RtS: Aquarium of the Pacific

BarTopDancer · 07-31-2006, 06:59 PM

Rank the Swank - Museums and Sights

Overall Swank Rank

Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA
07/30/06
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!

BarTopDancer · 08-01-2006, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Traitor! I thought your only love was for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. How could you, BTD aka HBTF. I'm shocked. Shocked!

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!

Oh how I wanted to pet Sharky. But I'd settle for a Mako.

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.

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

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.

07-31-2006, 06:59 PM	#1
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	RtS: Aquarium of the Pacific Rank the Swank - Museums and Sights Overall Swank Rank Aquarium of the Pacific 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach, CA 07/30/06 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. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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08-01-2006, 05:25 AM	#2
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Traitor! I thought your only love was for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. How could you, BTD aka HBTF. I'm shocked. Shocked!
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08-01-2006, 04:10 PM	#4
Matterhorn Fan Double Agent Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Back East Posts: 2,071	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.
	Submit to Quotes

08-01-2006, 10:37 PM	#5
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	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. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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08-01-2006, 10:57 PM	#6
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I get free tickets there - someday I'll wander down, maybe Metro the whole trip. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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08-01-2006, 11:49 PM	#7
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	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.
	Submit to Quotes

08-05-2006, 03:23 PM	#8
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	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.
	Submit to Quotes

04-19-2007, 10:23 PM	#9
Clara I need a..... Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sephiroth = Ugh! Posts: 20	I know this is old but I just went about 2 months ago and it was wonderful...pics of that trip are here __________________ Need a Banner or large print job done?
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01-14-2008, 07:20 AM	#10
Peachy Keen Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 42	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.
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