the coastal waters and watersheds of Greater Los Angeles safe, healthy, and clean,” runs the aquarium, which is located on the ground floor next to the pier.
In keeping with that goal, the aquarium allows guests to view marine life that they might not otherwise be able to see in the bay’s surf. Sea horses, moon jellies, rays, sharks, eels, halibut, and sea stars, among other local celebrities, are featured in exhibits.
08. Sea life aquarium.
The seas and oceans of the world and their numerous mysterious and amazing inhabitants make up the last great frontier, and Merlin’s SEA LIFE® attractions are an ideal, affable, and knowledgeable guide to them.
Astonishing up-close encounters with everything from common shrimp and starfish to seahorses, sharks, and stingrays are made possible by unparalleled display technology, biological know-how, and entertainment prowess.
Incorporating engaging educational talks, active, hands-on learning, and opportunities for up-close encounters with a variety of marine animals, SEA LIFE® is intended to be a child’s first interactive introduction to the life of the sea. A trip to SEA LIFE® is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
09. Ocean world, Crescent city.
A Crescent City Jewel for Three Generations: Ocean World The Crescent City harbor small boat basin has been the home of Ocean World, formerly known as Under Sea Gardens, since 1964.
It was a barge that sailed down to Crescent City from Seattle and was constructed specifically as an aquarium. Viewing sea life through underwater observation windows required visitors to descend below deck of the barge.
The barge was relocated to dry land in 1985, and it now features sea-life habitats housed in tanks with more than 500,000 gallons of water and a wide variety of marine life, including sharks, seals, sea lions, and rays.
With interactive tide pools, shark petting, and a high-flying sea lion performance of behaviors, visitors can enjoy a truly hands-on experience that is fun for the whole family.
10. Roundhouse Aquarium
Making the most of its available space, the first floor even has a touch tank with lovely starfish, coral, and sponges, to name a few. It was interesting to see the miniature habitat and learn about the creatures we were seeing.
There was a helper stationed there who told us that normally they’d be teaching everyone how to properly interact with the marine animals. However, due to the risk of contamination from hand sanitizer (and of course Covid), this was not an option.
The stairs leading up are narrow and quite steep, and the upstairs is comparably small. They do have a wheelchair lift, but despite their best efforts, they were unable to make it work for my sister.
11. Santa Barbara Museum
At the end of State Street in the heart of Santa Barbara, on the historic Stearns Wharf, the Santa Barbara Sea Center enjoys an unmatched location.
You’ll probably find yourself in the aquarium without even trying as you meander through downtown, admiring this central coast treasure’s unsurpassed beauty.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, which is undoubtedly less well-known than the majority of the other aquariums on this list, is home to The Sea Center. But what if you want to take a vacation from sightseeing?
In such instances, the Sea Center has a variety of tanks, exhibits, and displays that let visitors learn more about marine life in the Santa Barbara region.
What are the best aquariums in Southern California?
Most of the aquarimas that we’ve mentioned earlier are situated in South California, and that is one of the major reasons why tourists love to travel to South California.
So here is the list of the best aquariums in South California. If you are willing to visit the USA in the future, I would tell you to not miss out on these paradises.
- Aquarium of the Pacific.
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
- Birch aquarium.
- Heal the bay aquarium.
- Sea Life aquarium.
What are the best aquariums in Northern California?
North California also holds some of the best aquariums in the USA. So why not plan to visit those masterpieces with your naked eyes?
Is the Monterey or San Francisco aquarium better?
I think it’s impossible to compare the two. The aquarium at Monterey Bay is much superior. If you don’t really care about sea life, I think you can skip the aquarium in San Francisco since you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours there.
This is my personal idea, and you can just log into their official websites or the Facebook page to see what’s really inside those aquariums. Also, you can see real customer reviews about the both aquariums here
What is the biggest aquarium in California?
The Aquarium of the Pacific is California’s biggest aquarium and a must-do Long Beach attraction for people of all ages. It is situated near Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. The aquarium examines three different Pacific Ocean waters and has more than 11,000 animal displays.
What is the #1 aquarium in the US?
Georgia aquarium is the number one aquarium in the US holding its reputation for over years. So many people tend to visit this superb aquarium in their visits to USA.
The 800,000-gallon tank where six beluga whales reside, the dolphin show showing the unique bond between people and dolphins, and the whale shark exhibit are the aquarium’s main attractions. In fact, this is the only aquarium in the world outside of Asia to house whale sharks.
View the whale sharks at the Ocean Voyager gallery, which features giant viewing windows and a 100-foot-long tunnel.
Put on a wetsuit and take the plunge into a shark tank, or meet penguins, sea otters, and sea lions. Learn about manta rays, tropical fish in many hues, and American alligators.
Through numerous immersive settings and activities, let the kids experience being marine biologists who are learning on an Aquanaut Adventure.
Some related FAQs.
Where is the biggest aquarium?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, China’s Chimelong Ocean Kingdom has the largest aquarium in the world. It boasts a capacity to hold about 13 million gallons of water.
What is the deepest aquarium?
Nearly ten years after the Georgia Aquarium first opened its doors, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom quickly overtook it as the biggest aquarium in the world in 2014.
This aquarium, which features 12.87 million gallons of fresh and salt water, is situated on the Chinese island of Hengqin, just 15 minutes by car from Macau.
Can I own a shark in California?
It is unlawful to sell shark body parts that are native to California. However, other varieties of sharks appear to be acceptable to keep, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. California has a variety of extremely precise rules regarding animals.
What is the tallest aquarium?
The world’s tallest cylindrical aquarium is now located at Moscow, Russia’s Oceania Mall. The 24-meter-tall, 10-meter-wide acrylic aquarium, which is the focal point of the new mall and immerses visitors in an aquatic world, was created and constructed by International Concept Management (ICM).
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