Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monday, 6 October 2008

Because Chase loved the aquarium so much yesterday, we decided to take him to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which I always loved as a kid. Turns out, I loved it as an adult as well. It was so worth the $25 admission. And, I just kept thinking what a terrible aquarium we have in Honolulu. It was worth the 1 1/2 hour drive, even though it wasn't the most scenic drive, but we did get to stop at a Target (Of course, Chris drove while Chase and I slept in the car).

We took over 4 hours to go through the entire aquarium. We got to see the penguin feeding, fish feeding in the two-story tall aquarium, and we met a nice couple from Scotland who had an 18 month old who loved playing on a bench just as much as Chase did. What we loved about this aquarium that differed from yesterday was that it was so kid/toddler friendly. In every large exhibit area, there was an area for toddlers and kids to play in with developmentally appropriate toys and things to explore at their level and in their size. Chase got to touch the dead man's fingers seaweed, the cow tongue seaweed, and the kelp. He loved spinning levers round and round. He pointed at all the birds and fish and laughed at the sea otters playing and gliding in the water. He just ran around and wiggled out of our arms if we were carrying him. He wanted to look at everything! Plus, he got to jump on a trampoline/water bed, stand under a wave (and not get wet!), slide down slides, crawl in tunnels to see moray eel and clownfish, sit in a turquoise clam shell, make stamp books and bookmarks, stand in a penguin egg, and get another magnet and keepsake ornament. We took lots of pictures and videos. This is definitely my favorite aquarium I've ever been to. It was such a fun day. And it was nice to see the Pacific Ocean again (we're so spoiled, but it is weird driving around and not seeing the ocean for such a long time).

On our way back, we stopped by the Gilroy outlets for about half an hour, then headed back home so we could get Chase fed, bathed, and to bed (because by that time, he had already woken up from his second nap and was tired of being in a car). He's been going to bed close to 9 pm each night. I guess he's still on Hawai'i time. He should sleep through the night tonight. He had a VERY busy day.