The 42 best places to go out in Long Beach (2024)

Absolutely wonderful experience! So many amazing exhibits and very informative and interactive displays. Parking was very easy and they even validated the parking. The cafes were good, and not packed. It was really cool to get to see the scuba divers feeding the fish, getting to pet sting rays, and feeding birds. We highly recommend putting this on the list of must see while in the long Beach area.

My weekend at the Aquarium of the Pacific was fantastic. Getting tickets in advance made things super easy. What really impressed me was how well everything was taken care of.The staff did an amazing job making sure every exhibit looked great. From colorful displays to clean tanks, their hard work made the whole visit even better. It was not just educational but also visually stunning.Big thumbs up to the team for making it such a great day!

Our trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific was enjoyable and engaging. We completed the book stamp activity, which was a fun way to explore the exhibits and earn a pencil as a reward. However, we were disappointed to find that there were no more otters, which we had been looking forward to seeing. Despite this, the diverse marine life and interactive displays made it a worthwhile visit for both kids and adults.

Great experience! This is a beautiful location right near the pier at Long Beach. My six-year-old had a great time. It does get very crowded on the weekends. Scuba Café had great food. They have a lot of wheelchairs for rent and I was surprised to see luggage! They will hold luggage for you on a first come first serve basis if you’re coming to or from the airport.

Great experience for kids with its abundant information about the aquatic life and beyond - a lot more interactive activities. Got there on a weekday afternoon and it was fairly packed. Really a great gem!I heard that there were a lot of upgrades to the existing so I couldn't tell aside from really enjoying it all!

I really loved the "touch" experiences. The opportunity to pet a shark, feel a star fish, even a jelly fish was amazing. There's plenty to see. We spent a couple of hours there and could've stayed longer if we had stayed for the short films, but figured we can watch videos on nature anytime. It's by the Shoreline Village which offers a scenic and pleasant stroll with shops and restaurants. We took a shuttle from our hotel so can't comment on the parking situation. It was timed entry tickets so a stroll was nice but found places to sit and wait outside.

We've wanted to visit for years - I'm so glad we finally made the time to go. It's a great aquarium! My 17 year old and I spent hours walking around and really enjoyed all the exhibits. There are some unique animals that we don't have in any of our local aquariums.I was able to get discount tickets through my union which made it even better!

My kids and their cousins had so much fun here! They enjoyed the big tank show. They are thrilled with touching some sting rays, jelly fish, starfishes and sea urchins.

If you like oceans and seas and everything that is connected with them, then you should definitely visit this aquarium. In addition to seeing the ocean inhabitants, I learned a lot about them, the guide tells a lot of interesting facts, I also learned that during the pandemic, the owner of the aquarium sold everything she had and moved to live there and slept on a cot, just to have money to keep the aquarium, also many families donated money to help, on the territory there is a long wall, where engraved thanks to each family that contributed. I think this is the highest level of kindness and humanity, all the animals are kept in the best conditions ♥️ we were able to not only see but also pet some of the sea creatures, it's incredible!!!! There is also a small park with parrots, an aquarium with seals, a separate aquarium with penguins. I was impressed by what I saw and definitely recommend this place and wish it prosperity 👍🏼

The aquarium is really big. There are a lot of exhibitions everywhere, inside and outside. The staff is everywhere if you need more information about the species. They have food and drinks. Place is really good for kids. Everything clean and organized. The jellyfish are my favorites.

Hands down one of my favorite places to visit! I’ve been multiple times and each time is just as amazing as the last.It’s never too busy the times I’ve gone so I’ve been able to enjoy each exhibit. One of the highlights was definitely the parrots. One perched on me which a friend got a photo of. Really fun experience.Recommend it for family trips, a date, or even a solo trip!

My kiddos had a great time- I loved all the jellyfish and appreciated the stations of hand sanitizer throughout the museum. ** Don’t forgot to support your local street vendors. The fruit stand and ice cream truck outside offer yummy snacks.

The aquarium is a nice place for the whole family. We had fun looking at the variety of sea animals. My favorite were the sea otters. They also have many places to get a quick snack or a bit to eat. The aquarium is not big, so it took us about 3 hours.

Parking across the street, $8 with a visit inside the aquarium. $44 adult ticket. Fun lots of hands on activities. After 12pm most of the field trips clear out a lot less traffic. The information was nice with the divers and the short films. I enjoyed myself.

