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BarTopDancer
07-31-2006, 06:59 PM
Rank the Swank - Museums and Sights


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Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA
07/30/06
http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/index.html (http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/index.html)


The Lowdown
Looking for something new to do, BlueErica and I decided to check out the Aquarium of the Pacific.

__________________________________________________

The Gig
Sharkies and sea life

The Scene
The Aquarium of the Pacific is a fairly new aquarium in Southern California. They have a small shark display with nurse sharks (they just look mean), a jelly display with different types of jellyfish and tanks of your typical aquarium faire.

The aquarium usually has a long ticket and entrance line, but buying a membership will allow you to circumvent the line. A membership also includes a free ticket ($20 value). Both member and guest can enter via the member entrance to avoid the line.

Upon entering the aquarium you can take a guide book. It was not clearly explained that the guide book is a self-guided tour. Each area of the tour has a machine to emboss your guide book with an animal displayed or discussed in the area. Doing this at each section provides a neat free souvenir.

Disclaimer: I have been to the Monterey Bay Aquarium

I was not super impressed with the Aquarium of the Pacific. I felt the displays were cramped and limited. I also felt that the aquarium was poorly laid out; however this may have been due to the fact we did not realize the guide book was actually a self guided tour.

All in all, it was worth the $20 admission, and I would consider a membership ($50) only to help support the wildlife. It was nice to visit but I'm not sure if I would return just for kicks.
Gemini Cricket
08-01-2006, 05:25 AM
Traitor! I thought your only love was for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. How could you, BTD aka HBTF. I'm shocked. Shocked!

:D ;)
Matterhorn Fan
08-01-2006, 04:10 PM
You cannot pet the sharks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

I enjoyed the sign that instructed you to pet the sharks with only two fingers. Someone with me asked why, and I said that it must be so that if the sharks bite, you'd still have 3 fingers left. They probably just don't want you to grab their tails.

I also was amused by the employee there that told some guests that the sharks don't bite.

Loved the guitarfish. I don't know why.

I don't love birds landing on me, so I didn't love the aviary there, but it was great fun watching the other people I was with feed the birds.

In general, I liked the outdoor sections much better than the indoor sections.

Monterey is still bigger, though. AOTP doesn't have the impressive multi-story viewing of the tanks. Lots of small windows, but much of the indoor stuff appeared to be parts of one larger tank.

I'd be a member if I lived nearby.
alphabassettgrrl
08-01-2006, 10:37 PM
I liked the aquarium; visited a couple months back. Enjoyed the seal, met a binturong which I had never heard of before, saw lorikeets scare the crap out of kids holding nectar.

I have heard at other sea exhibits about using two fingers to pet the rays and sharks because they use a full hand to feed them. They don't want the animals to get confused.

I really liked the jellyfish at the beginning, more than the really big jelly tank.
CoasterMatt
08-01-2006, 10:57 PM
I get free tickets there - someday I'll wander down, maybe Metro the whole trip.
BarTopDancer
08-01-2006, 11:31 PM
Traitor! I thought your only love was for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. How could you, BTD aka HBTF. I'm shocked. Shocked!

:D ;)

But.. but... but...

Erica and I were bored and wanted something different to do. Besides, Monterey is a 10 hour drive I don't wish to do again any time in the near future. Unless they get another Sharky.

Hey wait! YOU MOVED AWAY! :(


:p

Oh how I wanted to pet Sharky. But I'd settle for a Mako.
Bornieo: Fully Loaded
08-01-2006, 11:49 PM
It has been a few years since I was there, but the few times I went I really enjoyed the experinance. The babies (Nieces/ nephews) all really, really had fun.
innerSpaceman
08-05-2006, 03:23 PM
I was a member the first year it opened, and I visited a handful of time. The Aq o' Pacific is sweet, but really not all that impressive. Compared to the genius of Monterey, yes - the displays are cramped and tiny. Bah.

It was years and years before I visited again, in conjuction with our whale watching this past January. The bird exhibit was new to me, and very fun. It was pleasant to visit the aquarium again, but I really won't be missing it if it's more years and years till I get there again.

I'm really more anxious to see Gemini Cricket's aquarium ... and I don't mean his former giant one in Monterey, but his personal one in Boston that's been the subject of much thread talk in these parts.
Clara
04-19-2007, 10:23 PM
I know this is old but I just went about 2 months ago and it was wonderful...pics of that trip are here (http://public.fotki.com/claribella/aquarium-of-the-pacific/)
Peachy Keen
01-14-2008, 07:20 AM
Staff there has told us that the 2-finger petting is because with the whole hand, you (kids?) might grab the sharks, and 1 finger is no good because then you'd poke them.
madmonkeygirl
01-14-2008, 11:18 AM
I've never been. Hopefully one day. Sounds kinda like the Shark Reef at Mandaly Bay (next to Monterey Bay Aquarium) my favorite. Sounds like the "self guide book" is similar to the Shark Reef and the Shark Reef you have a headset like contraption to self explain each exhibit. What was neat at the Shark Reef they have real life Parana's...yes those fish are really creepy and i love the huge gigantic lizzard thingys lmao Brea got funny video of me trying to get it to stick it's tounge out when it did she didn't get it on tape lmao...

To each their own about likes dislikes...
BarTopDancer
01-14-2008, 12:21 PM
I've never been. Hopefully one day. Sounds kinda like the Shark Reef at Mandaly Bay (next to Monterey Bay Aquarium) my favorite. Sounds like the "self guide book" is similar to the Shark Reef and the Shark Reef you have a headset like contraption to self explain each exhibit. What was neat at the Shark Reef they have real life Parana's...yes those fish are really creepy and i love the huge gigantic lizzard thingys lmao Brea got funny video of me trying to get it to stick it's tounge out when it did she didn't get it on tape lmao...

To each their own about likes dislikes...

Shark Reef at Mandalay has a much better layout and self guided tour than the AoP. I also like the sharks and the shark room at Shark Reef better. If you're going to AoP expecting Shark Reef you're going to be disappointed. It's a nice aquarium but it's an aquarium rather than an experience.
innerSpaceman
01-14-2008, 01:53 PM
Shark Reef is a way better aquarium. Kinda sux that a Las Vegas Strip hotel can muster a better aquarium than the city on the biggest seaport in the world.
alphabassettgrrl
01-15-2008, 09:38 PM
I think the 2-finger petting is because they feed them with the whole hand. If I remember (which these days is not reliable).