Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Birch Aquarium at Scripps is a gem of a marine science center perched on the cliffs above La Jolla, run by the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. It is smaller and more intimate than a mega-aquarium like SeaWorld, but what it lacks in scale it makes up for in quality, educational depth, and one of the most spectacular settings of any aquarium in the country.

The moment you step onto the outdoor terrace, the Pacific Ocean stretches out below and in front of you — on clear days, you can see from the La Jolla coastline down to the Coronado Islands in Mexico. This view alone sets the tone and reminds visitors that the ocean is not just something behind glass — it is right there.

Inside, the Hall of Fishes features over 60 tanks showcasing marine habitats from the Pacific Northwest to tropical reefs. The centerpiece is the giant kelp forest tank, a 70,000-gallon, two-story exhibit that recreates the underwater kelp forests found just offshore from Scripps. Leopard sharks, bat rays, brilliant orange garibaldi, giant sea bass, and moray eels move through the swaying kelp.

During feeding times, a diver enters the tank and narrates the feeding via underwater microphone — kids press against the glass and fire questions at the diver.

The Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins exhibit features a colony of the world's smallest penguin species. Kids watch them waddle on land and rocket through the water in their underwater viewing area. The Seadragons & Seahorses exhibit houses one of the most significant collections of these delicate creatures in the world, including weedy seadragons and pot-bellied seahorses.

For hands-on learning, the interactive touch pools are outstanding. Marine educators guide kids through gentle handling of sea stars, sea urchins, hermit crabs, and sea cucumbers, explaining each animal's biology in age-appropriate terms. Unlike crowded touch tanks at larger aquariums, Birch's pools are usually calm enough that each child gets quality one-on-one time with the educators.

The outdoor Tide Pool Plaza is a reconstructed rocky shore habitat with shallow pools containing anemones, crabs, and small fish. For families visiting during low tide, the Preuss Tide Pool Trail leads down the bluff to actual rocky tide pools on the beach below. This combination of aquarium exhibits and real-world tide pool exploration is unique and powerful for kids learning about marine biology.

Birch Aquarium is compact enough to see everything in 1.5-2.5 hours, making it an ideal half-day activity. The natural pairing is to visit the aquarium in the morning and then drive 5 minutes to La Jolla Cove to see the seals and sea lions in the afternoon. Together, these two activities make for one of San Diego's best family days.