A not-for-profit aquarium on the edge of New Monterey’s downtown area, the Monterey Bay Aquarium focuses on local marine habitats while housing around 35,000 animals, covering 550 regional and global species. From octopuses, turtles and sharks to coral fish, penguins and whales, the aquarium is a veritable gallery of the underwater world.
Check out some of the incredible exhibits around the aquarium, including the Kelp Forest, an underwater forest home to leopard sharks, red octopuses, rockfish and California sheephead. The Rocky Shore touch pools let you get hands-on with snails, anemones and mussels, while the Splash Zone houses African penguins and swell sharks.
The Life on the Bay exhibit offers a unique experience of observing sea creatures in Monterey Bay, such as sea otters and humpback whales, from viewing decks. Don’t miss the daily sea otter, penguin and open sea feedings and shows like Project White Shark and Mysteries of the Deep.
Getting around Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is around five minutes’ drive from Monterey and can be reached in just over 10 minutes using the Jazz B bus to the Foam/Irving stop. You can drive there in around 15 minutes from Monterey Regional Airport.