Location: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 590-3100
Website: www.aquariumofpacific.org/
Hours: Open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day of the year, except December 25 and during the weekend of the Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Fees: Check website for current ticket prices, discount offers and combination packages.
Comments: The Aquarium of the Pacific is one of the larger aquariums in the United States. Its more than 500 species fill 19 major habitats and 32 focus exhibits and take visitors on a journey throughout the Pacific Ocean's three regions: Southern California/Baja, the Tropical Pacific, and the Northern Pacific. With more than 12,500 ocean animals, representing nearly 1,000 species, the Aquarium celebrates the planet’s largest and most diverse body of water: the Pacific Ocean.
Sea Jellies, in our temporary exhibits gallery, gives visitors a close up look at these mysterious animals. The Sea Jellies Gallery offers visitors an exciting look at more than a dozen species of sea jellies. Sea jellies - or as they are more commonly known, "jellyfish" - have flourished in the world's oceans for 650 million years without brains or hearts. Made up of 95% water, these simply constructed creatures have pulsated through coastal waters and icy ocean trenches for ages and have now drifted into the Aquarium of the Pacific's Sea Jellies gallery!
Shark Lagoon and the Lorikeet Forest aviary offer an outdoor adventure in Explorer's Cove.
Transport yourself to the coastal lowlands of Australia when you enter Lorikeet Forest, a 3,200 sq. ft. outdoor aviary. More than 100 enthusiastic lorikeets fill the trees. Purchase a small cup of nectar, the lorikeets’ favorite food, to feed the birds as you walk through the exhibit. You will find them sitting on your hand, arm, shoulder or even your head to get a sip of sweet nectar! Measuring approximately 10 inches in length, lorikeets exhibit a dazzling color combination, ranging from brilliant blues and greens to exquisite reds, yellows, and deep purples. When seen in full sunlight, these beautifully colored birds almost radiate an iridescent glow—a bright contrast to the thick, dark trees of their natural habitat. The Lorikeets are easy to photograph and if you get them close-up and pay attention to the background it is possible to get interesting and beautiful photographs.
Most of the aquarium exhibits and especially the Sea Jellies are in reasonably well lit tanks with viewing areas darker than the tank making photography possible. With a little patience and effort interesting and colorful photos without glass reflections are possible. Normal to moderate telephoto lenses with close focus capability and moderately fast (200 to 400) ISO film or digital setting are recommended.
The Aquarium is most crowded on the weekends, during the holiday season and during the summer. If you do decide to visit on a Saturday or Sunday, you can beat the crowds by coming earlier (between 9:00 am and 10:00 am). On weekdays, school groups visit the Aquarium in the morning, but leave by 2:00 pm. During our more popular summer periods and holidays when we anticipate higher attendance, the Aquarium of the Pacific utilizes a timed ticketing system, which allows each guest a special time to enter the facility.
Directions: Take the 405 Freeway north or south to the 710 Freeway south; Follow signs to downtown Long Beach and the Aquarium exit; The Aquarium exit will lead to the Aquarium parking lot.