Random Post #1

The Monterey Bay Aquarium

Having been interested in the ocean all my life, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has always been a place where I begged my parents to take me every year. Located along the Central Coast of California, the aquarium is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the research and conservation of native marine life in Monterey. It is a spot perfect for any age, and even now, I still try to visit the aquarium at least once a year.

The aquarium itself has many exhibits, ranging from the rocky shores to the kelp forest. The main attraction of the aquarium is the sea otter exhibit. Located in the center of the building, it’s hard to miss the big tank or the bigger crowds around it. Another popular display is the jellyfish, which is part of the open sea exhibit. Usually, you can cycle through all exhibits within 1.5 hours. But, the aquarium has a bunch of events that they host, such as animal feedings, touch pools, or even informational presentations from researchers.

Here’s a quick rundown of the more interesting exhibits:

  • Tentacles: A small exhibit located on the lower floor of the aquarium. Home to a variety of octopuses, squids, and nautiluses.
  • Life on the Bay: The viewing deck that stretches along the bay-facing side of the aquarium. Perfect for taking pictures or just admiring the ocean.
  • Open Sea: A large tank that houses small fish, sharks, turtles, and even sunfish. Also includes the jellyfish exhibit.
  • Rocky Shore: A collection of different crustaceans and other miscellaneous sea life that you would see in tide pools. Featuring a glass dome that has simulated waves crashing against it.
  • Splash Zone and Penguins: The children’s play area, complete with colorful fish, penguins, and an indoor playground. Kids really love penguins.
From penguins to octopuses, no matter what part of the ocean interests you, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is sure to have it.

Even though aquariums are usually known for fish, my favorite part of the aquarium is probably the sandy shores and aviary exhibit. Located in a small open-air room in the back corner of the aquarium, this exhibit is home to shorebirds–small birds that wade along the shoreline to forage for food. There are no glass panels or netting that separates the birds from the visitors, allowing for a more immersive experience, for the birds are right in front of you.

If you are ever in the Monterey area, the aquarium is the place to be. But if you ever want to watch aquatic life from the comfort of your room, the aquarium website has a plethora of live streams, located at this link. Of course, I still highly recommend going to this aquarium, as it is an unforgettable experience that you will not regret.

Here's a picture I found of me posing in a clam at the aquarium.

Comments

  1. Lesley 340February 26, 2022 at 1:39 PM

    Hi Bryan!

    That photo of you is so adorable! Aquariums are interesting. At first, the concept of trapping ocean animals in cage and then making them an exhibition didn't sit right with me. But I know sometimes it's necessary to help them stay alive. But I think I would prefer scuba diving. If you think about it scuba diving is basically the reverse concept. Humans are trapped in their oxygen gears while fish are free. Would you ever go scuba diving?

    Best,

    Lesley

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 27, 2022 at 12:46 PM

    Hi Bryan!
    I loved your post! I used to be obsessed with the aquarium as a child because there was one 30 minutes from my house. However, in second grade we went on a field trip and my chaperone lost me in the middle of the stingray exhibit. So that wasn't as fun. I think I have to visit this one though because it seems much more interesting than the one at home!

    -Samantha

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 27, 2022 at 1:42 PM

    Hi Bryan,

    Thank you for sharing with us. I've always loved aquariums and sea life myself and although I haven't been to an aquarium in a while, this post makes me want to go see the marine life. It's crazy how many different animals live in the ocean and coexist with each other and aquariums are somehow able to put that on display.

    -Etienne

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownFebruary 27, 2022 at 3:44 PM

    Hi Bryan,

    Loved this post about the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As someone also from the bay, my family had a membership at the aquarium and we would frequently go just for a quick day trip to get away from home. Funny that you posted the picture of yourself in the clam, because I recall also taking a similar picture myself! Thanks for the throwback.

    -Leon

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownFebruary 27, 2022 at 10:49 PM

    Hi Bryan,

    Your photo in the clam shell is so cute, I have many of my own. I was born in Monterey and have a season pass to the aquarium, which I love to visit. My uncle worked there and let me feed newborn otters and stand over the massive fish tank with the sharks, it was awesome. I've never heard of the aviary exhibit, but I'll check it out the next time I go. However, I want to know how you're zooming through all the exhibits in 90 minutes? It takes me an hour to even do the splash zone.

    - Ellie

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 28, 2022 at 12:38 AM

    Hi Bryan,

    Thank you for sharing this post about the Monterey aquarium. I have only been to this aquarium once and that was when I was like 13 years old. We were on our way to San Fransisco, and stopped off on in Monterey since it was along the way. I just remember being in aw and it was such a great experience. I most definitely want to go back and see it again since it has been so long. I also have a picture of me and the clam!

    -Angel Perez

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 28, 2022 at 11:13 PM

    Bryan,

    First off, oh my lord, how cute is that photo?! Super cute. Anyways, I felt like I was meant to read this post! My spirit animal is a sea otter. After reading your post, I reallyyyy want to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I do have one question though, and I will ask you this on Wednesday, do the children get to play with the penguins? And if so, do I need to be a child in order to play in the "slash zone", because I really want to hang out with penguins haha.

    Thank you for sharing and for the recommendation as I am sure to visit this aquarium now,

    Mason

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Random Post #2

Image
Have you ever tasted something and had flashbacks to specific memories? A lot of people experience this, from a soup that brings you back to your mom’s cooking to a pasta dish that triggers memories of food poisoning. Research shows that taste is directly linked to both positive and negative experiences, which helped our distant ancestors determine what foods were fundamental to their survival. Even though these memories are usually associated with food, in my case, the different flavors of chapstick take me back to various points in my life. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with chapstick. When I was younger, I had really dry lips, so naturally, I bought some Chapstick-brand chapstick. That was my biggest mistake. Instead of making my lips better, the chapstick caused my lips to dry out even more. After this, there was a period of 3-5 years where I tried random types of chapstick to see which one worked for me. Finally, in my junior year of high school, I ended up with Burt’s ...
Read more

Who You Are Matters

Image
  Where do I come from? I am from the Bay Area, namely a city called Milpitas. My parents are from Taiwan, so that has played a big part throughout my life. Where am I going? I'm hoping to become a CPA in the future! But I'm still not sure if I want to stay in California to stay close to family or move to a different state to try something new. How do I plan to get there? I have an accouting internship this summer in New York, which is one big step in achieving my goals. I've been working hard for the past two and a half years and I'm not going to stop now! How am I like my parents? I have my mom's work ethic; we always strive to accomplish tasks in a timely manner. I have my dad's temperament; we always like to evaluate situations from a wider perspective. How am I unlike my parents? My parents are pretty uptight, largely because they care about both my sister's and my success. I tend to take things more relaxed, doing things at my own pace instead of worry...
Read more

Book #2 Review #2

Image
 “They sat for a while together, listening to the drone of the bees, watching the darts and the droops of the swifts, eating strawberries, smelling the honeysuckle.” In contrast to the prologue of the book, Lucy Jones ends Losing Eden with a different tone. The prologue paints a grim view of the future, where nature is something only experienced on screens. But in the epilogue, nature is in full bloom, aided by humanity’s desire to protect the natural world. In Losing Eden, Jones dives into the power of nature, not only to heal people but to provide solace in a world focused on individualism. The drive of capitalism is in direct opposition to the conservation of nature. While people learn to take, nature itself has nothing left to give. She argues the importance of nature through both scientific research and personal anecdotes, including her own experience of healing from her addiction through nature. One interesting thing that Jones mentioned was how she felt better after swimming...
Read more