Monterey Bay Aquarium

[MotionMan]

Anyone here familiar with the Monterey Bay Aquarium? We are planning on going on a Sunday afternoon/evening in a couple weeks.

Do we need to buy tickets ahead of time?

MotionMan

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

I live about a mile from there, I can call and ask. From what I know of the area there's not a crazy draw to it so I'd think you'd be alright. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for kids iirc.

 

[CrackRabbit]

No need to buy tickets ahead of time.
It was not that crowded when I was there.

 

[MotionMan]

I live about a mile from there, I can call and ask. From what I know of the area there's not a crazy draw to it so I'd think you'd be alright. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for kids iirc.

Thanks.

We are going on the AT&T Park tour in the morning, having lunch, then driving to Monterey for the aquarium (it is open until 8).

Where is a good kid-friendly place for dinner?

MotionMan

 

[zinfamous]

no need to get them in advance. It is a fantastic aquarium. I think they recently re-stocked the big Tuna tank, I forget with what, though.

And I hear they now have a rescued baby otter--so it actually might be a bit crowded these days--the otters have always been a huge draw.

My favorite is probably the large tank with the shad--I can sit there all day staring at them school around the tank.

they also have a sweet jellyfish and cuttlefish exhibit.

 

[coloumb]

Food service at the aquarium was pretty good about 15 years ago.. and kid friendly. 🙂

 

[datalink7]

Awesome aquarium experience every time I've been (about 6 times?). However, last time I was there was at least 15 years ago, so I don't have recent info.

 

[911paramedic]

Back when it was much cheaper, I would bring my dive classes through there before the dives so we could talk about everything we were going to see. I think it made the dives much more enjoyable when they could identify the things they were seeing.

Great aquarium.

 

[BoomerD]

I haven't been there in quite a few years either. Overall, nicely done. They just re-did the "Outer Bay" exhibit to get rid of the "tiled look" of the walls and bottom of the tank. (Now called the "Open Sea."

I helped build that part of the aquarium in the 90's. The sheet of acrylic that's the"viewing window" is massive.

 

[alkalinetaupehat]

I've heard good things about Rosine's on Alvarado. The other thing is in that area is a lot of restaurants so if that doesn't work out there are plenty of options in walking distance. The Del Monte Center (~3 miles away) has a Coldstone, Chipotle's, and some more upscale restaurants. I've been here for about two months so I'm still a little new to the area.

 

[BoomerD]

There used to be a nice Hawaiian themed restaurant on Lighthouse, not far from the aquarium. "Hula's." Food was good, prices reasonable.
http://www.hulastiki.com/mry_dinner.htm

IF you are there in time for breakfast, "The Breakfast Club in Seaside was EXCELLENT.
http://breakfastclubrestaurant.com/

 

[Craig234]

The aquarium in San Francisco in Golden Gate Park is great also.

 

[MotionMan]

The aquarium in San Francisco in Golden Gate Park is great also.

We are going there on Saturday.

MotionMan (<--- SF Native, BTW)

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Take the kids to the SC boardwalk for some corn dogs, fried artichoke hearts, and a deep fried Twinkie for dessert. Then take em on the Big Dipper to cap off the evening.

Or have a look at all the places to eat on Cannery Row:
http://www.canneryrow.com/merchant-list.php#dining

 

[glenn1]

Thanks.

We are going on the AT&T Park tour in the morning, having lunch, then driving to Monterey for the aquarium (it is open until 8).

Where is a good kid-friendly place for dinner?

MotionMan

We went to Monterey Aquarium a couple months ago and it was outstanding. For a meal, I'd recommend Passionfish in Pacific Grove; they treated our family (me, wife, and 5 month old daughter at the time) extremely well and the meal was one of the best I've had in a very long time.

http://www.passionfish.net/

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Trivia: The Cetacean Institute aquarium scenes in Star Trek IV were filmed at the Monterey Aquarium. If you've seen the movie, you'll recognize the parts from the movie when you go there.

 

[glenn1]

Here's some of our photos from the aquarium:

 

[MotionMan]

Trivia: The Cetacean Institute aquarium scenes in Star Trek IV were filmed at the Monterey Aquarium. If you've seen the movie, you'll recognize the parts from the movie when you go there.

The funny thing is, I aways assumed they were at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I did not catch that they used a difference name.

😉

MotionMan

 

[paulney]

Monterey Aquarium is damn nice, but holy wtf batman expensive. Might as well get a membership if you plan to go more than once a year with a family of four.

 

[davmat787]

no need to get them in advance. It is a fantastic aquarium. I think they recently re-stocked the big Tuna tank, I forget with what, though.

Food service at the aquarium was pretty good about 15 years ago.. and kid friendly. 🙂

Fresh toro, amirite?

 

[davmat787]

I love aquariums, always wanted to visit the Monterey Bay. What is really interesting is the trench that forms so close in to Monterey Bay itself. From what I understand, that is where they first captured this amazing fish on film. Its eyes are inside that clear skull area, previously when caught, the clear are would deform or collapse and they never understood this fish. Very unique.

I wonder if they have exhibits detailing the Monterey trench?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoygy-8PTtU

 

[BoomerD]

I love aquariums, always wanted to visit the Monterey Bay. What is really interesting is the trench that forms so close in to Monterey Bay itself. From what I understand, that is where they first captured this amazing fish on film. Its eyes are inside that clear skull area, previously when caught, the clear are would deform or collapse and they never understood this fish. Very unique.

I wonder if they have exhibits detailing the Monterey trench?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zoygy-8PTtU

Not really. It's too deep, too dark to properly exhibit in an aquarium. Most of the deep water fish can't stand the pressure at sea level.

I used to go fishing for rock cod off Monterey. Fishing in 500+ feet of water, the fish end up with their swim bladder out of their mouth when they get to the surface. No "catch and release" for them.

IIRC, they used to have a "multi-media exhibit" about the trench life, but no live species.

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_mbari/mbari_home.aspx?c=ln

 

[Lithium381]

haven't been in ages! i'll bring my daughter in a few years when she's old enough to remember it!

 

[her209]

Went back in May. They closed off the big tank with the tuna. Not really worth the $30/ticket.

 

[davmat787]

Not really. It's too deep, too dark to properly exhibit in an aquarium. Most of the deep water fish can't stand the pressure at sea level.

I used to go fishing for rock cod off Monterey. Fishing in 500+ feet of water, the fish end up with their swim bladder out of their mouth when they get to the surface. No "catch and release" for them.

IIRC, they used to have a "multi-media exhibit" about the trench life, but no live species.

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_mbari/mbari_home.aspx?c=ln

That is what I meant by exhibit (vs. live fish in tanks, no way that would work obviously 🙂 ), sorry if I was not clear.