I have a thing for aquariums, try to visit all that I can. I was a little hesitant on visiting this one, heard that it wasn't so great, but some family ties to it was reason enough for me to make my way there. It is AMAZING!! Lots of displays, they were organized nicely. Each had information on the types... more

My mother (64) had never seen an aquarium outside the one in Albuquerque, and we took her to San Diego specifically to blow her mind. After Sea World was such a huge disappointment, we found the Birch Aquairum at Scripps. What an amazing difference! The displays are small, but gorgeous, lots of coral and anemones, and fun things to look... more

We decided to visit the Birch Aquarium on a "May gray" day as it was too chilly to enjoy the beach. Glad we did! The beautiful whale sculptures at the entrance and the spectacular location overlooking the coast were a preview to the lovely exhibits and overall great design of the place. We're not marine biology experts but we appreciated... more

was one of my favorite things in San Diego... take a day to spend in this area... absolutely beautiful.... this place is definitely worth seeing... inexpensive.... $11 per adult, but we had entertainment book that saved us 50%. very friendly and knowledgeable staff. we were like little kids seeing all the ocean life..... great views outside also....highly recommend. more

This aquarium may not be as large as some in California, but there are multi displays of sealife, an outdoor hands-on tidepool and great views of the coastline. Tip for photographers: turn off your flash to avoid a light burst reflection from the aquarium glass. I recommend this aquarium for all ages, its a nice way to spend the day. more

This is a small aquarium--nowhere near the caliber of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Still my son enjoyed looking at the fish and playing in the tidepools (although many beaches in La Jolla have real tide pools that are much more interesting). It was very crowded with young kids (under 5 set) and is probably better for that age. The shark... more

Our family (me, my husband, 7&9 year old girls) greatly enjoyed visiting this nonprofit aquarium run by Scripps Institute of Oceanography, which featured impressive exhibits about oceans, sea life, and climate change, and showcased research from Scripps scientists. Information was presented in an understandable and interesting manner for both kids and adults. Exhibits include numerous tanks of fish, including sharks,... more

Created by Scripps Institute of Oceanography, you'd expect this aquarium to be educational and fun....and it sure delivers. We spent a most enjoyable 1/2 day here perusing the exhibits, the views, and the educational tools this aquarium provides. We learned a lot about the research projects being conducted by Scripps - very interesting. The displays are wonderful, with many types... more

The Birch Aquarium, just off the UCSD campus in La Jolla, is part of the Scripps Oceanographic Institute. While it certainly doesn't get the same billing as Sea World or other animal attractions in the San Diego area, it is certainly worth the short drive up the coast. First of all, it is very reasonable, with adults tickets only $11... more