Love the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Put on your headphones, add your favorite tunes, and it becomes…read morethis tranquil, almost unexpected mix of calm and adventure; the kind of place where you can quietly run away from pressure and just slow down. Even when it's busy, you can always find a corner by the kelp forest, and let your mind drift somewhere underwater. Every exhibit feels like a small discovery, even after repeat visits. The open ocean... it carries this sense of mystery, like little secrets waiting to be noticed if you give them enough time. It almost feels like climbing through a different world, one moment at a time. There is a soft kind of excitement in exploring, not loud or overwhelming, but the kind that keeps you curious, gently pulling you forward. Somewhere along the way, it becomes less about just looking and more about how you feel being there. You pause more and maybe even find a bit of yourself in the stillness. It is one of those places that feels grounding and a little magical at the same time. **Shoutout to the wonderful retired volunteer lady in the bird area who once patiently spent over 30 minutes talking with me and explaining the local bird species and coastal wildlife.

Very nice exhibits . The sea otters and the ocean exhibits are good . Expensive to get in 65 per…read moreperson . And it's a bit smaller than the aquarium in socal but it's much more refined exhibits. Took about an hour in a half to see everything without rushing 4/5, One star down for price

We visited on Saturday, April 4. We were visiting from Las Vegas and decided to check out the…read moreaquarium for a cool place for my toddler to take a nap. My first complaint is the price - $30 for adults and children 4-12 are $22. Our son is under 2, so luckily we did not need to pay for him. The cost is unreasonable for the experience you end up getting. You also HAVE TO purchase the tickets online - there was no physical ticketing kiosk, so you are forced to pay the online fee. The second strike was that the direct elevator to the aquarium on the second floor of the building, was out. We had to walk our stroller all the way around the attached building and get on the elevator over there. It's not a huge deal, but a hassle for anyone who needs to use an elevator. Third strike was ANOTHER elevator within the aquarium was also out, so there was only ONE working elevator and it was a very busy Saturday afternoon, with a lot of people waiting. It also wasn't made very clear that there were stairs available for those that could use them. The fourth strike was that the exhibits were small and there didn't seem to be very many fish, especially in the tank tunnel. The moving walkway was also not working in the tunnel, so it would get a little backed up, as people would just stand there trying to look at the minimal amount of fish and handful of sharks swimming around. There was a pretty large touch tank for the kids and an otter exhibit. But to add insult to injury, the otters were sleeping, so we didn't even get to see them (not the aquarium's fault, but like I said, it just added to the laundry list of issues we were having with this facility). I hate to compare apples and oranges, but the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Casino in Vegas is HUGE and has beautiful exhibits. The cost for an adult ticket there is $29, so that's where my expectations were and I was severely disappointed with this aquarium. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY, especially if you have children.

I love aquariums, sea life, and conservation efforts, and Aquarium of the Bay would probably try to…read moreclaim the same thing but it would not be genuine based on their business practices. As other reviewers have mentioned there is a photo opportunity towards the beginning of the aquarium - I've been to other aquariums (the Seattle aquarium comes to mind) and done these photos because sometimes they are fun. However, when we went to see the pictures at the end of our visit, the first image was an AI-generated picture of my partner and I. We asked the employee who let us know that the aquarium has recently started running the pictures through ChatGPT to get such an image. Both my partner and I were extremely put off by this for a couple reasons. For one, we were not told or asked beforehand if we wanted our images rendered by AI. Clarity on such practices should be foundational to a business's use of them, especially when customers' images are going to be entered into open large language models like ChatGPT - if the aquarium continues to wish to utilize AI in their business practices in this way, they should at the bare minimum allow for customers to opt out of their images being submitted to open-LLMs as it is inherently a privacy violation. My other concern with the aquarium's use of AI is that it feels entirely contradictory to their declarations of commitment to sustainability and environmentalism. At this point, there is widespread concern about the environmental sustainability of AI data centers and the amount of clean water that they use is already having detrimental environmental consequences. So while the aquarium as an entire floor dedicated to sharing information about the disastrous impacts of human-made climate change, it feels incredibly performative while they actively participate in systems that are exacerbating negative environmental damage. It is so easy to simply not use AI in this way, even easier to allow your customers the choice to opt out of its use, and easier still to just tell customers before they stand for photos that their images will be run through an open-LLM so that they are at the very least aware. I am not usually one to review businesses, but this is information I wish I'd had before going and definitely before having my picture taken. Additionally, the aquarium itself is very small, the signage isn't very good, and the elevators are very very slow. Overall, a pretty disheartening and disappointing experience. Maybe the California Academy of Science is better!

