What an exciting and educational spot to take the kids (or even your adult selves) for meeting up with animals we normally only glimpse on television. Think about it: it’s not hard to find a good show on sealife (thank you Netflix), but how often do you get to touch, stingrays, starfish, and crabs? When was the last time you marveled at infant sea turtles, native birds and bald eagles in the flesh? What about the last time you jumped into the water and (yes!) hung out with Harbor seals?

After marveling at wildlife, check out the impressive 300-seat IMAX theater with wrap-around digital surround sound featuring movies about the sealife, tsunamis and more. (With an additional cost.)

Good to know: Visit the Aquarium before 10:00 a.m. or after 2:00 p.m. for smaller crowds. If you don’t feel like bringing food along, a cafe and two snack bars are available to fuel you and the kids. Wear comfy walking shoes — there’s a lot to see including a short fun nature trail walk. Plan for a four to five hour visit to really enjoy all that this gem of an Aquarium has to offer.