Theresa Huse

Planning and Travel Tips: Monterey Bay, CA and Monterey Bay Aquarium Part 2

Today’s part two of planning and travel tips for Monterey, CA and Monterey Bay Aquarium. You can see part one’s post here if you missed it! One of the best things you can do when traveling is make a small check list for yourself. It helps you with being prepared especially if you are going somewhere that is out of town. Your travel plans and tips if staying in a hotel will of course be much bigger than a typical day trip. I’ll share a post link for packing & unpacking at the end of this post you might enjoy.

Now onto part two Planning and Travel Tips Monterey Bay, CA

For the day of your trip to the aquarium these tips may help you especially if you are trekking with kids.

Bring:

  • Bottled water
  • Snack items
  • Backpack or Bag to carry extras
  • There is a snack shop and eating areas inside $$
  • There is a gift shop inside $$$$
  • Camera or iPhone (I saw many people with their iPads too!)
  • Don’t forget your chargers & extra batteries, memory cards for cameras
  • Binoculars for spotting wild life outdoors
  • With small kids have in car change of clothes, if potty training bring in your bag
  • With babies bring snacks, juice and any diaper bag necessities and a blanket
  • Stroller or carrier! There is too much ground to cover to carry a little one all day!
  • Wear walking shoes
  • Wear layers for indoor outdoor viewing areas

You can view how the ocean and tide waves flow and move from outside or go inside and be in an area where waves crash over you as you stand under a glass ceiling and windows. Just walk in the hallway and wait a minute as it continues over and over again!

Monterey Bay is amazing. If you have never been to Monterey coast in California or surrounding coastal areas please put this on your bucket list now. Monterey for the bay, whale watching, aquarium, shops, restaurant choices. Carmel artsy shopping, pristine beaches and mountains. Big Sur for the mountains, stunning rock areas and beaches. Research them all and make a spring , summer or anytime of year trip.

Image Credits Mike Baird

Watch for wildlife around the rocks and in the water. Sea Otters, dolphins, seals, sea gulls and sometimes even whales are nearby. We often see sea otters in the waters near the Central, CA coastline along with Elephant Seals (San Simeon, CA) and other migrating sea life, including whales. (which is 2 1/2 hours south of Monterey) At the aquarium they have an indoor exhibit sea otters but, keep your eye out for them when you walk outside too! Think about bringing smaller binoculars if you have them.

Places we went to in Monterey Bay, CA. that might be helpful when planning your trip:

We were going to eat at Bubba Gumps for dinner but, the wait time was 1 1/2 hour due to proximity to aquarium and our large group. Tip: Call ahead! We defaulted to Chili’s a short drive away! Don’t forget to see part one for lots more tips and photographs from inside the aquarium, shops and a few restaurants we visited! Link below! I hope this helps you start with your planning for enjoying the Monterey Bay and the Aquarium.

Have you traveled to Monterey, CA or is it on your list of places to visit? When is the last time you visited your nearest local aquarium?

Today’s post brought to you by Groupon. This affiliate offer provides you with top deals when traveling or even in your own city!

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