Our trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium

On Memorial Day my two grandaughters and my youngest grandson visited Monterery Bay Aquarium in Monterey CA.  We got there right about opening time and it wasn't crowded at all.   We were able to see all the exhibits and really enjoy ourselves before the crowd arrived.  

The  Monterey Bay Aquarium, is located in a former sardine cannery and a former brewery on Cannery Row.  It is one of the largest  aquariums in the world. It has an annual attendance of 1.8 million and holds 35,000 plants and animals representing 623 species.  The aquarium first opened in 1984.  There is plenty to see and do while you are there, from shallow tide pools to the vast open Pacific Ocean.  There is a three story kelp forest, Jelly fish galore, Sea Otters, Sharks, Penquins and even a tide pool that allows hands on! 

Needless to say we had a very good time!   We ate lunch in the Portola Restaurant at the aquarium and had a great window seat.   The Restaurant is very nice, white linen table coverings, the whole bit!  I decided since we don't get to the aquarium very often I could handle the price of luxury!  Each table gets a pair of binoculars to view the bay.   There is also a less expensive cafeteria where you serve yourself if you are so inclined.                                  

Just a note, Monterey Bay Aquarium is where they filmed the 1986 film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,  where it appeared as the Cetacean Institute of Biology' in Sausalito. The main aquarium was overlaid with special effects to appear to be the tank home of the two Humpback Whales, George and Gracie. 

All photos included in this article were taken with my Panasonic FZ7 Digital Camera by me!!