Monterey Bay Aquarium

The camera stands in front of the big round tank, and the panorama is mostly darkness with one enormous glowing disc in it. That is deliberate on the aquarium’s part: the gallery is blacked out so the only thing your eye can do is look into the water. The tank is lit an even deep blue and full of Pacific sea nettles - amber bells the size of a hand trailing tentacles and frilled oral arms a metre or more behind them, drifting at every depth and every angle, none of them going anywhere in particular. Turn away and the room barely exists: a low ceiling, a few small illuminated exhibit panels, the faint blue of other tanks further along, and people reduced to silhouettes. The scale does not come across in a photograph, because a photograph crops out the black.

From 1777 to 1846, Monterey served as the capital of the Alta California territory. This territory was originally created by Spain in 1769 and became part of Mexico after the conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence in 1821. Several buildings that are found in and around Monterey speak to these periods in the city's history. Among them are the Spanish and Mexican adobe clay buildings that can be found along the designated "Path of History." When the United States came to occupy what is now California during the Mexican-American War, the U.S. flag was raised in Monterey. Not long thereafter, the California state constitution was drafted at Monterey's Colton Hall building. This effectively made Monterey the first U.S. capital of California.

There is much more to Monterey than its rich history. This city on California's central coast offers sandy beaches and plenty of amazing coastal views. It is also a great place to enjoy such activities as kayaking, surfing, scuba diving, whale watching, golfing, and shopping. The list of things to do in Monterey definitely doesn't end there, however. Exploring the famous Cannery Row district is a must, partly because that is where you can find the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. Monterey visitors are also encouraged to keep scenic drives in mind, as the general area features some of the world's best scenic roads.

Monterey Bay Aquarium The Monterey Bay Aquarium ranks high among the best family attractions in the United States. Largely responsible for the waterfront venue's popularity is its amazingly diverse marine life. More than 300,000 plants and animals call the Monterey Bay Aquarium home, and it counts approximately 550 different species. Among the highlights of the entire facility is a three-story tank that can hold approximately 335,000 gallons of water. In addition to housing various creatures, this tank is home to a kelp forest - the Monterey Bay Aquarium was actually the first aquarium in the world to grow live California Giant Kelp.

Cannery Row The Cannery Row district is where you will find the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This isn't the only reason why the district is so popular. Cannery Row served as the setting for two John Steinbeck novels - Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday - so it is very popular among literary enthusiasts. Found just offshore from Cannery Row is Ricketts State Marine Conservation Area. Part of the larger Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, this area is home to a healthy population of California sea lions. Other reasons to spend time in the Cannery Row district include the excellent shops, galleries, restaurants, and hotels.