Very nice little aquarium. It's not the largest aquarium that you can go to but they have a decent variety of fish, starfish, sharks, and stingrays. The price of admission is also very reasonable. It's also nice to actually be able to touch some of the animals as well. There is also a nice little kids area on the second floor and the aquarium itself is very kid friendly. Definitely worth the stop if you're anywhere in the area. - Mr.Narrwahl read more

I was raised in this area and never went to the aquarium so I'm sure you can imagine how excited I was to take my toddler here for both of our first times visiting this place! The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable! They were so patient with my baby touching a starfish for the very first time. This place is special and I'm so glad we got to experience it together while visiting Avila beach. read more

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A great little aquarium right off of the water! My daughter really enjoyed coming into the Central Coast Aquarium. They have plenty of interactive stations that let you touch different marine life. Very cool tanks and up close descriptions of everything inside. They had an area upstairs that looks like it was be a great spot for schools to have demonstrations and field trips. Keep up the good work! read more

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Small little aquarium with a few neat ocean creatures, $10 admission. I wouldn't pay to go in again but it was nice to see. It would be good for small children with short attention spans since it is so small. Arrived just in time to see the shark feeding which was really cool. read more

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Randomly stumbled upon this little ~10 ish tank aquarium this past Saturday while we were walking around on the beach, and it's the cutest place ever! $10 per person! Pros: - despite being a tiny aquarium, it has A LOT of fun personality. And because it's small, most people get through it really quickly in less than half an hour. - There's tons of super friendly volunteers (a lot of marine biology students from cal poly apparently? very cool), and they're down to answer any and all questions. I learned so much new info about sharks, octopi, and got to touch a bunch of other sea creatures (sea urchins, etc) with their supervision! It was so fun - Really cute gift shop with cute stickers - Everyone was really kind and patient with us! Cons: - parking in this area can be tricky, so I would recommend you do this as part of the rest of your day in this area. Overall so grateful to find this little place! Hope more people get to support this gem! read more

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The Central Coast Aquarium is a small nonprofit aquarium located in a small beach town. There is free three hour parking out front and around the park. The admission price is reasonable for a small aquarium and goes to the feeding & care of the aquatic creatures. We really enjoyed learning from the volunteers and touching the sea creatures. They also have a cute little gift shop, where the items are reasonably priced. We will return again next time we are near SLO. read more

Central Coast Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Avila Beach, California

We learned so much more about the Ocean life that we enjoy so much. Five sisters had a reunion nearby and took some time to really enjoy learning more about the health of the ocean. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and taking extra time to amaze us. We will come back with the little grandkids in summer. We learned how important the temperature of the water is maintained and continually filtered. read more

It's a small aquarium but well stocked with the species you'd find on the Central Coast. There were several volunteers helping out and they were knowledgeable and friendly. They had some touch tanks and this would be good for kids. Price of admission was reasonable too. read more

Central Coast Aquarium - Avila Beach aquarium. I didn't know they had one! - Aquariums Near Me - Avila Beach, California

I've never been here before but I wanted to take my kids since we were already in Avila. The aquarium was ok, two rooms. It had a few touch opportunities so my kids liked that. We were in and out in 15 minutes, so it definitely wasn't worth the $15/person. Very steep for what it was. We saw it once but we won't return. read more

Small aquarium, but still great for young kids. There are two main areas with animals, as well as a little coloring station and gift shop. You could easily see everything in 15 minutes, but my toddler enjoyed the aquarium for over an hour and would have loved to stay longer if we let him. The staff were friendly and good with kids. Since it's so small, the aquarium itself is not much of a main attraction, but it's right next to a playground and the beach so you can definitely make a day out of all those activities combined. read more

Central Coast Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Avila Beach, California

We love this sweet little aquarium! The staff is always so welcoming and knowledgable. They offer multiple feeding times a day, have a cute gift shop, and allow in and out privileges all day with a hand stamp. Highly recommend as a short added adventure on your central coast trip. read more

Central Coast Aquarium - Aquariums Near Me - Avila Beach, California

Really cute little aquarium! It's small, but the staff and volunteers make it a fun and interactive experience. I got to touch sea stars and urchins, and the exhibits were well put together. Great stop if you're already in the area, plus it's right next to the beach and a park, so you can make a whole afternoon out of it. Definitely worth checking out! read more

It's super cute! Kinda small but it's has some nice exhibits.It's super cute! Kinda small but it's has some nice exhibits.This place is adorable! It's a little on the small side, but that's okay. They've packed a lot into the space they have. The exhibits are really well done and interesting. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area! read more

