Discussion at the aquarium of the pacific

[wandg]

I stopped by the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California today. The saltwater exhibits were top-notch. Lots of educational value for kids. That being said, I still think the Baltimore aquarium has it beat. I mean, they've got a great mix of salt and freshwater exhibits.

[sageSe]

I've heard great things about the Aquarium of the Pacific, but I haven't had the chance to visit it yet. The National Aquarium in Baltimore, however, is definitely top-notch – I'm a bit biased, having grown up in the DMV area. I had the opportunity to SCUBA dive in their Atlantic reef tank, which was an unforgettable experience.

While the Aquarium of the Pacific might be excellent, if I had to choose a California aquarium, I'd have to go with the Monterey Bay Aquarium – its reputation is well-earned.

[muddywave]

My first aquarium experience was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium back in '90. It was truly captivating. I later visited the Tennessee Aquarium, which also left a great impression on me. When the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta opened, I got a year-long pass and would often take my kids there - we'd sit and marvel at the massive wall of water, mesmerized by the marine life. My boys were young at the time, 7 and 5 years old, so after about 30 minutes, they'd start to lose interest, but they enjoyed it nonetheless.

Watching the grouper swim by, their grumpy demeanor a sight to behold, was always a highlight. And then, witnessing the whale shark glide effortlessly past the viewing wall was simply breathtaking - those creatures are enormous. I once planned to visit the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, but I got so caught up at the Field Museum that I never made it.

Now that I think about it, visiting all the major aquariums across the country could make for an incredible vacation.