Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Can't beat free. Donations always welcome. Parking was $1 an hour. Playground nearby. Gift shop had alot of nice things.

Small free aquarium with a variety of small to medium fish and sea creatures. Great value given that it's free, though donations are encouraged. The fish and such are fun to look out but don't expect an in depth scientific explanation of their behaviors. It's right by a nice beach and park as well!

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a great interactive “classroom” where people of all ages can learn about marine life and conservation. I am a student at East Los Angeles College, and I had to come to the aquarium for a class assignment. In my experience, aquariums have always been more of an entertainment center than an educational experience. However, this aquarium manages to keep balance between learning and enjoying yourself. While the facility is small, it is very easy to finish and read all of the information in about two hours. First, the aquariums themselves are very well maintained and make it easy for visitors to see which animals are inside. The information boards or signs are also very easy to read and present the information in a non- over the top way, but in a way where everyday people can understand the concepts. Additionally, I really appreciated how open the facility was about exposing the inner workings of the tanks or laboratories and how they manage the breeding of jellies in the nursery. The employees who work at the facility are very nice and seem to love where they work.
Finally, entrance into the facility is completely free, besides the one dollar payment per hour you have to pay for parking, which is a penny in today’s economy. Donations are recommended but not required. This facility is a great facility for families, students, or anyone who is interested in marine life to spend a few hours learning but also to have fun while doing so! I would highly recommend!