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This small aquarium is great for young kids. They can see some small sharks, large fish and jellyfish. They can also pet some starfish and sea urchins. While there isn't too much to see, you can't beat the location where you can find a ton of stuff to do. read more

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We had a 1 year old birthday party here last weekend. Haley the coordinator was amazing to work with. The staff and volunteers were all so sweet and good with the kids answering all the questions. The party room, was nice, clean, cool. Tons of room for the kids to play around, enjoyed music, pizza and cake. Two of the staff had a craft table for the kids. Absolutely amazing! 1000% suggest this place to visit for the day or have a birthday party. Also the funds are going to a good cause. read more

This aquarium is very small but has a nice variety of exhibits. The touch tank is fun for small kids. The volunteers are all so kind and welcoming. Our 5 & 8 year olds spent about 45 minutes there and then were off to the nearby beach. read more

For a little, local aquarium, this is a treasure. Local docents do a very nice job in explaining all the creatures and an hour is sufficient. Outside is a fun playground overlooking the beach. read more

Small aquarium, but cute. They allowed us to pet some of the sea life. We like that they offer different prices for entrance fees (see thier webpage). read more

Central Coast Aquarium - Jelly fish - Aquariums Near Me - Avila Beach, California

The workers are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. We stopped by here to walk on the beach and found this little cute aquarium. There was a petting area where i aas able to pet the starfish and a shark. Had a fun time. They have events at certain times. We werent able to stay for it but im sure it would have been great! $9 per person for entry and you get a pass for the whole day. read more

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Located in the small park with playground as you enter Avila Beach, this is a really cute aquarium. Took our grandchildren here (ages 7 &10). There are a few displays about the ocean and how it influences piers and the land. Lots of reading, which is informative. The big hit are the actual glass tanks containing live creatures. One is full of jelly fish. You can watch them propel themselves and float about. A large tank has a number of sharks and other fish swimming around. Another has a few varieties of sharks. the docents, on a schedule, give a little talk and feed the sharks. What they eat, the stacking order as to who eats first (the male) and how much of what go to each shark. And these are patterned sharks, the largest about 18 inches long. So they are manageable and you can see them clearly. The guys loved it and we enjoyed the experience. It costs a few dollars to enter and you can come back if your hand is stamped. Our guys loved the playground and then would come back inside, especially if there was another demonstration taking place. A nice break from beach and fun. And you might even learn something. read more

I read the other reviews and was hesitant to bring my elementary age children because it sounded like the experience was geared to younger children. Much like the Atascadero Zoo, this isn't a World Class Facility in terms of size and funding, but it is fabulously intimate, there are very helpful docents (more than enough for all the people), and great details on the animals (horseshoe crabs, swell sharks, rays, eels). Importantly, the docents gauged the information they shared to their audience --- great teaching! There are regular feedings and we stayed for feedings of the flat fish and swell sharks (one of which gave birth to eggs while asleep and being held). The gift shop also has great sea-related toys and stuffed animals. I would highly recommend this for an hour or so, plus time at the pirate ship playground outside. I would caution against thinking you can casually eat someplace nearby. On a Saturday in spring, everywhere was packed. I wished we had planned ahead for a picnic lunch in the adjacent park. read more

Well..where do I start and how do I start this review. So I grew up in Pismo and never ever came to this aquarium but finally came here to bring my 1 year old to enjoy some fishies. Now, don't get me wrong the $8 entrance fee is not too much but at the same time I am torn because this place is super tiny! I think I've been in aquarium stores that were bigger than this place. I was hoping to spend a decent hour when I got there but completed the whole thing in 25 min, which included some shark feedings. They had a really cool octopus in one tank but it won't be around long as they are letting it heal before releasing it back into the ocean. Good for the octopus but bad for the aquarium...I would pay the $8 to just see that octopus again but not really the other marine life. Hence, I don't think we will be coming back here anytime soon. My son just did a big ole 5 second glance around the room and he was done. 2 and under are free and supposedly they have some great classes for kids and camps. As much as I wanted to give them 4 stars, the lack of marine life gives this place a 3 for me. If there were even just more educational posters or things to read, I would have probably given them the extra star. The customer service is great, the younger staff are prompt and very helpful. The shark feeding was informative and quick. The playground in front of the aquarium is a hit though and you should definitely check it out. read more

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" Very Small For The $$$ " The Central Coast Aquarium at Avila Beach California is a very small venue. They charge an $8.00 fee to get into the Aquarium and it only takes about 10 minutes to walk round and see everything in the Aquarium. The staff was very nice, but you expect a lot more for your money than you get. The Aquarium is located right on the Avila Beach and is close to other restaurants , stores, etc. read more

Central Coast Aquarium - Aquarium Entrance - Aquariums Near Me - Avila Beach, California

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Highly recommend this little gem of an aquarium in Avila. The docents are extremely knowledgeable and there is lots to see and experience. They also have a nice little gift shop. read more

The hours on Google are incorrect. They are currently only open a few hours on whichever days they are *actually* open.

