AQUARIUMS

Aquariums are a great way to stay cool, learn, and explore! Below is a list of aquariums that are a must this summer!

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Heal the Bay Aquarium –

Located directly under the Santa Monica pier, this aquarium features touch tanks, kelp forest, over 100 local species on exhibit and more! Every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1:00pm and 3:00pm are feedings demonstrations.

Admission: Adults & Teens (13+) $12.00, Kids (4-12) $5.00, Kids 3 & under FREE with an adult ticket purchase. (An adult must accompany children at all times), students $10.00, Older adults (65+) $10.00, EBT (cardholder) $6.00, and Military (active-duty military personnel, retired military personnel, and veterans) FREE.

Hours of operation: Wednesdays – Sunday 12:00pm – 4:00pm.

Address: 1600 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

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Roundhouse Aquarium –

Located at the very end of the Manhattan Beach Pier. This FREE aquarium offers a beautiful walk down the pier, many aquatic tanks, an immersion gallery, and more! Yes, it is free, but they do have a suggested donation of $5 per person, $10 per family, and $20 per group. These donations help them continue to operate this facility.

Hours of operation: April through September: Monday thru Friday from 2:00pm – 7:00pm and Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am – 7:00pm. October through March: Monday thru Friday from 2:00pm – 5:00pm and Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am – 5:00pm.

Address: Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

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San Pedro Marine Mammal Care Center –

This is a really neat facility to visit if you haven’t been yet. It is not an aquarium but a care center for marine mammals. They rescue seals and sea lions who have been hurt or trapped and care for them until they are ready to be released back into the ocean.

They are open to the public Fridays thru Mondays from 10:00am to 4:00pm for FREE! Online reservations are recommended as walk-in visits are limited.

Address: 3601 South Gaffey Street #8, San Pedro, CA 90731.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium –

This is an amazing aquarium, one that I have on my bucket list of places to visit. The price per ticket is the main reason I haven’t suggested it, but just last year they started offering free admission to EBT cardholders. If you or anyone you know has an EBT card, share the news!

For reference I will add the cost of a regular admission ticket:

Adult $65,

Youth $50,

Senior $50,

age 4 and under free,

Members enter free (No reservations required. Present your digital member card with your ID to enjoy the Aquarium! Become a member.)

Museums for All: Free admission for up to four people is available at the Main Entrance for SNAP EBT (or CalFresh/EBT in California) cardholders, with a matching photo ID.

Hours of operation: Monday thru Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Address: 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940.

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Cabrillo Marine Aquarium –

This fun aquarium is open year-round and has a suggested donation of $7 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.

Hours of operation: Tuesday thru Friday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm and Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Address: 3720 Stephen M White Dr, San Pedro, CA 90731.

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Free to visit centers that feature aquarium exhibits:

• Cerritos Library in Cerritos, California. Their children’s section is amazing and features a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. Address: 18025 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703, United States
• California Science Center in Los Angeles, California. Not only is this a free center to visit, but they have a ton of exhibits that are included with the free general admission. One of which is the “Rocky Shore” exhibit, located within the ecosystems: Extreme Zone, which offers a touch tank, kelp forest, and many other neat aquariums to explore. Address: 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037
• Bass Pro Shop in Irvine, California. Probably the weirdest location on this list, but it is a really cool spot to check out if you have never been. It also features an aqaurium with live bass. The entire shop is a neat experience to walk through, even if you don’t purchase anything. Address: 71 Technology Drive, Irvine, CA 92618

So, what are you waiting for? Go explore!

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