Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row, Monterey | (831) 648-4800, montereybayaquarium.org
They do the Lord’s work, lobbying government officials to protect sea otters and sharks, advocating for policies to curb plastic pollution and climate change, and creating a handy app that recommends which seafood items to avoid. And in their spare time, the good folks at the Aquarium operate a world-class attraction where locals and visitors alike delight in technicolor fishes, tuxedoed penguins and tantalizing tentacles. What’s even better than kitten selfies? Cephalopod selfies. Yes, at the aquarium, that’s a thing.