For a La Jolla aquarium experience that melds amusement with education for all ages, navigate to Birch Aquarium.
Birch Aquarium in La Jolla is a must-visit attraction for ocean lovers, families and visitors of all ages, offering educational and immersive experiences against the gorgeous, dramatic ocean views La Jolla is known for.
Not only is this La Jolla aquarium swimming with fun, it’s also part of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, making it a valuable resource for insight into marine life and ocean science.
About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium’s history is rooted in research more than a century old, when William Ritter displayed tanks for visitors at his summer research stations in 1892.
The Marine Biological Association of San Diego – the former name for Scripps Institution of Oceanography – was founded in 1903, with one of its objectives being to build and maintain a public aquarium.
The association became the Scripps Institution for Biological Research, which was accepted as part of the University of California in 1912 and renamed to Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1925.
The aquarium grew along with the institution, outgrowing its buildings and formats into a standalone aquarium in 1915, a small wooden structure housing 19 tanks with a museum in a nearby building.
It became the Thomas Wayland Vaughan Aquarium-Museum in 1951, with improvements and expansions along the way until The Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation donated $6 million towards the creation of a new aquarium in 1986.
The Stephen Birch Aquarium-Museum opened on September 16, 1992, becoming Birch Aquarium at Scripps soon after.
Now, more than 500,000 guests visit Birch Aquarium each year, drawn to popular exhibits like the Little Blue Penguin habitat, seadragons and seahorses exhibit and more.
Living Seas Octopus Grotto
Birch Aquarium
The aquarium’s beloved Hall of Fishes is currently transforming into Living Seas, Birch’s largest capital improvement since opening, set to open summer 2025 with extensive upgrades including new or refreshed – and larger – habitats for more than 4,000 of Birch Aquarium’s animals.
Birch also offers daily penguin feedings, shark talks, interactive displays, tours and educational programming.
Exhibits and experiences
No visit to Birch Aquarium in La Jolla would be complete without exploring its notable exhibits.
Tide Pool Plaza
Birch Aquarium
Preuss Tide Pool Plaza overlooks the ocean and gives participants a unique opportunity to touch local tide pool creatures like sea anemones, sea stars and sea urchins and interact with educators, all with a stunning view of two La Jolla Marine Protected Areas.
The MPAs function to protect and conserve local marine life and habitats, examples of which are available within the Tide Pool Plaza.
Seadragons & Seahorses
Birch Aquarium
Birch Aquarium’s Seadragons & Seahorses exhibit features one of the largest seadragon habitats in the world designed to create an ideal environment to breed seadragons.
Within the dramatic exhibit, guests will learn how to observe these animals the way scientists do: by noticing the unique features that distinguish individual animals and identifying courtship and mating behaviors that lead to successful breeding programs.
These exotic creatures are at risk globally from climate change, unsustainable fishing practices and illegal collection of wild populations; Birch’s activities – which also include public seadragon feedings, a seadragon cam and behind-the-scenes seahorse tours, help these populations thrive.
Little Blue Penguins
Birch Aquarium
The Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins exhibit is the only West Coast place to find Little Blue Penguins, following them from hatchlings to adults and highlighting the challenges they face in a changing climate while celebrating the features that make these penguins adorably unique.
The 2,900-square-foot habitat features cozy burrows, a sandy beach and an 18,000-gallon pool where the penguins socialize, and includes the Children’s Discovery Portal for up-close penguin viewing, an interactive research station, husbandry presentations and more.
Sharks & Rays
Birch Aquarium
Sharks are La Jolla locals, and the Birch Sharks & Rays exhibit is an excellent way to dive into their world without getting wet.
Discover leopard sharks, smoothhound sharks, bat rays, halibut and more species native to the Southern California coastline. Join a shark talk to learn everything you wanted to know about these entrancing creatures.
Special events
Beyond the exhibits, Birch Aquarium hosts storytimes, tours, lectures and more, daily and seasonally in a rotating schedule that will keep guests informed and enamored.
Birch’s popular “Oceans At Night” invites those 21 and over to celebrate the wonders and mysteries of the ocean after dark, with live music, craft cocktails, glowing games and more.
The aquarium also offers “Sunset Scripps Pier Walks” on select weekends, during which educators lead guests on an exclusive walking tour of Scripps Pier to explore marine life and science.
Visitor information
Birch Aquarium
You’ll find Birch Aquarium at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla, where parking is free for three hours.
Reservations to Birch are required for nonmembers; click here to select your day and time. This ensures the best experience for crowds and interacting with the exhibits.
Birch Aquarium hours are 9 am to 5 pm daily, with extended summer hours, and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Ticket prices are $29.95 for adults; $24.95 for children ages 3 to 17; $27.95 for seniors over 60; and $27.95 for students with ID. UCSD students, faculty and staff and military personnel receive further discounts with ID.
To make a visit to Birch Aquarium part of your full-day La Jolla experience, head to La Jolla Shores before or after for playtime with the kids at Kellogg Park, lunch at Shore Rider or Barbarella and treats at Scoops La Jolla or explore the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus and walk the short Scripps Coastal Meander Trail, all within a few minutes of the aquarium.
However you include Birch Aquarium in your La Jolla itinerary, we’re sure you find it a standout attraction, full of marine exploration and entertainment.
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