Best Monterey Bay Aquarium Day Trips & Things to Do

The 322,000-square-foot aquatic attraction that opened in 1984 on Monterey's Cannery Row houses more than 35,000 animals of 550-plus species in nearly 200 exhibits and features many of Monterey Bay's amazing sea creatures. Monterey Bay Aquarium's exhibits include the million-gallon Open Sea Galleries, Sea Otters, Giant Pacific Octopus, The Jellies Experience, 28-foot tall Kelp Forest, Sandy Shore & Aviary, Splash Zone and Penguins and Mission to the Deep. More than 1.8 million people annually visit the marine facility that is frequently listed in number one or in the top five of the United States' best aquariums by different parent and travel publications. Show All