Location: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858-534-5771
Website: www.aquarium.ucsd.edu/
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Days. The Aquarium is the busiest on the weekends, holidays, and during the summer. During these times, you can enjoy the best visit by coming earlier (arriving between 9:00am and 10:00 am). On weekday mornings we have scheduled school field trips. Therefore, for the quietest visit, we recommend an afternoon visit (after 1:00pm).
Fees: Check website for current ticket prices, discount offers and combination packages.
Comments: The View: Located on a coastal bluff overlooking La Jolla Shores beach and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium at Scripps is renowned for its ocean views, both inside and out. Visitors from around the world marvel at the dazzling marine life exhibits, from sharks to seahorses to corals. Make a visit to Birch Aquarium at Scripps soon and enjoy San Diego's "best ocean views." Dive Shows and Exhibits:
On Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30 pm; Sundays 10:30 am watch as Scripps divers take the plunge into the aquarium's 70,000-gallon kelp forest tank in a half-hour show about La Jolla's kelp forest habitat. You'll learn about "underwater" San Diego as divers spotlight the creatures within--from lurking leopard sharks to suspicious sting rays. The kelp forest habitat comes alive when the divers descend, feeding the fishes and answering questions.
From sleek sharks of tropical reefs to local leopard sharks lurking in the giant kelp forest tank, they've got sharks! The aquarium's species of sharks include swell, nurse, leopard, horn, shovelnose guitarfish, angel, whitetip reef, blacktip reef, and wobbegongs.
The tide-pool plaza is a great place to view the many hearty animals who survive tremendous changes in moisture, temperature, and salinity in their natural environment. The tide-pool Discovery Center offers opportunities to touch tide-pool animals. Aquarium naturalists are on-hand to answer questions and educate visitors about this unique habitat and the marine life that calls it home.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps raises its own corals, a delicate and intensive process, but worth every effort. You'll agree when you peek into the brilliant underwater reef community. You'll see fishes and living corals with clever names like maze coral, great star coral, and red tree sponge. Relive your tropical vacation and see the aquarium's living coral displays.
Directions: From Interstate 5; Exit La Jolla Village Drive, head west. La Jolla Village Drive will become North Torrey Pines Road (approx. 1 mile). Turn left on Expedition Way. Parking is to your left, at the bottom of the hill.