A great experience with the kids. Highly recommend attending the theater shows during the visit. We also thoroughly enjoyed the interaction attractions throughout. After the aquarium we meandered around the boardwalk and there were great things there as well! Definitely a full day's worth of a visit.

Such an amazing aquarium! It really feels magical and mystical when you walk around. They have a lot of opportunities to touch and feel different types of fish. There is so much to do and so much to see. They have great diversity in their wildlife and it seems like they do a fantastic job maintaining and up keeping the exhibits. The gift shop is also really cute and has great items!

I haven’t been to an aquarium for many years, and it was the first time my husband and I ever visited one together. It is huge, with so much to see! We spent a few hours there enjoying the experience. My favorite creates to see were the sea lions, jelly fish, seahorses, sharks, turtles, and sting rays. And the many colorful fish and sea life - all of it was really interesting and invigorating to observe. It’s unreal how large these creatures can be, and it’s cool to learn about.I love the layout of the exhibits, and the fact that they provide you a map (we would have easily missed things without the map, so it was great to have).The highlight of the experience was the opportunity to touch a moon jelly fish! It was really, really cool.

Fun for all ages. Helpful and friendly staff. A huge plus that they now serve alcohol. I wish someone told us to go feed the birds first thing upon arriving. I heard it was a great experience. Seeing them was nice. Even saw one bird do his cool mating dance only to get royally rejected. The jellyfish are beautiful and probably the most interesting to see. They have a very large tank with hammer head sharks and beautiful manta rays. This great exhibit makes you feel like part of the ocean. It's beautiful to see all the variety coexisting. It's a bit tough to see the octopus in his/her smallish tank. Some displays were down for repairs upon our visit so we'll have to return to get the full experience. The longest lines will be in the gift shop check out for some odd reason.

We visited the Aquarium of the Pacific and feel it was money well spent. There are loads of interactive displays, learning opportunities, friendly volunteers to answer your questions and most importantly, loads of aquariums! We arrived right at opening and didn't have to wait to get in. The aquarium is well organized and they do a great job of highlighting when and where presentations will be held. They have numerous aquariums filled with very cool sea life. They also have a shark, penguin, and sea lion / seal area. There are tide pools where you can "pet" the creatures if you'd like. I think the hidden gem here is if you're interested in whale watching you can book it through the aquarium along with access to the aquarium. For us, this was perfect because we could go early and checkout the aquarium and then jump on a boat to go look for whales. The cost was incredibly reasonable (we saved over $200 for our family of four to do both rather than just a whale watching excursion). The excursion comes with a knowledgable crew and you go out for a significant time. We were out for three hours! You'll want to bring sunscreen and hold onto your hats because it gets windy on the open waters. We were lucky enough to see a pod of common dolphins and a blue whale (we went in July). If you're going to whale watch use this route because it's cheaper and you're on the water for longer.

Husband and I come here once a year. I love the sea turtles and otters. Fun place. Can get crowded. There are plenty of places to sit down if needed. Snack bar food available.

This was one of my best visits in california.Aquariums teach kids about nature and caring for one helps them learn responsibility. If you watch the videos, you see how educative and interesting the place is.There are tour guides who will explain and educate u on the animals and fishes.

It's not worth it. I was really excited to be there but was not happy once I was done.Nothing much or different I would say as compared to other aquariums.The ticket is expensive as compared to the experience.If u buy the ticket through city pass make sure you book your time slot. No one informed that to us and we were not allowed to enter without a time slot booking and it was full so could not book one on the spot. Had to go there the next day which screwed our itinerary because it's far n secluded.I planned IOWA n aquarium the same day as they are close by n secluded with the rest of tourist attractions.I gave three star for the space n set up along with shark's to see. N they had a fun activity of stamping a booklet and at the end they give u a prize. N you also get to touch some floral things that are there underwater (added a video of it)Though the prize is the same for everyone -a tote bag.

The whole staff was great and friendly despite the amount of children on field trips on Tuesday 11/14/23.It had been a while since my last visit so I needed, I was having some questions on where to find certain areas and staff was friendly to answer all of them. Excellent service!Moon jellyfish were my son's favorite area although they were a little on the hidden side of the aquarium.I had forgotten how fun this place is! Thinking of getting their membership since it is at good rate.

