1600 Ocean Front Walk | |
| 310.393.6149 | |
| aquarium@healthebay.org | |
| http://www.h... bay.org/smpa | |
| Hours: Winter Tue-Fri 2pm-5pm; Sat-Sun 12:30pm-5pm. Summer Tue-Fri 2pm-6pm; Sat-Sun 12:30pm-6pm | |
| Cost: Adults $5 suggested ($2 minimum); Children 12 and under (accompanied by an adult) Free; Groups (10 or more) $2 per person | |
| Ages: All Ages |
Activities and Resources
- CAMPS
- CHILDCARE
- CLASSES
- ENTERTAINMENT
- INDOORS
- KIDS RESOURCES
- LEAGUES & TEAMS
- LODGINGS
- OUTDOORS
- PARENTS RESOURCES
- PARTIES
- RESTAURANTS
- SCHOOLS
- STORES
- TOURIST STOPS
- TRANSPORTATION
Free Stuff
Find free things to do near you!
Blogs and Sites
Check out some of our favorite blogs!
location.
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium in Santa Monica, CA 90401
(3 reviews)
About Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
Built underneath the Santa Monica Pier for the purpose of research and education, the Santa Monica Pier 'Heal the Bay' Aquarium (formerly the UCLA Ocean Discovery Center) features interactive displays, touch tanks filled with animals found in tide pools, and other small aquaria exhibits.
Families appreciate the new Kid's Corner, a comfortable, inviting, interactive space full of books, a puppet theater, games, and puzzles centered around a marine theme. The interesting tanks in this section include the home of the aquarium's famous, escape-artist octopus.
Families can also learn about marine conservation and other environmental issues by watching the short educational films shown throughout the day in the Santa Monica Bay Room. Craft projects for a range of age groups are ongoing as well. Another advantage for families with small kids: this is a fairly small aquarium, where one would be hard pressed to lose anyone. It's the perfect size to spend an hour or two at a leisurely pace.
Have a birthday party here and let the kids explore the wonders of ocean animals living in the Santa Monica Bay. Touch tanks, short movies, activity tables, and a computer and microscope lab are available for use during your party. Call for pricing and to schedule.
Classes here are wonderful and affordable - particularly the Microbiologist series for three to five-year-olds. These two-hour, drop-off classes have a Reggio style approach and send little tikes home as experts on a different marine topic each time. Registration usually takes place three times per year and costs only $25 per session, or $20 for members.
Teens can enjoy the amazing learning opportunity of becoming a volunteer.
Note that the aquarium closes for the month of September each year for maintenance.
Families appreciate the new Kid's Corner, a comfortable, inviting, interactive space full of books, a puppet theater, games, and puzzles centered around a marine theme. The interesting tanks in this section include the home of the aquarium's famous, escape-artist octopus.
Families can also learn about marine conservation and other environmental issues by watching the short educational films shown throughout the day in the Santa Monica Bay Room. Craft projects for a range of age groups are ongoing as well. Another advantage for families with small kids: this is a fairly small aquarium, where one would be hard pressed to lose anyone. It's the perfect size to spend an hour or two at a leisurely pace.
Have a birthday party here and let the kids explore the wonders of ocean animals living in the Santa Monica Bay. Touch tanks, short movies, activity tables, and a computer and microscope lab are available for use during your party. Call for pricing and to schedule.
Classes here are wonderful and affordable - particularly the Microbiologist series for three to five-year-olds. These two-hour, drop-off classes have a Reggio style approach and send little tikes home as experts on a different marine topic each time. Registration usually takes place three times per year and costs only $25 per session, or $20 for members.
Teens can enjoy the amazing learning opportunity of becoming a volunteer.
Note that the aquarium closes for the month of September each year for maintenance.
Tips
Although an indoor museum, the aquarium's open walls keep visitors in touch with the beach outside; kids love the adjacent playground with miniature Muscle Beach-style equipment.
Getting There
Under the carousel building at the Santa Monica Pier.
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
- Shark Sundays at Heal the Bay Ongoing Each Sun 10/4/09 - 9/5/10
Parent Reviews
(3 reviews)
Average Parent Rating:
Rated by 3 parents
- We love this place! My son never gets tired of touching all there is to touch; the staff is amazing, and the shark feedings are a hoot! They're small sharks, and at feeding time they jump up and spit water at anyone standing close enough. The film about Inky the Whale is a great one for kids, and there are always plenty of craft stations, too.
[Submitted by Santa Mommyca3/03/09 - Although small, this aquarium has volunteers roaming and popping with information.
[Submitted by Ann6/13/08 - We recently went to a birthday party hosted at this small and quaint place and it was a big success. The staff was very friendly and the kids had plenty to do that filled up the 2-hour time slot. We've been to the Aquarium of the Pacific several times because we all enjoy it as a family, however that facility is really large and can be a bit overwhelming for small children. This aquarium is child size and very hands on. The staff helped the children make a shark visor and gave them fun information about the marine life. Their presentation of a starfish and sea cucumber was fun and silly and educational. I never knew this place under the pier even existed, but it is a gem. They also host classes for ages 3-5. The place, including the restrooms, was clean and child-friendly.
[Submitted by Natalie
What's Great Nearby
Loading...
Loading...
