9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM DAILY. CLOSED THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS, AND NEW YEARS DAYS, ADDMISSION $8
Smaller and more intimate than some of its larger and better-known cousins, the Birch Aquarium is a place where you can get close to the animals, and take your time to enjoy them. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has been working here for over 100 years and the Birch Aquarium opened in 1992, funded by Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation. Because of its intimacy, children and adults alike are energized by the Birch Aquarium. Watch a leafy sea dragon float through the water like an animated tree branch or check out a shark's egg. Half of the Birch Aquarium is a series of small to medium-sized displays the illustrate sea life along the Pacific Coast of North America. Feeding times for many exhibits are open to the public. Check the schedule you get when you arrive. Interactive exhibits at the Birch Aquarium teach the history of oceanography. The exhibits change periodically. In late 2008, a large portion of their space was occupied by an exploration of global warming and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Outside in the back of the building, you'll find the touch pools, where you can find out what some of the local tidepool inhabitants feel like. The back patio offers some great views of the ocean and nearby town, and in summer, the aquarium sponsors outdoor concerts here (extra fee required).
Reviews for Birch Aquarium at Scripps
