Discover the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach California

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The Aquarium of the Pacific is located near the waterfront in The Pike at Rainbow Harbor in the city of Long Beach, California. It is one of the largest aquariums in the United States. Its nearly 1,000 species fill 19 major habitats and 32 focus exhibits and take visitors on a journey throughout the Pacific Ocean’s three regions: Southern California/Baja, the Tropical Pacific, and the Northern Pacific.

The Aquarium of the Pacific is a 156,735-square-foot marine exhibition With sweeping, curving, wave-like architecture that is designed to emulate the ocean. It houses over 12,000 ocean animals, including five species of whales, eleven species of sharks, porpoises, dolphins, rays and skates including manta rays, sea turtles, birds, bears and more along with over 10,000 simulated mussels, kelp fronds and other natural exhibit accoutrements and over 10,000 pieces of individual, artificial coral, representing 58 different coral species.

The Aquarium provides behind the scenes tours where you can dive into the underwater world and discover places in the Aquarium where most people do not have a chance to go and even feed the anamals. Visitors are encouraged to watch animal feedings and learn more about the animals and environmental issues at habitat presentations. Join the Animal Encounter interactive program which allows guests to feed, touch, and go behind the scenes with some of the more than 12,500 inhabitants, including the Shark Animal Encounter which provides guests with an opportunity to be in a pool with one of the zebra sharks, or maybe even the 240-pound thorny ray.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day you can aboard The Conqueror, a 90-foot research vessel for a 90-minute marine science excursion where you will have an opportunity to touch a variety of marine animals while you learn about their natural habitat and about life in the ocean.

The Aquarium Of The Pacific is located at 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802. Parking for the Aquarium is on the water side of Shoreline Drive between Chestnut Place and Aquarium Way. Parking is $6 for Aquarium guests in both the Aquarium and Pike parking structures when you show an Aquarium ticket stub. Spice up your visit by taking the Aquabus, a red 40-foot harbor shuttle in Queensway Bay connecting the Queen Mary / Catalina Express, the Coast Hotel, Catalina Landing, The Aquarium of the Pacific, Pine Avenue Circle at the Pike, and Shoreline Village. Service frequency is hourly and hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fare is $1 one-way. Children 2 years and under ride free.

The Aquarium Of The Pacific is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day of the year, except December 25 and during the weekend of the Grand Prix of Long Beach. Admission fees are, adults: $18.95, children under 2: free, children from 3 to 11: $10.95 and seniors 60 and over: $16.95. The Behind The Scenes Tour and Ocean Experience are extra.

For more information about the city of Long Beach, California see

Discover the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach California

Crater Lake National Park the Gem of the Pacific Northwest

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Crater Lake National Park is a gem of the Pacific Northwest. It is located in south central Oregon in a sparsely populated area and it truly is in the middle of nowhere.

That’s what makes visiting Crater Lake all the more an adventure. You are not going to get to Crater Lake unless you make it your purpose to get here. The closest airports are in Klamath Falls (60 miles from the park) and Medford (80 miles from the park).

But getting there is well worth your effort!

Few places on earth create such an overwhelming awe from observers, however Crater Lake National Park certainly does. Even in a region that boasts many natural and volcanic vistas, the only description for Crater Lake is incredible.

You may have heard about the deep blue color of the lake, but words can never prepare you for the first breathtaking look from the edge of this 6 mile wide crater or caldera which was caused by the eruption and subsequent cave in of Mt. Mazama a few thousand years ago.

My most vivid memory of Crater Lake is finding various overlooks along Rim Road that encircles the park. One spot in particular has an incredible overlook that you can walk out on that isn’t much wider than 3 or 4 feet. The thing that makes this spot so awesome is that the 3 foot wide path out to the overlook drops off steeply more than 1,200′ in some places.

Sorry I won’t tell you where this secret spot is, I’m going to let you find it all on your own. However, you will certainly know it when you get there!

Much of the year Crater Lake is snowed in. The area around Crater Lake receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the country, averaging an astonishing 533 inches per year.

For a brief time each year, Crater Lake National Park emerges from this winter freeze to bask in the summertime sun. If you visit early in the season you may be surprised by the amount of snow which remains long into months which are considered early to mid-summer in most parts of the nation. Because of these harsh and often unpredictable weather patterns, most park roads are closed even through the late spring.

Crater Lake is host to a vast array of activities. While enjoying the natural scenic wonders, park visitors may hike in old growth forests, participate in a variety of interpretive activities, camp out or stay in an historic hotel, or even cross-country ski during the very long eight month winters which are experienced here in the Cascade mountains.

If you are planning to visit Crater Lake there are only two campgrounds in the park that have a total of 216 tent sites. Spaces are available on a first come first serve basis as reservations are not taken in the park.

If you love the outdoors and are especially fond of our nation’s National Parks, you don’t want to miss the incredible beauty that awaits you in Crater Lake National Park.

Crater Lake National Park the Gem of the Pacific Northwest