Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row, Monterey
(831) 648-4800 www.montereybayaquarium.org
The Aquarium has earned its non-negotiable must-see status with eye-popping special exhibits (coming April 12: Tentacles!), live feedings, auditorium programs, farm-to-table dining and, at the beating heart of the whole operation, a conservation mission. The website is a work of seamless beauty on par with the exhibits themselves – buy tickets in advance and map where to park; learn about the Open Sea exhibit, hang with sea otters on live webcams, listen to a podcast about the upcoming cephalopod exhibit, watch a video of a sea star eating, print shark coloring pages for the kids, learn about ocean acidification and download the latest Seafood Watch guide.