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EnglishWhat Is the Aquarium of the Pacific?
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The Aquarium of the Pacific is a marine aquarium in Long Beach, California, built around the ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean. It combines animal exhibits, immersive media experiences, and educational programming, which makes it a fit for families, school groups, and anyone interested in marine life. If you are deciding whether to visit, the practical points to check first are ticketing, reservation rules, and hours, since those shape how you plan a trip.
Where it is and what it covers
The Aquarium is located in Long Beach, California, and its stated mission is to take visitors "on a journey of discovery through the world's largest ocean." Its collection and exhibits center on Pacific marine ecosystems rather than a single regional theme.
That focus shows up in the range of animals featured across its exhibits and promotional materials, including sea jellies, frogs, fish, octopus, and harbor seals.
What you can see and do
Exhibits and immersive experiences
- Jelly Dreamscapes — an immersive sea jelly experience that the Aquarium describes as featuring species never seen there before, alongside information about how it cares for these animals.
- HoloTheater — the Ocean Theater has been converted into a holographic viewing experience.
- Undersea Explorer VR — a dynamic 360° live-action virtual reality experience.
- Boat Adventures — a boat cruise to see whales, dolphins, and sea lions.
Animals in the news
The Aquarium also functions as a rehabilitation and rescue facility, which means what you can see changes over time. Recent examples from its news section:
- It took in nearly 500 animals, including endangered and near threatened species, after a large seizure by wildlife officials.
- A rescued sea turtle named Meatloaf, weighing more than two hundred pounds, went on public view in a new sea turtle rehabilitation area starting April 8, 2026.
- Two new sea otters, a rescued female pup named Sunny and an adult female named Rey, were deemed nonreleasable to the wild by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The hope is that both will eventually serve as surrogate mothers for orphaned sea otter pups.
Education and events
Programming includes virtual events such as Food Webs, Incredible Invertebrates, and Ocean Investigators, plus family-oriented offerings like Scarium Family Night. There is also a marine species report card highlighting the population status of thirty California species.
Planning your visit
| Item | Detail from the Aquarium |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. PST |
| Reservations | Required on weekends and holidays |
| Phone | (562) 590-3100 |
| Live chat | 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. PST |
| Parking | Listed as an available amenity |
| Tickets | Sold via a "Buy Tickets" option; memberships also available |
A visitor guide mobile app is offered for use during your visit.
The Aquarium does not publish admission prices in the material above, so check the ticketing page for current rates before you go. Because reservations are required on weekends and holidays, book ahead if your trip falls on those days.
Who it suits
- Families — the mix of live animals, VR, holographic theater, and family night events is aimed at a broad age range.
- Marine life enthusiasts — the Pacific ecosystem focus, rescue stories, and species report card give more depth than a purely entertainment-oriented visit.
- Groups and schools — the virtual event programming and educational framing suggest structured learning options.
If you want a straightforward aquarium visit, the core exhibits deliver that. If you are specifically interested in sea jellies, the Jelly Dreamscapes experience is the reason to plan around that exhibit.