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Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Diego

4.2
#3 of 42 in Museums in San Diego
Aquarium · Hidden Gem · Natural History Museum
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A public outreach center for the world renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography remains more than a place to see beautiful fish and spectacular ocean views. The venue brings guests into the exciting world of cutting-edge research and world-class scientific discovery through interactive exhibits and more than 60 habitats from the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, to local kelp forests, and tropical coral reefs. Surround yourself with spectacular seahorses and come nose to nose with a rescued loggerhead sea turtle. Don’t miss the outdoor touch pools and enjoy some of the best ocean views in Southern California. To visit Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and other attractions in San Diego, use our San Diego trip planner.
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Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
1,947 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • Had a great day walking around, looking at all the different fish and other aquatic species!! Snack bar was good too!! 
    Had a great day walking around, looking at all the different fish and other aquatic species!! Snack bar was good too!!  more »
  • The Birch aquarium was a great stop on our visit to San Diego. The facilities were well planned out and they were beautiful! Our girls learned so much about marine life and they had fun at the same... 
    The Birch aquarium was a great stop on our visit to San Diego. The facilities were well planned out and they were beautiful! Our girls learned so much about marine life and they had fun at the same...  more »
Google
  • It was very clean and well-maintained but really there wasn't a ton to see. Several of the displays are just video but there are around 50 different tanks plus there's an area outside that mimics a tide pool with live creatures in it. See my pictures for a good sampling of the available tanks. The giant kelp, the sea horse and the jellyfish tanks were the most impressive. Overall if you're in the area it's a 2 hour stop. Personally would have been happier if they had a stingray or manta ray petting area. Just know there are better aquariums in the area.
  • This is a wonderful place to visit and experience the sea life on a lower scale. Perfect for little ones. Price is reasonable. 4 star, for their shark exhibit was a huge disappointment. Penguins made the visit worth it. Good selection of food and drinks can be bought outside the entry gates. We had to buy tickets on line and choose our entry time. Once in you are in, you can stay as long as you like, though you won't need to.

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