Very cute little 2-room aquarium. The price of entry is a fraction of what you would pay at a larger aquarium, so adjust your expectations accordingly. The aquarium is really just 2 long rooms with lots of different tanks along the way and a small gift shop on the way out. Considering the price paid for entry though, I would say it was well worth it. I loved that they had interactive tanks where kids could touch hermit crabs, sea stars, and other small sea creatures. The staff are also incredibly informative and helpful - answering any question your kiddos can think of. They also had a scheduled feeding in one of the tanks while we were there and they gave a talk with lots of interesting facts about the fish inside. They also had a scheduled session where you could touch a shark later, but we didn't stick around long enough to do it (would have loved to though - will have to visit a bit later in the day next time for that). They also had a few tanks with shark eggs, and it was so cool to see the baby sharks wiggling inside. You could also see baby sharks that had recently hatched. Overall - don't expect the experience to compete with a larger aquarium, and don't expect to spend too much time, but for the very low price and hands-on experiences that the larger aquariums don't allow - it was well worth it in my opinion. read more

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This is a small aquarium located right by beach. It is 2 small rooms and you can plan to spend 30-60 mts here. The highlight is that you can touch a shark and crabs. read more

Small aquarium. Employees were nice and knowledgeable. Our baby got to touch a starfish. There was a larger group ahead of us that were speaking with an employee about a specific set up. We would have liked to hear what the conversation was about with the animals but again it's small, which makes it difficult to accommodate larger groups. read more

Very small venue, lots of various sea life here. Was packed full of people. Staff was friendly. A bit over priced though. Over all a good place to take your kids for 1/2 hour. read more

Central Coast Aquarium - Crab - Aquariums Near Me - Avila Beach, California

My boyfriend and I really enjoyed this aquarium. Everyone working there was very kind and knowledgeable. I love that a they rescue some of the sea life and then release them back into the ocean when they're healthy again. We felt $9 per adult was a reasonable price for the size of the aquarium so I'm not sure why I saw so many reviews saying it was expensive (it's $9). Definitely would recommend for all ages! read more

We liked this aquarium. It was so much fun and lots of good pictures to take. We saw sharks, jellyfish, eels, sea anemones, and lots of fish. It is a very small aquarium. Just one small first story building. There are some hands-on exhibits, but you are in and out within an hour easy. Admission is eight dollars per person, which is kind of steep for such a small aquarium, but they are a nonprofit, so it benefits all the fishes in the sea :-) they have feedings and little mini tours. If you're lucky, you'll get a parking spot out front, otherwise there's a six dollar lot across the street. If you're headed to Avila Beach for the day, make a stop. Pictures courtesy of my nine-year-old daughter :) read more

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This is a cute, clean aquarium. It cost $5 each to get in, and we spent about 40 minutes looking around. They have swell sharks you can pet, a small Octopus, other small tanks of urchin, etc you can hold. This is a non-profit organization, so it helps our Central Coast aquatic friends. They have a small gift shop attached with sea themed purchase items. This small aquarium is probably best suited for children under 10 years old. There is a small park next to the aquarium, and Avila Beach is literally steps from the aquarium. If you made the aquarium part of a day in Avila, it would be a great way to make some memories. read more

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We finally decided to check this place out and ended up getting a family membership. With the family membership you can take 5 additional people for free. And you get discounts on the gift shop and some events. This small aquarium has a lot of good animals considering the size. It is clean and they are well taken care of. As of now they have a smaller octopus and a baby octopus. I was told they cycle them out as they can get bored. It's really good to hear they do care about the animals well being. They have a small touch pool area where you can pet sea cucumber and star fish. When you walk in the main room there is about 6 larger tanks. They have some small sharks that if you're there for the swell shark encounter you can pet (They are asleep) be careful..they can spit water at you! They have a tank with shark eggs and you can see the different stages. You can even see some wiggling around inside. We went this time to see the baby shark that hatched days before. There are tanks with different ages of jellyfish. It was cool to see the different life stages. And they do jellyfish feedings and talks. There is a small gift shop. They also can do birthday parties here. The staff is friendly and the facilities are extremely clean. It's great to have this place to go to for educational and entertainment purposes. I highly recommend thid aquarium. read more

