SEA LIFE Aquarium is a part of LEGOLAND California Resort, and it’s undoubtedly value including to your itinerary. It’s each a enjoyable and academic expertise for younger youngsters (and adults!), who can watch, stand up near, or just take in fascinating details about, an enormous number of marine life.
More than 6000 sea creatures of over 350 completely different species name SEA LIFE residence. And the aquarium is stuffed with interactive methods to study extra about them, together with contact swimming pools, academic talks, and 16 distinctive marine life displays.
SEA LIFE Aquarium is in an apt location, contemplating LEGOLAND California is located within the seashore city of Carlsbad, and this underwater world is a surprise to probe for residents and people visiting with children.
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Know Before You Go: Hours, Tickets, Parking, Food
location
SEA LIFE Aquarium is adjoining (and to the left of) the principle LEGOLAND California theme park entrance. You’ll see it as quickly as you enter the LEGOLAND parking zone.
tickets and hours
You should buy tickets to solely go to SEA LIFE Aquarium for $25 per particular person (age 2+) or as a package deal with LEGOLAND’s 1-Day or 2-Day Hopper ticket choices. Check their web site for costs, as these differ in keeping with the date you go to.
Opening hours differ all year long, in keeping with season or particular occasions, so it’s finest to verify SEA LIFE’s web site straight for hours on the day of your go to.
Tip: Get a Hand Stamp for Re-Entry
Your SEA LIFE Aquarium ticket (if it’s not a bunch ticket) consists of re-entry on the identical day, however you should bear in mind to get a hand stamp upon leaving after your preliminary go to. The choice to re-enter could be very helpful for visitors staying within the accommodations or visiting the theme park since you by no means know if or when children need to return for spherical two.
We have plenty of recommendation you’ll be able to learn for saving cash on LEGOLAND California tickets.
parking
The complete LEGOLAND California Resort shares a parking zone, so that you’ll park in the identical place for SEA LIFE Aquarium as you’d for the theme and water park.
Parking isn’t included in any ticket choices aside from some annual passes, and it presently prices $30 per day. Preferred Parking will get you a spot nearer to the park entrance and begins from $35. Regular spots aren’t an enormous stroll away, although, not like Disneyland. You can purchase parking upfront to save lots of a bit of time on the toll sales space (the worth is identical both means).
the place to eat
SEA LIFE Aquarium has an amazing restaurant situated contained in the aquarium known as the Ocean Journey Café. It’s fairly spacious regardless of being known as a café and has good choices, together with sandwiches, salads, and scorching meal selections. It’s market-style, so that you simply seize a tray and choose what you want. There are additionally loads of snacks and drinks on the market.
You can entry the restaurant, which is on the primary ground, by way of the SEA LIFE present store or to the left facet of it. You also can then enter the aquarium straight from the restaurant, however you’ll want to indicate your admission ticket first.
10 Fun Things to Do at SEA LIFE Aquarium
Here’s what you are able to do throughout a go to.
1. watch a tank feeding
Head to the Shipwreck exhibit to look at SEA LIFE’s aquarists feed shark, stingrays, and their many tank mates. Kids will get a kick out of watching the diver descend into the tank of their underwater gear. There’s just one feeding per day, three days every week, although, so verify the schedule to be sure you don’t miss it.
2. stand up shut on the contact swimming pools
You truly get to succeed in in and contact a starfish or spiny sea urchin at SEA LIFE’s Interactive Touch Pool exhibit. There’s loads of area for youngsters to assemble round, however be light and respectful of this distinctive alternative to say hiya up shut.
3. wander via the jellyfish discovery zone
This tremendous enjoyable room options disco-style lighting and lots of floor-to-ceiling cylinder-shaped tanks containing round 100 jellyfish. Watching them dance round sluggish motion-style within the rainbow-colored spotlights is kind of the sight to see.
4. take a look at Nemo’s pals
These little orange-striped clownfish are world-famous because of the Nemo films, and you’ll see them in motion at their very personal exhibit.