Me and my good friend had a great time here. We’re excited to see the seals!! They’re adorable and cute! I’m also surprised by the interactive activities here like jellyfish lab and ray touch lab. I’ve never had any experience to have a close look of these species. It’s so interesting. We are also expressed by the bird zone and also the sea otters. Everything here is very cute!

We saw a sick fish and notified the staff asap, and they were extremely kind and concerned they immediately went to the location and took photos and and said they would get the little guy or gal some help. All the employees showed genuine care and love for their job and animals it was so nice to see that. Definitely would be back but maybe on a weekday there was so many kids! On Sunday in the summer time 😅

It's been so very long since I've last been here. It's a lot smaller than I had remembered. Maybe I was just that little back then. But as an adult, it is still a fun place to visit with kids. The interactive activities with sea life are fun and educational. So many penguins, sea lions, sea otters, sharks, sting rays, many many different fish, octopuses, and my favorite - jellyfish! I also enjoyed the stamp stations! Also, surprisingly the cafe has pretty decent food!

I always enjoy my time here when I want to spend some time at The Pike. The reservation process they have is annoying and had it's problems when I tried to make my reservation, but I can understand why they do that now, especially during their peak times of the year like summer so plan accordingly. Spots fill up fast. Buy tickets in advance. You can take an average of 3 hours to see everything the aquarium has to offer, more if you have curious children, so get there early if possible.On a day that's not busy, the atmosphere is very relaxing and quiet. The otters are my favorite. 😊

I hadn't visited this aquarium in years and noticed that the admission price has increased to $44.95. I visited on a Sunday afternoon, and parking was a bit challenging to find. Inside, it was quite crowded, but I decided to make the best of it. Grabbed a coffee ($5.99) and an iced tea ($5.49) from the Blue Whale Café; they only offer one size, which seemed to be around 12 oz—perfectly fine. Despite the crowd, it was enjoyable to see all the marine life. They do offer parking validation at the exit, so don’t forget to get it validated before you leave. I’d definitely visit again, but probably not on a weekend.

Super cute, lots of touch stations. There was a pretty big croud, mostly because of school trips, but was able to enjoy the experience. An activity for everyone are the stamps that you can do along the way shown on the vistor guide & map

Wow this aquarium was awesome! My parents were visiting and we took my 3 year old daughter and all had a great time! We spent 5 hours there! Highly recommend checking out the shark and moon jellies touch pool. The highlight for my daughter was in the Art Gallery area. You could color a fish or shark on a tablet and then send it to swim in a virtual coral reef projection, it was so cool!

Super amazing experience! So many animals to see! Lots of touch tanks and hands on activities. I am an adult but learned a ton about the pacific.All the enclosures were clean and the animals looked healthy.The parking garage was easy but 8$.There is a senior and military discount.We arrived at 10 am and it was very nice, but it did start to get busy in the afternoon.

Loved it! Open until 8 pm which was the best! After about 5 it was mostly adults and not crowded. So we got a chance to explore a bit more and chat with some of the volunteers.

10/10, definitely recommend! Great activity for family with or without kids.There is so much to see, amazing exhibitions. Great facilities. Just make a day out of it.The bathrooms are good. There is a nursing and changing room on the first floor bathrooms. There should be more stalls considering the amount of traffic they get.The whole place is wheelchair accessible. I wish there was a large octopus though, thats the only thing they didn't seem to have.The surrounding area is so picturesque and serene as well. You can picnic and just relax if you want.

Ticket $44.95 (₹3753.15)Spent around 2 hrs inside. It was a really good experience. Recommended if you are in Long Beach and haven't seen ocean species before and didn't encounter them.It's walking distance from Long Beach convention hall and Hilton hotel. Book a ticket from their official website. Or if you are a AAA member you can get a discounted ticket ($36). If you are booking a ticket for 2PM they will allow you to enter at 1:45PM. Cheers.

This place is great. It is kind of unassuming from the front, but it took us all od three hours to go through! We were three adults and one toddler and we all had fun. I highly recommend. Check out the jellies and the garden eels.

Had a blast at the aquarium of the pacific! We did the bundle with a boat tour of the nearby sea which was really fun! Despite being a small aquarium, there was so much to do, there were shows, stamps to collecf and most importantly, cute sea otters!! 🥹 I'll come back soon when I can!

Not the biggest aquarium by all means but we really appreciate the interactive elements and the generous volunteers. The learning hubs are very informative and great for kids. The overall curation that showcases the regional habitats is also very thoughtful.

