In total, we spent a day and a half at the aquarium, but I think we actually could have stayed longer. There is so much to enjoy and see. The fish, sharks, and turtles are always doing something amazing.
If you have a chance, I highly recommend taking a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium before the end of the year to see the seahorse exhibit. Here’s a picture of my favorite sea dragon in the exhibit. If you don’t look carefully, you could easily mistaken it for a plant! They are so graceful floating by with beautiful fluttering gills on the back and sides of their neck. There were so many beautiful seahorses and sea dragons, it was hard to choose a few pictures but here’s our other favorite. I loved how they grouped together and used their tails to hold on.
Baby C absolutely LOVED the jellyfish exhibit! He reached towards the glass trying to “catch” them. The aquarium did a great job showcasing all the beautiful kinds from around the world. We learned that the smaller ones pulsate quicker than the larger ones and it was incredible to see the various hues of purple, blue, white, and orange. There were also a lot of stations where children can do activities and learn more about these amazing creatures.
One of the volunteers recommended that we stay for the open sea feeding and I’m glad we did. The open sea tank is where they have the larger sharks, rays, tunas, and sea turtles. We arrived 20 minutes early and stood in front of the tank to secure a good seat. All I can say is WOW! The tank has no sand, kelp, or rocks – it is meant to simulate the deep sea. We loved the monitors on the side and you can actually watch what is going on above where they drop the food in. The moderator explained that the two sea turtles have been trained to feed on the side corner when the feeding happens. It was amazing to watch the larger fish eat and more amazing to see the sardines know when it’s their turn to eat. The moderator called the sardine feeding the “curtain call” because they were the last to eat and after they finished the sardines swam in a big group down below. Here’s a picture of the sardine’s starting their curtain call.
Tomorrow’s the last day of our Monterey Bay Aquarium adventure…stay tuned for some amazing pictures!
Check out our Day 1 at Monterey Bay Aquarium