Aquarium
Heal the Bay Aquarium
36 locals recommend,
Why locals recommend it
This is a little hidden gem—most people who go to the pier don’t even realize it’s there. Kids can touch the starfish and sea urchins and get a deeper understanding of the beauty and fragility of our ecosystem. It’s nothing fancy but is a good 30 minutes of entertainment. Every one of the more than a hundred species of animals and plants on display comes from right here in Santa Monica Bay.
Location
1600 Ocean Front Walk
Santa Monica, CA
Tips from locals
Very nice place if you want to spend the day at the beach. Tons of games, a small roller coaster, a Ferris Wheel and really good food. From here you can walk to Venice.
Right on the Santa Monica pier! This aquarium was a second home to our kids! So much so that my oldest son volunteered there while in high school! They have shark feeding hours with an engaging talk about sharks! And several touch tanks where you can touch and learn all about the local sea life.