Put Me In The Zoo: Monterey Bay Aquarium Review
Aquarium visit date: April 1, 2012 (no fooling)
Does this zoo satisfy the reviewer’s Inner-3-Year-Old by featuring his lifelong favorite animals, giraffes and elephants?
No, because it is an aquarium. It would be silly if it had giraffes and elephants.
This aquarium was a major setting for one of my favorite movies, "Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home". It played the Cetacean Institute where Captain Kirk and Spock found the humpback whales that they take back to the future.
The focus of this aquarium is the wildlife and ecosystem types of the Monterey Bay of California. There is a gallery also featuring a colony of African penguins, tropical coral reef organisms, leafy sea dragons, and other exotic species.
The aquarium has galleries for temporary exhibits that usually feature species from around the world. At the time of the visit that this review covers there is an exhibit of jellies and their natural history themed to 1960s psychedelia called “The Jellies Experience” that features sea jelly species from around the world (running through 2014). There is also a temporary exhibit called “The Secret Life of Seahorses” featuring sea horse species from around the world. The jelly exhibit is fun and colorful, but seems to be a bit short on substance relative to other exhibitions in the past. Nonetheless it features some fun interactive elements like a station where you can draw your own jelly and watch it swim in a virtual ocean. The sea horse show is spectacular and is very informative about sea horse biology and conservation. There is an interactive station where you can send a virtual postcard to the California governor asking him to strengthen the oceanic preserve network off the California coast in order to conserve sea horses and their ecosystems. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a very innovative exhibit design team and every new exhibit features new interactive technologies that highlight the wonderful sea life exhibited and meaningfully informs about their biology and conservation.
Does this zoo have any animals that would excite a zoo aficionado?
I am using “zoo” here to mean aquarium. The Monterey Bay Aquarium periodically displays a great white shark. There are many unique species living at this aquarium, most of them native to the ocean right outside the aquarium: yellow-fin and blue-fin tuna, ocean sun fish, mahi-mahi, sea otters, seven-gill sharks, green sea turtles, common murres, scalloped hammerhead sharks, giant Pacific octopus. The aquarium website has a comprehensive list of species. The only disappointment of my visit is that the Laysan albatross demonstration did not happen as advertised on the day I was there.
Does this zoo have any immersion exhibits that would impress a zoo aficionado?
This aquarium has several spectacular exhibits that are some of the most fantastic captive animal displays ever invented. There is a tank representing the open ocean that contains one million gallons and has a window as big as a movie screen. There are tuna, ocean sunfish, scalloped hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, and 18,000 sardines in this exhibit. You can see the schools of sardine part when the sharks swim through them. When the great white shark is on display it lives in this tank.
The kelp forest tank at this aquarium is iconic and is still spectacular at almost 30 years old (the aquarium opened in 1984).
The sea otter exhibit is two stories high and provides great views of the otters foraging. The otters are non-releasable individuals. The aquarium rehabilitates injured or abandoned baby otters for release back into nature when that is possible. One of the great features of this aquarium is that there is an almost certainty that you can see wild sea otters out in the bay off the deck of the aquarium. You can also see brown pelicans, cormorants, California sea lions, harbor seals, and possibly grey whales if you are there at the right time of year (December-Aprilish). You can also see the tops of wild kelp forests swaying in the ocean currents.
There are several exhibits displaying various habitats of the Monterey Bay and the species that live there. There are wonderful interactive graphics and displays that give interesting, meaningful, and fun information about the plants and animals in front of you. There are aquarium staff and volunteers almost literally all over the place to answer questions, give demonstrations, and point out cool stuff.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a research branch that has a fleet of deep-sea remote subs that explore the deep sea in the canyon that leads from Monterey Bay to a depth of two miles down. There are daily shows and a permanent gallery that have videos and live narration of the animals discovered by this research. I HIGHLY recommend going to the deep-sea program. It is mind-blowing coolness that is unique to this aquarium.
The galleries are accompanied by a relaxing soundscape of mood music. It sounds cheesy on paper, but works very well at setting and sustaining a relaxed and attentive mood when you are watching jellies drift around.
Does this zoo have any exhibits that should be bulldozed?
The aquarium is constantly remodeling and updating their exhibits. This may be the best updated aquarium on the planet. The fact that much of what was in the aquarium in 1984 is still present speaks to its classic and timeless design.
Does this zoo have any elements that make it particularly family friendly?
There is a play area for younger children and the gallery with penguins and tropical sea life is intended for younger visitors and their parents (although still enjoyable for all ages).
The aquarium has programs in its auditorium throughout the day on topics like sea otters, great white sharks, and deep-sea animals. These are excellent and last about 15 minutes. Highly recommended.
There are animal demonstrations and talks at several of the major exhibits throughout the day: kelp forest, open ocean, sea otters, etc. These are also highly recommended as they usually involve feeding or some other kind of special behavior or display that you may not see otherwise.
Does this zoo have any interesting plans for the future?
The temporary exhibits seem to be replaced every two or three years. Past exhibits have featured otter species from around the world, sharks, flamingoes and other tropical bird life, venomous creatures, and deep-sea creatures. I’m sure that the exhibit design department of the aquarium has some interesting ideas percolating for future displays.
Would a zoo aficionado like this zoo enough to go out of his or her way to visit it?
I will make the assertion that the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the best zoo on the planet. This assertion may not hold much water (pun intended) as I have not been to every zoo and aquarium on the planet, but it is world-class in its exhibits and the species that live in them, its pioneering conservation interpretation (make sure to pick up as “sustainable seafood” guide), and research programs in deep-sea exploration, tuna biology, and shark biology and conservation. I highly recommend a visit to this aquarium by any zoo aficionado and anyone else.
I would also recommend a visit to the Point Lobos State Reserve (Point Lobos SNR) in nearby Carmel. The preserve is set in a Monterey Cypress preserve and has stunning trails along the ocean. From the preserve bluffs one can see several ocean coves that shelter sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and many species of sea birds. From December to March you can also see grey whales migrating along the coast from the bluffs. Make sure to bring some binoculars.
Aquarium visit date: April 1, 2012 (no fooling)
Does this zoo satisfy the reviewer’s Inner-3-Year-Old by featuring his lifelong favorite animals, giraffes and elephants?
No, because it is an aquarium. It would be silly if it had giraffes and elephants.
This aquarium was a major setting for one of my favorite movies, "Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home". It played the Cetacean Institute where Captain Kirk and Spock found the humpback whales that they take back to the future.
The focus of this aquarium is the wildlife and ecosystem types of the Monterey Bay of California. There is a gallery also featuring a colony of African penguins, tropical coral reef organisms, leafy sea dragons, and other exotic species.
The aquarium has galleries for temporary exhibits that usually feature species from around the world. At the time of the visit that this review covers there is an exhibit of jellies and their natural history themed to 1960s psychedelia called “The Jellies Experience” that features sea jelly species from around the world (running through 2014). There is also a temporary exhibit called “The Secret Life of Seahorses” featuring sea horse species from around the world. The jelly exhibit is fun and colorful, but seems to be a bit short on substance relative to other exhibitions in the past. Nonetheless it features some fun interactive elements like a station where you can draw your own jelly and watch it swim in a virtual ocean. The sea horse show is spectacular and is very informative about sea horse biology and conservation. There is an interactive station where you can send a virtual postcard to the California governor asking him to strengthen the oceanic preserve network off the California coast in order to conserve sea horses and their ecosystems. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a very innovative exhibit design team and every new exhibit features new interactive technologies that highlight the wonderful sea life exhibited and meaningfully informs about their biology and conservation.
Does this zoo have any animals that would excite a zoo aficionado?
I am using “zoo” here to mean aquarium. The Monterey Bay Aquarium periodically displays a great white shark. There are many unique species living at this aquarium, most of them native to the ocean right outside the aquarium: yellow-fin and blue-fin tuna, ocean sun fish, mahi-mahi, sea otters, seven-gill sharks, green sea turtles, common murres, scalloped hammerhead sharks, giant Pacific octopus. The aquarium website has a comprehensive list of species. The only disappointment of my visit is that the Laysan albatross demonstration did not happen as advertised on the day I was there.