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So, this place is cute and I do love how here in Avila we have a small little place to educate kids and adults on our sea life. The workers here know what they are taking about and they are really friendly. There are a couple touch tanks, and a few out of the ordinary creatures. It literally is the size of my living room and like someone said earlier if you were to stand in front of the wall divider you could see the whole place. I do think it's overpriced for what you get, but at the same time I know that money is going towards a good cause, so there's that. I visit (local) maybe like once every two years just because it's not exactly somewhere my kids beg to return to. read more

For the small size this place was great! Probably more for a little bit older kids, my 6 and 8 year old spent a long time there but might not be as fun for a younger one. You can even get your hand stamped to come back for feedings. The workers were friendly and happy to share information or answer questions. read more

Save your $ Put it this way you can stand between 2 rooms in the middle, turn your head to the left and turn to the right and BAM!!that's it. Your done.. you just seen everything they have to show you. Don't go to fast might miss all 10 tanks. Sorry but don't let the 2 story building fool you read more

Loved their informative demonstrations.. we touched a shark and hermit crabs and they also had jelly fish feedings too!!!! even if it was very small there was plenty to do and knowing the money goes to their non profit organization made it even better!!! Gift shop wasn't over priced at all unlike other touristy places . And did I mention it's right next to the beach!!!! read more

This is a nice little non for profit aquarium located conveniently next to a park, beach and restaurants. Entry is slightly expensive at $8 but it's worth it. There are touch tanks, flounders, horse shoe crabs and octopuses, along with feeding demos which I think makes worth going. read more

Honestly?... $8 to see about five aquariums and a couple touch tanks? See if you agree: You enter and walk up to a seashore animal touch tank, then there's a tank with one little octopus I would guess about 15 gallons. Like a tank you buy in the store. Then there's a large round tank with a lobster! -wow never seen a lobster before--then a circular tank to show life On a pier piling.-----then a tank with three swell sharks that they use to do touch the shark skin demo---and one more circular tank with a horseshoe crab -----that's it----end of "aquarium" Oh I lied--- the last 50% of their interior floor space is dedicated to a gift shop-- selling toy walruses, t shirts with whales, stuffed dolphins and the like-- The people in front of us said they felt like the "aquarium" is simply a gimmick to get you into a gift shop--- took all of about 7 minutes for the kids to get in, see the animals and get to the end and pronounce " let's leave". So our bill for 7 minutes --- $40 Hey! But it included free admission to a gift shop! Ok, without the sarcasm, being degreed in Marine Biology and having been to just about every public aquarium, I feel to open the doors and charge $8 for adults and the same for kids for five or six tanks is ridiculous. Even the little Aquarium over at Morro Bay only asks $2 to walk through theirs---had this been $2 for adults and kids alike, you'd see no bad review from me but when families are paying out close to $50 to walk through this, I'll have to agree with the couple in front of us -- A gimmick to get you into a gift shop. Too bad -- it's has potential and could be so much more--lets hope in the future they minimize the merchandizing and maximize the aquaria. read more

If you are under age 2 they let you in free, but otherwise everyone is the same rate and we paid well over $20 for a 3-year-old and two adults. That bothered me, especially after I realized how small the aquarium was (two rooms with several exhibits "in progress" - in other words, nothing there yet). (There is also a gift shop.) Our small guest didn't want to touch any of the sea creatures, so although it's a very nice feature to have staff offering to let you touch sea stars, urchins, and other small ocean animals, this didn't turn out to suit our guest. You can learn a lot about the animals from the docents, but if you have a little one with you, they hardly want to stand still while Auntie gets information about sea star legs. At age three they don't gaze too long at any one creature in a tank, so crabs, lobsters, small sharks, big fish, and even jellyfish didn't hold his attention for long. The little one didn't want to listen to or stand still for a docent's talk about small sharks, either. This made for an awfully quick and expensive visit to this aquarium. It's nice that the docents give talks about the creatures (like the small sharks that they let visitors touch under supervision) and that a schedule is posted about activities such as jellyfish feeding. Once you pay you can come and go if you keep your receipt, so visitors can return for activities they're interested in. This just doesn't work for little kids who get exhausted during an Avila Beach visit and are taken home, so I'd only recommend this aquarium for older kids and for adults who are interested in a hands-on experience with sea life. In my opinion we need something different for the little kids. read more