I have been in love with aquariums since I saw first the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 1987 while attending UC Santa Cruz for my Junior year (it was like going abroad but across the country to study with fog, banana slugs, and redwood trees. Sooo many redwoods), and the National Aquarium in Baltimore in 1991 (while working for a circus, which is a whole different story). Those aquariums deepened my passion for the oceans and sparked a deep love of such places. It also set the bar *high* as they were both cutting edge, for the time, and gorgeous.
Every aquarium is different and always worth a visit. Some of the most interesting facilities for me are ones which highlight unique elements of the area they are base in. I love a good coral reef and I will never pass up a Penguin or a Sea otter, but I also want to see the weird sea star, spotted fish, or sea grass that only grows in an out of the way place most people never see. There are aquariums everywhere so I’m going to spend the rest of life visiting all of them :) These are my thoughts on each one as I visit them the first time, and the second or third time as well if I get so lucky!
During a family vacation to London in September, I found myself with an afternoon unsupervised so I took myself off to the Aquarium! – because you know if there is one around I’ve got to take a look. Sealife aquarium…
In November of 2022 my father died. In March of 2023 my husband and I flew to New York for the Memorial service and time with my family and several old friends. My chosen treat / reward for this weighty…
A note from 2025, This post is less a review of one of my favorite aquariums and more a look back at life as it was when California began easing the pandemic restrictions of 2020 or “What the hell, I…
As part of a family trip to Monterey trip my hubby Scott and I had the pleasure of introducing our friend Cat to the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the first time! I’m happy to report that she is hooked Since…
