LONG BEACH, CA – For a few summer hours, the Aquarium of the Pacific is a great summer getaway. For one reason, the oceanic tourist spot is basically a stone’s throw away from other scenic attractions down the Shoreline Beltway in Long Beach, California.
The second good reason why the Aquarium of the Pacific makes for a great day is the wonder of the water ecological theme attraction. It is a breathtaking experience for those who love nature and all the sea life that comes with it.
Before we delve into the many live exhibits, one the best draw at the Aquarium of the Pacific is its Honda Pacific Vision Theater and its magnetic IMAX-like showing of the vast ocean life.
It will have a breathtaking effect on you and leave you speechless and completely in awe of the presentation made.
But this is but one of several different theatrical exhibits that make the Aquarium of the Pacific worth going to check out. The entire Pacific Visions realm speaks of an interactive and coming-of-age modern-day experience that takes tourists to another level of enjoying the behind-the-scenes look at ocean life. There is a lot to see.
But as you walk into the Aquarium of the Pacific you don’t get that immediate vibe until you actually take a couple of steps into the tourist base and began your oceanography odyssey that you feel realize you could be in a spectacular treat. There are a lot of things to get to, so let’s begin with the theatre experience with short films.
If you enjoy the IMAX feel, you’ll be hooked with films like Hurricane 3D, a powerful and magnetic piece of work in the Ocean Theater that gives the thrill-seeker an in-depth and scary look of the reckoning force of the Atlantic Hurricane.
And for those looking for some sort of climate change solution, then all they would have to do is check out the film, The Time is Now, The Future is Here, also playing at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Ocean Theater.
But to get the most out of the $34.95 admission ticket per adult that you will have to fork over to roam the Aquarium of the Pacific grounds, you will have to really take your time and carefully walk through every exhibit. If you’re hoping to do a drive-through and catch one or two of the big exhibits, you’re most likely going to be disappointed.
The Aquarium of the Pacific is not constructed to be a tourist quick hitter. It is one of those places where you have to have a step-by-step approach to get the most bang for your buck. Once you stop by and catch the awe of the Shark Lagoon, once you hang out at the Sea Otter Habitat or the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, and have the opportunity to absorb the stunning magnificence of the sea jellies, then you’ll be able to see the full picture of what the Aquarium of the Pacific is all about.
For a couple of hours, you’ll get lost in ocean wonder at the Aquarium of the Pacific. That’s not a bad thing when you consider all the options that people have at their disposal in Southern California. Once inside of the Aquarium of the Pacific, interactive exhibits like Whales: Voice in the Sea, Ocean in Motion, and the space-themed Ocean Science Center, help make the whole marine life experience a better one to enjoy.
So, if you have a couple of hours to indulge in the wonder of the coral reef or take in the splendor of the 16 exhibits inside of the Tropical Pacific Gallery, go ahead and treat yourself to a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Dennis has covered politics, crime, race, social justice, sports, and entertainment. His work as a reporter has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Daily Breeze, Daily Press, AFRO, Los Angeles Sentinel, and Los Angeles Wave. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the editor and publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper.