Aquarium of the Bay051

This is a pretty cool experience; you and your children get to walk through clear acrylic tunnels lying underneath the Bay. The unusual perspective gives you a close-up view of marine life, including the sharks, eels, fish, and other creatures that live in the San Francisco Bay. The aquarium also offers birthday parties and sleepovers.

You begin with a walk through an aquarium display featuring more color than you might expect to find beneath the Bay: bright orange fish and steel blue ones, anemones in sherbet hues of pink, green, purple, and yellow, and anchovies flashing by in a circle of silver. This area also boasts Bay babies - with small rays and sharks, and bottom dwellers busy burying themselves in the sand.

Next, an elevator and interpretive naturalist take you down to the main exhibit as you "dive" from the surface to beneath the Bay, where you can either ride on the moving walkway through the tunnel, or chase your kids as they try to follow one of the many sharks swimming above. When you've had your fill of sea stars, wolf eels and kelp forest, take the elevator back to the surface, where sand and a boardwalk lead to three touch pools. Here, kids get a chance to touch small sharks, bat rays, and sea stars, and ask questions of the knowledgeable guides posted poolside.

During summer and holidays only the Water Discovery Lab is open to all visitors. The Water Discovery Lab helps children and adults learn more about our rivers, bays, oceans and the animals that live in these waters through hands-on experiments, arts and crafts and marine conservation films.

The last leg of the tour is a trip through a small gift shop stocked with plenty of inexpensive ($5-$10), ocean-themed souvenirs.

Birthday Parties: Parties are for children ages four and up, and are held Fri-Sun, anytime between 11am-4pm for two hours. Birthday parties are held in a private, decorated event room, and the Aquarium supplies the plates, utensils, napkins, and cups. You are invited to bring food and refreshments to the party. You can choose one of three themes: Sea Star, Tropical Fish, or Shark Party. A party costs $500 (includes naturalist to run the event, a private decorated event room, guided tour for your entire group and up to 20 goodie bags for the kids/ maximum 35 people).

Sleepover: Birthday sleepovers are available for children ages six and up and can be held seven days a week. Spend a night sleeping in the tunnels exhibit under the sea stars or sharks. Learn about the wonders of the Bay from experienced Naturalists who lead the group in educational activities and interactive discussions. Watch the nocturnal behavior of marine animals and be lulled to sleep listening to the sounds of the Bay. Scout specific programming is available. A sleepover costs $60 per person and includes naturalists, pizza snack and continental style breakfast at the Aquarium (minimum 25 people/ maximum 45 people).

Family Membership, which includes unlimited admission to the Aquarium for one year, is $76 and covers two adults and two children (ages 3-11).