You need a whaling of a good time... This is the place to go…read more Pro tip: it's past past the butterflies Parking is free in weekends but there are plenty of park to pay machines around Things to touch, yes! Walking paths, yes! Gift shop, yes! Super friendly staff, yes! Support science! Highly recommend!

B A C K G R O U N D:…read more This place is the true definition of a hidden gem! It is a small but mighty center I wish I had found sooner! My family and I enjoyed ourselves so much that we knew-within ten minutes of visiting-that we would be back! I can't compare Seymour to Monterey Bay Aquarium since I haven't been to the latter for many years, but my husband recalls this center being more interactive: there are cheerful staff sharing their knowledge all around the center, and there is a mini tour that offers gorgeous views (this tour is included in cost of admission, so be sure to do it!!). V A L U E: -Exceptional value for all ages (and free for children under age 3). L O G I S T I C S: -You can book tickets ahead of time online, but it also seems you can pay at the door. -Parking is free on weekends and holidays. There is a spacious lot right by the entrance. E D U CA T I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E: -highly informative for all ages. I especially appreciated the climate change focused information. -Staff led a great tour that was interesting but not too long. They even had props to pass around while we listened, which kept my small kids engaged and quiet. Thank you, Kade and Shannon! G O O D T O K N O W: -You can pet a swell shark! -There are microscopes for children to see seashells up close. -There are plenty of books, coloring sheets, games, and toys in a corner if you have small children who you'd like to keep in one space.

Binh with Full House Goldfish has some of the most beautiful fish out there! Vibrant colors,…read morehealthy, and happy fish. I want to buy a bigger tank just so I can buy more goldfish from them. Highly recommended! Binh takes the time to make sure you pick out the best fish for your tank.

Full House Goldfish is a great place to purchase strong, unique fancy goldfish. This was our third…read moretime purchasing from them and we will definitely be back. They have a nice selection of different varieties. Binh is very knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and makes you feel welcome. We even got a Chinese New Year gift from them!

Owner is very nice and helpful. He answered any questions we had about the tanks. There are a…read morevariety of things like plants, bettas, mollys, guppies, and shrimp.

Line: none Parking: lot in front…read moreService: nice Came here looking for shrimp and plants - they have both. They have a great selection of fish as well. And their betta fish are not in cups. Note the plants are not labeled and would have to ask the staff.

Such a great indoor pool park. My kids love this place! It's always clean and people are so nice…read moreand friendly.

Says pool is open online and we even called and didn't get a call back. Drove 30 minutes just for…read morethe pool center to be closed

I have gotten to know James, the owner of Aqua Bonsai, over the last 4 years - and I feel very…read morethankful for the knowledge he has taught me and for the wonder and harmony of life that he has brought into my home with his fish tanks. I have my own little fresh water eco-systems where I can watch photosynthesis takes place - and share this miracle with children and adults who are entranced by these lovely tanks James is amazing in so many ways. He is kind, responsible, extremely knowledgeable - and he is brilliant when it comes to setting up a fresh water fish tank! He has done this work for years and he knows so much about the right soil, the plants, the best water to use, how to keep your tank algae free - plus he teaches you how you can maintain your tank without having to put in that much effort. Also, when you need help, you can hire him - and he brings everything you need to keep your tank in the best condition - so pure and clear and beautiful! You can watch him work and learn from his soft-spoken knowledge - or you can go about your work as he gently clips and plants and cares for your tank. I have a large fish tank James has helped me maintain for four years - and I also purchased a bonsai tank from him that I have in my office. You can see what his bonsai tanks look like by going to his Aqua Bonsai site or you can visit his home - where you can see the variety of lovely tanks that you can purchase - or you can ask him to design a tank that's just right for you like I did. His prices are very good. James has truly earned my respect over time - and I give him the highest recommendation. Linda Skerbec

Love their products and the customer service is superb! For the past 6 years, James maintains both…read moremy office and home fish tanks periodically. He's very easy to work with and always teach me how to take care the tank and fishes with his new techniques. Highly recommended!