Cabrillo Marine Aquarium — Attraction in Los Angeles

This aquarium hasn’t changed one bit since I was a kid. But all of the sea creatures are still fun to look at. While the seahorse are the most adorable little creatures to watch, frolic in the tall grass….. the jelly are mesmerizing and hypnotic. Can watch for hours. It’s like they’re all doing a beautifully graceful and well synchronized water ballet. The touch tank is fun, although after watching Finding Dori, I feel bad about touching sea life that desperately cling to the walls and floors of the tank. I feel like they’re thinking that if they get as close to the wall and make themselves as flat as can be, all the while not moving, they won’t be seen…. Doesn’t work out too well for them, lol. They have two wave tanks that are a lot of fun. One is in a timer and lets the viewer see what happens under water after a wave crashes in the shore, while another one is manually done. You crank a wheel and are able to create waves, making the sand come up in little wisps, crating the slightest possibility of viewing the few fish that lurk beneath the sand. If you happen to have tired feet or need to cool down for a minute, try catching a quick little ‘movie’ in the aquariums new auditorium. They show little educational clips and have docents answer any questions one night about the clip or the aquarium in general. They have recently opened up a nursery just outside of the auditorium entrance. Wether it’s to get itty bitty baby fish and other sea creatures big enough to go into their own tanks, or to support the breeding program of one of the many species that are on the brink of extinction, it’s a very cool place to visit. Makes the reality of how not only is our oceans a sacred thing, but also the life our ocean provides, in and out of it. All in all, it’s a very cool place to visit, even if it’s just once. But while you’re there, take a look at what other programs and events the aquarium and the beach itself has to offer. You’d be surprised how much fun you’ll...

This little aquarium is definitely a gem. It doesnt look like much from the outside, but it is well worth a visit. There was plenty of available parking and the rate was 1 dollar per hour, which we paid ahead for 3 hours, but we could've been fine with just 2. We met a few other students from my 6 year old son's kindergarten class, and we spent a good 1 1/2 hours walking through and exploring. Admission is free, but there is suggested donation of $5 per adult, and $1 per child visiting, which we gladly donated. There were HUGE displays of actual real whale bones, fossils, and every exhibit had lots of information displayed which was easy for kindergarten age children to understand without being overwhelmed. The tide pools opened up while we were there and the kids all loved it. There were lots of sea urchins, anemones, sea sponges, and starfish for the kids to gently touch. The water was EXTREMELY cold, but they loved it and stuck their hands right in nonetheless. (The aquarium conveniently provided hand sanitizer nearby) The ratio of staff to guests was adequate and they were all extremely knowledgable and answered every question enthusiastically and without hesitation. There was a TON of stuff to see and touch, and I found myself lingering at some of the exhibits and having to go catch up to the rest of our group. There is a giftshop near the entrance which sells snacks and drinks, and lots of cool knick-knacks at pretty fair prices. They had a huge assortment of handmade, marine-themed Christmas ornaments, since it is mid-December, but we ended up buying cork magnet with a picture of an otter engraved into it, and a 2 tiny stone sculptures of an otter and a ray, as souvenirs. My son had a blast, and since we had extra parking time, we walked over to the beach playground on the opposite side of the parking lot and let him play for a while. It was a good day trip without being expensive or tiring, and we will most definitely return...

A no-frills educational aquarium with a good assortment of shore and aquatic specimens. A favorite with everyone is the touch tank which opens periodically, with a docent explaining what is in the tank and who is available to answer any questions people have. There is also a an educational lab in a separate building, occasional lectures and movies are shown, and there are student volunteers available in the aquarium to demonstrate specific life processes for some of the sea creatures. The gift shop offers a wide range of gifts and mementos, some geared towards the many school children who visit, some geared toward tourists who want a simple reminder of their visit, and others for people who are genuinely artistic and appreciate fine things. There are even some beautiful educational charts and other items that would be quite useful to a teacher. The buyer does an excellent job of providing something for everyone. If you come on your own, and not as part of a tour group, you will have to pay for parking which is $1 per hour. Two hours will be sufficient to visit the aquarium, possibly even 1 hour if you are short on time. If you have the time and feel like taking a walk, the aquarium is right next to Cabrillo Beach, and next to the Cabrillo Marina, and fairly close to the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor at San Pedro. A very nice walk is to take the Cabrillo Pier out to the end from where you can see the entrance to the harbor straight ahead, the marina on the left, breakwater on the right, and Cabrillo Beach on the right as well. It gives excellent views of cargo ships coming in and out of the harbor, a lighthouse at the entrance to the harbor, working oil platforms in the distance, and pleasure boaters of all kinds. An occasional whale has been spotted in the harbor, lots of pelicans fly around and sea gulls pigeons and other birds...