The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-6149
www.healthebay.org/smpa/
The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is a marine science aquarium located beach-level, just below the Carousel, at the Santa Monica Pier. They're open from two o'clock to five o'clock Tuesday through Friday, and 12:30 to five o'clock on weekends, but call or check the web site before you go -- their hours and open days can change if they get short-staffed.
Children twelve and under are admitted free, but must be accompanied by an adult. Adults and children over twelve must pay two dollars. (The suggested donation is $5, but they don't insist -- two dollars is the minimum.)
The aquarium features three touch tanks, where visitors can have a hands-on experience with sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and other local ocean dwellers. They also have a shark and ray tank, where thornback rays, horn sharks, and swell sharks swim. No touching, but Sundays are "Shark Sundays," featuring shark feedings at 3:30.
They have several other tanks, including a Kelp Forest Tank, the 2,200-gallon Pier Tank (the largest exhibit, featuring sea creatures that live -- you guessed it -- under the Santa Monica Pier), the Octopus Tank (home of the two-spotted octopus), the Phylum Discovery Tank (if you've longed all your life to see a feather duster worm, here's your chance), and more.
Every Saturday, the Aquarium has a naturalist presentation at 3:30. Visitors can learn about the ocean animals living in the Aquarium and watch some of them get fed.
The Aquarium also has simple craft projects available all during their open hours. Short educational films are shown throughout the day. Their Kids' Corner has ocean-themed books, games, and puzzles for children to enjoy.
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