Does this zoo have any immersion exhibits that would impress a zoo aficionado?
This aquarium has several spectacular exhibits that are some of the most fantastic captive animal displays ever invented. There is a tank representing the open ocean that contains one million gallons and has a window as big as a movie screen. There are tuna, ocean sunfish, scalloped hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, and 18,000 sardines in this exhibit. You can see the schools of sardine part when the sharks swim through them. When the great white shark is on display it lives in this tank.
The kelp forest tank at this aquarium is iconic and is still spectacular at almost 30 years old (the aquarium opened in 1984).
The sea otter exhibit is two stories high and provides great views of the otters foraging. The otters are non-releasable individuals. The aquarium rehabilitates injured or abandoned baby otters for release back into nature when that is possible. One of the great features of this aquarium is that there is an almost certainty that you can see wild sea otters out in the bay off the deck of the aquarium. You can also see brown pelicans, cormorants, California sea lions, harbor seals, and possibly grey whales if you are there at the right time of year (December-Aprilish). You can also see the tops of wild kelp forests swaying in the ocean currents.
There are several exhibits displaying various habitats of the Monterey Bay and the species that live there. There are wonderful interactive graphics and displays that give interesting, meaningful, and fun information about the plants and animals in front of you. There are aquarium staff and volunteers almost literally all over the place to answer questions, give demonstrations, and point out cool stuff.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a research branch that has a fleet of deep-sea remote subs that explore the deep sea in the canyon that leads from Monterey Bay to a depth of two miles down. There are daily shows and a permanent gallery that have videos and live narration of the animals discovered by this research. I HIGHLY recommend going to the deep-sea program. It is mind-blowing coolness that is unique to this aquarium.
The galleries are accompanied by a relaxing soundscape of mood music. It sounds cheesy on paper, but works very well at setting and sustaining a relaxed and attentive mood when you are watching jellies drift around.
Does this zoo have any exhibits that should be bulldozed?
The aquarium is constantly remodeling and updating their exhibits. This may be the best updated aquarium on the planet. The fact that much of what was in the aquarium in 1984 is still present speaks to its classic and timeless design.
Does this zoo have any elements that make it particularly family friendly?
There is a play area for younger children and the gallery with penguins and tropical sea life is intended for younger visitors and their parents (although still enjoyable for all ages).
The aquarium has programs in its auditorium throughout the day on topics like sea otters, great white sharks, and deep-sea animals. These are excellent and last about 15 minutes. Highly recommended.
There are animal demonstrations and talks at several of the major exhibits throughout the day: kelp forest, open ocean, sea otters, etc. These are also highly recommended as they usually involve feeding or some other kind of special behavior or display that you may not see otherwise.
Does this zoo have any interesting plans for the future?
The temporary exhibits seem to be replaced every two or three years. Past exhibits have featured otter species from around the world, sharks, flamingoes and other tropical bird life, venomous creatures, and deep-sea creatures. I’m sure that the exhibit design department of the aquarium has some interesting ideas percolating for future displays.
Would a zoo aficionado like this zoo enough to go out of his or her way to visit it?
I will make the assertion that the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the best zoo on the planet. This assertion may not hold much water (pun intended) as I have not been to every zoo and aquarium on the planet, but it is world-class in its exhibits and the species that live in them, its pioneering conservation interpretation (make sure to pick up as “sustainable seafood” guide), and research programs in deep-sea exploration, tuna biology, and shark biology and conservation. I highly recommend a visit to this aquarium by any zoo aficionado and anyone else.
I would also recommend a visit to the Point Lobos State Reserve (Point Lobos SNR) in nearby Carmel. The preserve is set in a Monterey Cypress preserve and has stunning trails along the ocean. From the preserve bluffs one can see several ocean coves that shelter sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and many species of sea birds. From December to March you can also see grey whales migrating along the coast from the bluffs. Make sure to bring some binoculars.
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