A visit to Monterey must include a day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This world-renowned, best-in-the-nation aquarium is spectacular. You can spend a full day exploring the underwater world that is brought to life inside the walls of this beautiful research facility/family attraction.

We all felt captivated by a different section: I loved the massive Outer Bay tank that housed the hammerhead sharks, my oldest son (M1) couldn't get enough of watching the leafy sea dragon, M2 (my middle son) spent an hour playing in the water flow tank, my youngest (M3) thought the sea otters were hysterical, and my husband stared in wonder at the seahorses. Maybe he wondered at them because the male is the gender that gets pregnant, carries, and gives birth to the babies. Hmmm. Maybe I need to reconsider my favorite exhibit.

Stroller use at the aquarium

My sister joined us for the day along with my 18-month-old niece. The littlest member of our group had a great time seeing the glowing tanks, playing in the specially-designed, designated, Splash Zone, and making fish noises all day with her cousins. Our trip to the aquarium happened during the week, so it wasn't as crowded. On a busier day, her stroller may not have been as easy to maneuver around. If you plan on attending on a busier day, you may want to consider wearing your baby as opposed to struggling with a stroller in the crowds.

As my sister pushed my napping niece in her stroller, we walked (strolled) through the Pink Flamingos exhibit to find upon our exit that strollers were not allowed in this section. Oops! We completely missed the sign as we entered. The seahorse exhibit, located next to the flamingos, did not allow strollers either. We took turns viewing the seahorses to follow the no-stroller rule, while one of us hung out with our napping toddler. There were plenty of other areas to explore where strollers were allowed and this didn't bother us. It is just something to keep in mind during your visit.

Attractions at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Throughout the day, visitors can view several feeding times for the various fish and animals exhibited. These special times can get crowded, so if you are interested in viewing a particular event, get to the area early and claim a spot. We used these times to explore other sections ourselves and avoid the crowds.

If you feel like getting wet yourself and are between the ages of eight and thirteen, you can sign up to dive in the bay area of the aquarium. For an extra fee, and with prior reservation, you put on a full wet suit and explore this special area of the aquarium with trained, knowledgeable guides. We did not participate in this feature, but made note of it for the future.

The exhibits are well maintained and I didn't see an “Out of Order” sign all day. It is immaculate, well-staffed, and mesmerizing. Small children can't take their eyes off the fish, older children and adults can read the offered information and have an in-depth learning experience. The aquarium truly has something for all ages to enjoy.

As we stepped outside after spending the entire day in this under-water world, I had to adjust to being a land-animal once again. I loved being immersed in the environment the Monterey Bay Aquarium painstakingly creates. We all relaxed during our trolley ride along Cannery Row and I felt content that each of us had acquired our own, personal, favorite memory of our trip to the aquarium and Monterey. For an intimate, short journey away from the big-city attractions of California, this getaway proved to be a perfect choice for our family.

Read more about Eileen’s family visit to Monterey, California.

When Eileen Calandro isn't dreaming of scuba diving in a kelp forest, she is the Chief Mom Connector of Mom Central and shares her other travel adventures, stories, and thoughts on her blog: calandroclan.com.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.