🏝 Monterey One-Day Travel Guide (Includes Tickets, Itinerary & Food)

Monterey Bay Aquarium ✨ Voted one of the most beautiful aquariums in the U.S. — feels like stepping into a starry deep-sea world! 🐧 Don’t miss the penguins 🐧, otters 🦦, Open Sea feeding at 11:00 AM, and the mesmerizing glow of jellyfish 🪼 — absolutely magical! 📍 Grab a map as soon as you enter and check the feeding schedule. Every floor has something special. Recommend spending at least 2.5–3 hours. 🎟 Ticket Tips: ✅ Buy on Taobao — saves nearly ¥200 per ticket! Scan QR code to enter, no need to exchange tickets. ✅ Open daily 10:00–17:00. Avoid weekends if possible — weekdays or early mornings are less crowded and better for photos! 🚗 Parking Tips: Aquarium parking lot: $20 flat rate. Street parking: $1.75/hour — but ⚠️ avoid parking under wires unless you want your car covered in bird poop 😂 Better option: search “Public Parking” on Maps ahead of time! 🍤 Food Recommendations: Jack’s Bao: Soup dumplings, BBQ pork rice, wok dishes — small but delicious! Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Forrest Gump-themed chain. Good for seafood lovers, though a bit pricey. Sea Harvest: Highly rated on Yelp for local seafood — oysters 🦪 and fish & chips are great. Avoid tourist traps! Troya Turkish Delight & Baklava: Authentic Turkish sweets 🥹 Baklava is a must-try — sweet but not overwhelming! 📷 Photo Hotspots: Jellyfish Exhibit ✨: Blue and purple lighting — wear white for best shots (I wore black 😅). Open Sea Gallery (2nd floor): Swirling schools of fish + moody lighting = sci-fi vibes! Outdoor Deck: Ocean views + wild sea lions — stunning backdrop! 🖤 Bonus Spot · Black & Gold McDonald’s (McDonald's Seaside) 🚗 Just 10 mins from the aquarium! 📍 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 #HiddenGems #StudyAbroadPlog #OffTheBeatenPath