Who could
sleep here?!
Monterey Bay Aquarium
BY BOB ROUSE
On a family trip to San Francisco last
July, we took the beautiful drive down
the coast to Monterey. I had written
before about NTA-member Monterey
Bay Aquarium, and I wanted to experience it live and in person.
Let me just say, it’s very live.
Monterey Bay, on California’s central
coast, is one of the richest marine regions
on the planet. And the aquarium is right
there where the sand meets the sea,
housing nearly 200 exhibits and galleries
devoted to the diverse habitats of the bay.
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM
Visitors can discover the aquarium’s
lush kelp forest, charming sea otters,
hypnotic jellies or its million-gallon
indoor ocean—home to sea turtles,
giant tunas, sharks and a shimmering
school of sardines.
From one of the outdoor decks, I
watched a staff member introduce a
couple of kids to the underwater wonders of the tide pool through surface
scuba diving.
The aquarium is an award-winning
educational institution with engaging
ways students can learn about marine
wildlife and ocean conservation. Among
the many programs offered are a behindthe-scenes tour and a group sleepover.
The sleepover—that’s the one thing I
don’t get.
The aquarium is 300,000-plus square
feet of pure fascination. How in the world
can anyone close their eyes to that?
Maybe our friends at the aquarium
can explain it. They can definitely fill
you in on group programs. Email the
travel trade sales team at touropsales@
mbayaq.org. And get more info at
montereybayaquarium.org.
THE BEST WAY TO SEE
SEATTLE
IS FROM THE SOUTH
Your group will get more out of their trip to Seattle by staying in Seattle
Southside, just south of downtown. Here, you’ll find a wonderful range
of affordable hotels, restaurants, shops and activities—plus our sales
team will be happy to help plan your tour details. Contact us at
[email protected].
SeattleSouthside.com
NTAonline.com
67