What’s New at our Local Aquariums & Marine Centers?

Photo: Red-Footed Booby, Robin Riggs

Aquarium of the Pacific
LONG BEACH

Beginning May 28, 2021 through April 2022, guests are invited to explore Coral Reefs: Nature’s Underwater Cities in the Aquarium’s newly reimagined Tropical Pacific Gallery. Meet a green sea turtle, flashlight fish that glow, clownfish, and the seabird Animal Ambassador, Sula the red-footed booby. Sula is one of the only two known red-footed boobies living at a zoo or aquarium!

Experience a virtual coral reef dive in the new show, Our Future is in Cities: On Land and In the Ocean in the Pacific Visions Theater. Visitors could also digitally paint a fish and send it to swim in a virtual coral reef projection!

Aquarium of the Pacific is also offering an in-person Aquarium Summer Camp for kids (ages 7-12). Campers will be discovering adaptations of animals, identifying the importance of diversity in unique habitats, and learning all about ocean inhabitants.

Photo: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
SAN PEDRO

While Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is still closed to the public (see latest opening update), that doesn’t stop the learning and fun! Join CMA every Saturday this May for Aquarium-on-the-Beach Outdoor Program. Learn about tidepools, whales and grunion, then hatch your own baby grunion! Sessions begin at 10am, 10:30am, 11am, and 11:30am. The program lasts for approximately 45 minutes. Make reservations here.

Photo: Marine Mammal Care Center

Marine Mammal Care Center
SAN PEDRO

The MMCC is officially open for tours! Visit their hospital and pinniped patients on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am – 2pm. A docent will lead a 15-minute tour of the center, tell you about the animals, and answer questions. Learn more and reserve your ticket here.

Photo: Ocean Institute

Ocean Institute
DANA POINT

Ocean Institute offers so many fun, family activities centering around marine science and maritime history. Their indoor campus is now open again to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 3pm.

New exhibits include The Sahm Family Foundation Marine Education Center (which was slated to celebrate its grand opening back in March 2020) is now opening over a year later! The exhibit features shark encounters, interactive demonstrations, and horn shark touch tank.

Ocean Institute is also opening a new Marine Mammal exhibit in the Chambers Gallery. This exhibit features the ecological history of whales and dolphins and their place in our modern-day environment. Participants in weekend Marine Mammal Cruises will get exclusive access to the exhibit prior to departure.

Visit their event calendar to see when they offer Whale and Marine Life Tours, Kayak Harbor Tours, Tide Pool Hikes, and Tallship Sails! They also offer Summer Camp for kids and teens (ages 5-17).

Photo: Pacific Marine Mammal Care Center

Pacific Marine Mammal Center
LAGUNA BEACH

The PMMC has reopened their Visitor Yard and is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year! Make a reservation to go on a 20-minute, docent-led tour of the Visitor Yard and spend time observing the animals. Learn about some of their seal and sea lion patients and their story. PMCC is also offering Camp Pinniped At Home for kids (ages 8-12).

Categories: Blog

This post was written by Kidsguide