5. Walk Among Sharks within the Ocean Tunnel
All sorts of aquatic life will encompass you as you wander via this glass tunnel, however maybe most fascinating of all is that you simply get a first-hand take a look at sharks gliding proper above, as much as, and round you in full security!
6. peer at seahorses
These extremely delicate sea creatures are a delight to witness of their tanks on the Kingdom of the Seahorse exhibit. You’d by no means get to see seahorses outdoors of an aquarium as they’re so tiny, and also you’ll be gazing in surprise as they bob round collectively, completely shielded from the ocean’s predators.
7. Visit the Giant Pacific Octopus
Did you understand that octopi have three hearts, eight arms, and a doughnut-shaped mind? Well, you’ll study this and far more about these fascinating creatures at their exhibit. Enjoy as you get to look at them unfurl, slide round, and peer proper again at you.
8. Join in a Science Demo
Children can take part within the enjoyable and academic Science of the Sea experiment, the place they’ll learn the way local weather change is altering our oceans.
9. go on a shark mission
Kids can get a break from the true factor at Shark Mission’s large contact screens, the place they will play video games and study loads of details about Great Whites and their pals.
10. take a break at seaside storytime
This is nice for little ones who must take a break from all of the strolling. Here, they’ll learn the way they can assist to maintain our oceans clear, they usually also can take pleasure in a conservation exercise.
FAQs About SEA LIFE Aquarium in Carlsbad
Is SEA LIFE Aquarium definitely worth the LEGOLAND ticket improve?
Definitely, until your children are freaked out by sea creatures. Even if they’re nervous, the interactive displays and large array of fascinating animals will hopefully change their thoughts.
How lengthy do individuals normally keep at SEA LIFE Aquarium?
LEGOLAND says a mean go to is 60-90 minutes, and in my expertise of going many occasions, I agree. Plus further time to eat within the Ocean Journey Café.
Do you want an additional day to do SEA LIFE?
I by no means did SEA LIFE on the identical day as LEGOLAND, as my children had been pooped after the continuous pleasure of the principle park. I might suggest doing it as a part of LEGOLAND’s 2-day ticket that features SEA LIFE, and match it in in your second day round a return go to to LEGOLAND.
Is it value going to SEA LIFE by itself and skipping the Theme park?
Yes, I believe it’s that good. But you most likely gained’t be common along with your children in case you drive in and say you’re skipping the principle park, which is in plain sight proper subsequent door!
Is it completely different or higher than different standalone aquariums?
SEA LIFE is unquestionably geared in the direction of youthful youngsters, given its LEGOLAND affiliation, however I give it prime marks nonetheless. I haven’t been to Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, however you’ll be able to learn Katie’s detailed evaluate.
can you are taking strollers in?
No. This is comprehensible, on condition that walkways would get chockablock with everybody stopping and looking at explicit displays. But it’s nonetheless a bit inconvenient if in case you have a child or toddler to carry or preserve at arm’s size. There is an honest play space inside the place little ones can get their wiggles out, although, with helpful benches for folks to take a break.
is the aquarium simple to navigate?
Yes. You can get a map to observe, and the entire aquarium is about up very clearly so that you can get round and see every thing.
Is SEA LIFE concerned in marine life conservation?
Yes. SEA LIFE hosts Carlsbad seashore clean-ups, and their SEA LIFE Trust charity helps numerous campaigns that defend sea life and their habitats. Some of those conservation efforts are on show to study extra about on the aquarium.
Can I Visit SEA LIFE Aquarium with CityPASS or GO City San Diego Sightseeing Passes?
1-Day admission to LEGOLAND California theme park is included on choose sightseeing passes like CityPASS San Diego and Go City San Diego. You can add SEA LIFE Aquarium by visiting customer support. There isn’t a worth break, although; it’s mainly identical to shopping for a separate ticket, so it’s possible you’ll as effectively try this! You also can add the water park as effectively to those sightseeing passes.
See additionally: Best Things to Do in San Diego with Kids