Today Kalli and I drove 25 minutes south, took Beckett and Giacomo to Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. When the kids were younger we were members here. It's a great place to go and while away 2 or 3 hours checking out the amazing exhibits. And when you're a member you don't feel compelled to stay for any length of time -- you can just pop in for an hour or two when you need to get out of the house and the kids need some entertainment.
The aquarium has so many incredible displays: Southern California/Baja, Tropical Pacific Gallery, Sea Otter Habitat, Lorikeet Forest, etc. My son's favorite is Shark Lagoon, where kids can touch tiger sharks and stingray. Down the ramp there is a huge window to view all the big guys -- Black-tipped reef shark, sand tiger, saw fish, and a few other ominous looking medium-size sharks. This is a picture of Beckett and Giacomo watching the big guys:
In Lorikeet Forest kids can carry a cup of nectar, and the birds come right up to you (one landed on my head!) -- they are not shy. We saw a Sea Lion show, watched the adorable Sea Otters rolling around and playing together, and checked out massive crabs, tiny, spiny dragonfish, jellyfish, sea anemonies. We simulated whale sounds on a machine. We got sucked into the gift shop, where I told Beckett he could spend some of his Christmas money if he wanted. He bought a mood necklace, Giacomo got a shark tooth necklace and then the guys flattened out a penny with the impression of a dragonfish on it. Our day was complete.
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