

The Tropical Pacific Gallery with its Tropical Reef Habitat is the largest exhibit at the Aquarium of the Pacific with over 1000 colorful fish in 350,000 gallons of water that can be seen from three viewing locations. The Northern Pacific Gallery - Highlights include sea jellies, sea otters, and the giant Pacific octopus as well as diving birds like puffins and auklets. The Southern California/Baja Exhibit includes the three-story 142,000 gallon Blue Cavern in the Great Hall, the 211,000 gallon indoor/outdoor Seal and Sea Lion Habitat, the Sea of Cortez gallery, the Ray Touch Pool, Shorebird Sanctuary and Wetlands exhibits and more. The Aquarium of the Pacific has over 30 exhibits in 19 major habitats. Please check the Aquarium website at the most current information. This information was accurate at the time of publication. Harbor Tours, Whale Watching and Dolphin and Sea Life Cruises depart from the Rainbow Harbor near the Aquarium. It is a short walk around Rainbow Harbor from the shops and restaurants at Shoreline Village. It is on the waterfront at Rainbow Harbor on Aquarium Way, off Shoreline Drive just across the Cyclone pedestrian bridge from The Pike entertainment complex and the Long Beach Convention Center.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located in Long Beach near the end of the 710 Freeway.
#Pacific beach oceanarium free#
You can walk from there or take the Free red Passport Bus C that will drop you right in front of the Aquarium. Public Transportation: The Metro Blue Line stops a few blocks north of the Aquarium at the Long Beach Transit Mall. There is discounted parking in the Aquarium parking structure with validation. Parking: There is a fee for parking at the Aquarium or anywhere near the Aquarium. Timed Tickets: During high season, you may have to buy a timed ticket to avoid overcrowding. See page 8 for more discount ticket options. Ticket Prices: $29.95 Adults, $26.95 Seniors (62+), $17.95 Children 3-11 (check for discount weekday tickets). The Watershed Exhibit is limited to school groups before 1 pm on weekdays. Hours: 9 am - 6 pm daily except Dec 25 and Long Beach Grand Prix weekend. There are often themed festivals and special weekend events at the Aquarium of the Pacific that include additional entertainment and family activities. With kids, you could spend 2 hours or all day to have plenty of time for staring transfixed at the jellies, watching the sea lions and other shows and touching all the touchables. If you see a few shows or pay extra for tours, films or other activities, you can extend that a few hours. If you're not one to read all the interpretive panels, an adult can cover the public areas of the Aquarium in an hour. For bigger kids and adults, there are also some really cool behind-the-scenes tours and opportunities to interact with the animals.ĭaily handouts tell you when the scuba diver will be doing presentations from the Blue Cavern or Tropical Pacific Gallery and what other activities are scheduled. There's no "spectacle," but various birds, seals, and sea lions do perform, and kids are welcome to touch all sorts of creatures from sea urchins to zebra sharks. And while it doesn't take you beneath our local waters, it does re-create the various undersea environments of the Pacific in exhibit tanks above ground. The Aquarium of the Pacific focuses on the marine life of the Pacific Ocean with over 12,500 specimens from 550 species in 156,000 square feet of exhibit space.

The distinctive wave-shaped roof of the Aquarium has been a landmark on Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach since 1998 ( no, NOT the round building with the whale mural - that's the Sports Arena). The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California was voted by as one of the 10 best aquariums for kids due to its extensive opportunities for children (and adults) to participate interactively in the learning experience.
