A trip to the aquarium is fun, no matter your age. For kids, it provides an educational experience and reinforces lessons learned at school. While a trip to the aquarium is also educational for adults, it can also improve health. Researchers have found looking at fish in aquariums can lower stress and blood pressure. Everyone can get on board with that!
If you’re thinking about visiting an aquarium, check out these four top Bay Area aquariums.
1. Crab Cove Visitor Center. The Crab Cove Visitor Center, located in the East Bay area in Alameda, has been educating people about marine life for more than 35 years. Here you’ll not only see a variety of bay creatures, but will also have the opportunity to build a crab from the inside out. The center’s main goal is to make everyone more aware of the environmental importance of the San Francisco Bay. The Visitor Center also has a Wharf Classroom area where kids and adults can learn about shoreline wildlife and the importance of food chains.
Photo Credit: Crab Cove Visitor Center website
2. Marine Mammal Center.In the North Bay area you’ll find the Marine Mammal Center. Located in Sausalito, the Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit veterinary research hospital and education center. The center and its volunteers work to rescue and rehabilitate marine mammals that are sick and hurt. During a visit you can take a guided tour to see various exhibits and look at the seal and sea lion patients in the center. Admission is free, but there is a small fee if you want to take a tour.
Photo Credit: Marine Mammal Center Website
3. Steinhart Aquarium. Located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the Steinhart Aquarium opened in 1923 and is home to nearly 40,000 animals. Be sure to plan for plenty of time for your visit! You can learn about African penguins as well as visit the Philippine Coral Reef tank. This tank is one of the deepest exhibits of live corals in the world. Don’t forget to check out the sharks and stingrays while you’re there. Another popular exhibit is the water planet which takes a look at the connections between water and life.
Photo Credit: Steinhart Aquarium
4. Monterey Bay Aquarium. The Monterey Bay Aquarium, located in the southern part of the bay, has been around for more than 30 years. With a variety of birds, fish, reptiles, and plants, this is another place you’ll want to have plenty of time to visit. Several live web cams allow you to see everything from sharks to jellyfish all in real time. There are also several family activities you can do that are all organized by children’s grade levels.
Photo Credit: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Visiting one of these four top Bay Area aquariums will provide a fun and educational day out for the entire family. Always be sure to check the aquariums’ sites for hours and special events. Have fun!