I love this aquarium so much. I had to share this experience with my 2 y.o., so we flew back to Cali. She was in awe and excitement. Parking was easy (make sure to get validated before leaving the aquarium) ; we got there around 9 am on a Monday, so it wasn't busy.I enjoyed the little presentations that were put on by staff; very knowledgeable staff. Please visit and donate to the aquarium if you can.

Such a beautiful aquarium, I adored all the exhibits, especially the shark lagoon made me happy. The volunteers and staff were all very friendly!What a wonderful space for learning about our amazing ocean and everything that comes with it!The daily ticket price does feel a bit too much. Honestly, I would consider getting a membership since daily ticket fees are not that affordable for young adults who aren’t students however I’m still unsure personally.

Went with someone else and we both loved it. Spent several hours here. They had multiple activities and plenty of staff for help and/or educational purposes. Got to touch sting rays, starfish, and several aquatic plants. Absolutely loved this place. It is a must visit if you're in LA. This is the best aquarium I've been to within the US. Make sure to get your parking verified upon exit makes parking only $8.

Must visit places for kids OMG they loved it and it’s so pretty and educational and so many wonderful volunteers . Thanks to all volunteers they are so patient and interactive with the kids wonderful people 🙏❤️ . So many touch pools you can touch sharks , stingrays , sturgeons , sea starts , anemones , sea urchins and jelly fish . You can spend the whole day we started at 9:30 and we’re done by 3 then head to the beach it’s a bit of a walk but so fun . Must visit Aquarium

This was a very cool Aquarium. It's 2 stories and has stuff outside. My Service dog's favorite was the Sea Lions that were barking. Lol They were cute to watch and funny.

You must buy tickets ahead of time online in order to reserve a time of entry. Do not wait to buy them the day of, at the very least buy your tickets the day before you plan to go. I suggest going either as early as possible or later in the day to try avoiding the rush of young families (if you're going to go on the weekend). If you park in the parking garage, you can get your parking validated inside at a self scan kiosk once you walk in. Makes parking $8 instead of the full price, so definitely remember to do that before leaving. They had all kinds of different animals to check out and some interactive parts that were fun for all ages. You can paint your own AI creature (meant for kids but it was cool). Be aware that it can get cold inside but warm outside where the birds and sea lions are located. Also note that there are stairs. Elevators are available but tend to get crowded and busy due to people with strollers. Overall very fun and informative. Makes for a fun date or nice family activity. Would definitely recommend checking out the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

Aquarium of the Pacific was a great experience for the whole family. We booked in advance and arrived a few minutes after 9am, when they open. I am really glad we arrived early. We had plenty of time to pet the sharks and stingrays. We loved the stingrays so much we went back later. There were way too many people to enjoy them even an hour after opening. Parking is $15 in 2024. The Aquarium validated my parking, saving me $8.I highly recommend booking a Whale Watching tour for an additional $35 per person. Check out my Harbour Sea Cruise post for more info.

Pretty good aquarium to spend the day at. Not the best aquarium I have been too but this one seems pretty well designed space for the animals and they seem take good care of the animals. Great for kids with many interactive touch sensory areas for the kids… also with plenty of hand washing areas at each area. Good time for adults and kids.The ticket price seems a little high for adults and kids (3 or older)

Don't waste your time and money.We purchased the family membership to support the aquarium. I asked if there were Black-out-dates, and the lady at the window said absolutely no.Today, we drove almost 1.5 hours (with traffic) and we where turned away. We were told we needed appointment tickets for 3 hours later. I could not wait around 3 hours with 2 little kids and a granma that couldn't walk well...All the employees were rude and gave robotic responses. No help at all!We won't be renewing our membership. Besides, all you want to see can be seen in one visit.Edit: parking lot is $8.00 with validation, $10 to $16 without it. Pretty expensive.

Try to go when there are no bus loads of children. It distracts from the peace and atmosphere.Good variety for a medium-sized aquarium. Make sure you see Sam " I am." We had a great burger in their cafe, and fries were nearly perfect.

This is a good place to visit on vacation just like I did. It is a little smaller than other aquariums I have been to but costs the same; so that is why I rated it four stars. It is very busy, but not too busy where everything is blocked from viewers. The parking is not expensive and there are other things to do around the area. The employees were very friendly and knowledgeable about the animals. You can pet sharks and manta rays and even watch seals. Since I love animals I would go back.