Aquarium of the Pacific Skip-the-Line Tickets Long Beach

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach

The Aquarium of the Pacific opened in Long Beach in the late 1990s and overlooks Rainbow Harbor on the city's waterfront. It is one of the largest aquariums in the United States, and its focus is the Pacific Ocean, from the cold waters of California and Alaska to the tropical reefs of the western Pacific. People searching for Aquarium of the Pacific tickets usually want a full, comfortable day of sea life.

If you are asking how to get to the Aquarium of the Pacific, it is around thirty minutes by car from central Los Angeles, or you can take the Metro A Line to Long Beach and walk or use a local shuttle. Opening hours change by season, so pick your date in the booking panel.

Sharks, sea otters and reef life

More than twelve thousand animals live here, and the galleries follow a route through different Pacific habitats. Shark Lagoon lets you see sharks and rays up close, the Blue Cavern shows kelp forest life off the California coast, and seals and sea otters are always crowd-pleasers.

Tropical Pacific galleries are full of colour, with coral reef fish, and feeding times and animal talks add to the experience. Allow at least half an hour for the sharks and the sea otters alone, and check the daily schedule near the entrance so you do not miss a feeding or an animal talk.

Jelly Dreamscapes and the indoor galleries

The new Jelly Dreamscapes gallery presents jellyfish in glowing, dreamlike displays, and it is a favourite with photographers. Other galleries focus on marine conservation, and they give context to the animals you see and show how visitors can help protect the ocean.

Because most exhibits are indoors and easy to walk between, this is an easy plan for a hot day or a rainy one. Ask any local about the best time to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific and they will say a weekday morning, when the crowds are smaller.

Planning your visit

Your skip-the-line ticket saves the ticket queue and is valid for one day. Allow between two and four hours. Is the Aquarium of the Pacific worth visiting? Yes, particularly with children, because many exhibits are hands-on.

Parking is not included in the ticket, although the aquarium may offer parking validation. Long Beach's Shoreline Village and the harbour promenade are close by for a walk or lunch after your visit, and the marina makes a pleasant place to end the day before the drive back to Los Angeles.