If you’ve ever wanted to lock eyes with a sea otter, get side-eyed by a puffin, or discover exactly how many different ways a jellyfish can look like alien slime, The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is your jam.
This place isn’t your average fish tank situation. Nope—it’s 100,000+ square feet of ocean wonderland with over 12,000 animals representing 500 species. Basically, it’s like Tinder for marine life: swipe right on everything because it’s all adorable.
Why You’ll Fall Head Over Fins for This Place
It’s Not Just Fish (Though the Fish Are Pretty Great)
Sure, you’ll see plenty of fish, but you’ll also meet seals that could probably beat you at charades, penguins strutting around like they own the place, and lorikeets that may or may not use you as a personal bathroom. And those hypnotizing jellyfish? They’ll make you question every life choice you’ve ever made while simultaneously posting the most zen Instagram story of your life.
The Southern California/Baja Gallery alone houses more than 15,000 animals. That’s more residents than some small towns, and they’re all way better at swimming than you’ll ever be.
Themed Exhibits That Beat Any Virtual Reality Game
You can “travel” from the sunny kelp forests of California (where the sea otters live their best life) to the icy waters of the Arctic (where puffins judge you silently) without needing a passport—or dealing with LAX. The Northern Pacific Gallery feels like stepping into a nature documentary, except you’re not watching David Attenborough narrate your life choices.
The Tropical Pacific Gallery is basically vacation vibes without the sunscreen. Sharks cruise overhead in the massive tank while you pretend you’re not secretly terrified and definitely not thinking about that one movie with the mechanical shark.
Kid-Friendly but Adult-Approved (Finally!)
Yes, there are touch tanks for the kids to get their hands wet and their minds blown. But there are also rooftop bars during special events for grown-ups who need a drink after explaining why we can’t take the penguin home. Win-win.
The exhibits are designed so both your five-year-old nephew and your marine biology PhD friend will leave feeling equally impressed. That’s harder to pull off than you’d think.
Insider Tips from a Local Who’s Been There Way Too Many Times
1. Go Early, Like Really Early (Seriously, Set an Alarm)
If you want to beat the stroller stampede and avoid looking like you’re trying to peek over a sea of tiny humans, arrive when the doors open at 9 a.m. You’ll have prime access to the sea otters while they’re still zipping around instead of napping like overfed cats.
Early bird bonus: the animals are most active in the morning. That means more otter shenanigans, more penguin waddle action, and less competition for the perfect selfie spot.
2. Feed the Lorikeets… But Maybe Wear Old Clothes
The Lorikeet Forest is a fan favorite, but here’s the unvarnished truth: these birds are cute, colorful, and have absolutely zero chill. Buy the nectar cup for $4 and prepare to become a feathered landing strip. These guys have no concept of personal space and will treat you like a walking, talking perch.
Pro tip: don’t wear white unless you want to leave looking like a Jackson Pollock painting. Also, that “gentle cooing” you hear in nature documentaries? Yeah, lorikeets sound more like tiny pterodactyls having an argument.
3. Skip the Main Lot Parking (Your Wallet Will Thank You)
The Aquarium’s official parking lot fills up faster than a sea turtle eating jellyfish, and it’s about as budget-friendly as a Malibu beach house. Locals know to park at The Pike Outlets across the street. You get validation discounts, plus you can snag a Wetzel’s Pretzels on the way back to fuel your post-aquarium sugar crash.
Alternative option: street parking along Shoreline Drive if you don’t mind a short walk and potentially perfect weather (because, you know, Southern California).
4. Don’t Miss the Behind-the-Scenes Tours (This Is Where It Gets Real)
Most people don’t realize you can pay a little extra to see what happens backstage. Ever wanted to watch divers feed a shark from inches away while you stand safely behind glass thinking “nope, nope, nope”? They do that. Want to learn how they keep 550,000 gallons of water clean? Spoiler alert: it’s complicated.
Book early online because these tours sell out faster than concert tickets. The staff shares stories that don’t make it into the standard exhibits, like which animals have personalities and which ones are basically underwater divas.
5. Make It a Full Long Beach Experience
After you’ve said hi to every single jellyfish and taken approximately 200 photos of the same sea turtle, don’t just drive home. You’re steps from Shoreline Village, where you can ride a carousel that’s been spinning since 1906 and buy enough saltwater taffy to power a small village.
About 10 minutes away, Naples Island offers gondola rides that make you feel fancy without the Italy price tag. The gondoliers actually sing, and yes, it’s as romantic or cheesy as you want it to be, depending on your audience.
6. Time Your Visit Around Special Events
The Aquarium hosts some seriously cool after-hours events. Night Dive evenings (21+ only) combine live music, bars, and the surreal experience of partying next to glowing jellyfish. It’s like a club, but with more educational value and fewer questionable dance moves.
During summer months, they often host “Sleepover” programs where families can literally camp out next to the tanks. Imagine falling asleep to the gentle hum of water filters and waking up to sharks swimming overhead. It’s either the coolest thing ever or the setup for a very niche anxiety dream.
What’s New and Exciting for 2022 Visitors
Pacific Visions Wing (Still Relatively New and Mind-Blowing)
This isn’t your grandmother’s nature documentary setup. The Pacific Visions wing features a giant curved screen that wraps around you like you’re inside a snow globe, except instead of fake snow, you’re surrounded by immersive ocean experiences and art installations that make you feel like you’re living inside a Pixar movie.
The Honda Pacific Visions Theater shows films that somehow make you care deeply about plankton. It’s a weird skill, but they’ve mastered it.
Touch Pools Are Back (Pet a Shark, Check That Off Your Bucket List)
Post-pandemic protocols have relaxed, which means the touch pools are open again. Yes, you can actually pet a shark. They’re small, harmless, and probably more afraid of you than you are of them, but still—you can literally say you’ve touched a shark without the whole “survival story” aspect.
The ray touch tank is where most people lose their minds. Stingrays feel like underwater pancakes with the world’s softest edges. Kids love it, adults pretend they’re too cool for it, then spend 20 minutes there anyway.
Night Dive Events Are Back in Full Swing
These 21+ events transform the aquarium into something between a nature documentary and a sophisticated cocktail party. Live music echoes through the galleries while you sip craft cocktails next to tanks full of jellyfish that pulse like living lava lamps.
The vibe is surprisingly romantic if you’re into the whole “discussing marine conservation over wine while sharks swim overhead” thing. It’s definitely a unique date night option.
Food Situation: Better Than Expected, Worse Than Your Favorite Restaurant
On-Site Options
The Aquarium Café has surprisingly decent New England clam chowder and fish tacos that don’t taste like cardboard. Yes, there’s some irony in eating fish while surrounded by their living relatives, but life is complicated and you’re probably hungry.
The kids’ menu exists and contains the usual suspects: chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, and other beige foods that somehow keep small humans functioning.
Local’s Secret
Skip the café and head to Ballast Point Brewery literally next door. Grab a waterfront table, order a flight of local beers, and watch boats cruise by while you process everything you just learned about octopus intelligence. It’s the perfect decompression spot, and their fish and chips are legitimately excellent.
If you’re feeling fancy, head to Yard House at The Pike for a massive menu and enough beer options to overwhelm even the most decisive person.
Planning Your Visit: The Practical Stuff
Tickets and Timing
Buy tickets online—it’s cheaper and faster than standing in line like it’s 1995. General admission runs around $35 for adults, less for kids and seniors. Annual passes pay for themselves if you visit more than twice, and honestly, you probably will once you see those sea otters in action.
Weekdays are significantly less crowded, especially during school hours. If you can swing it, Tuesday through Thursday mornings are golden.
What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)
Bring layers because the Pacific Ocean-themed building can get chilly, especially near the penguin habitat. Also bring patience—you’ll want to spend time at each exhibit, and rushing through defeats the purpose.
Leave the giant backpack at home. You’ll be doing a lot of standing and walking, and storage space is limited. A small crossbody bag works perfectly.
Photography Tips from Someone Who’s Taken Way Too Many Aquarium Photos
Tank lighting is tricky, so turn off your flash (it stresses the animals and ruins your photos anyway). Get close to the glass to minimize reflections, and don’t be afraid to take dozens of shots of the same jellyfish. They’re basically living art pieces, and you’ll want options when you’re choosing your new phone wallpaper.
The sea otter habitat has the best natural lighting in the building. Time your visit there around 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. for optimal cuteness documentation.
The Bottom Line (Because Every Good Story Needs One)
Whether you’re a tourist checking SoCal bucket list items or a local who just wants to see sea otters live their best lives without dealing with actual ocean water, The Aquarium of the Pacific delivers on every level. It’s educational without feeling like homework, Instagrammable without being superficial, and—let’s be honest—sometimes therapeutic to just zone out at the jellyfish tank while pretending you don’t have 187 unread emails waiting for you.
The place manages to be simultaneously awe-inspiring and relaxing, which is a rare combination in our overstimulated world. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for ocean life, several dozen photos of things you can’t quite identify, and probably a small toy from the gift shop that you definitely didn’t need but absolutely had to have.
So grab your tickets online, pack your sense of wonder (and maybe a change of shirt for the lorikeet situation), and get ready to make fish faces with actual fish. Trust me—it’s way more fun than it sounds, and infinitely more interesting than whatever else you had planned for the weekend.
Your Instagram followers will thank you, your inner child will high-five you, and somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, a sea otter will continue being adorable without any awareness of how much joy they’ve just brought to your day. And honestly? That’s pretty perfect.