SEA LIFE Aquarium

About

The SEA LIFE Aquarium is a very fun experience with underwater tunnels where sharks and marine life swim above and all around you, and where you can climb into cool little hidden holes to immerse yourself in the underwater marine world.

Having grown up on the beaches of Southern California and Mexico and being an ocean lover, I had to visit the Aquarium and take a look at their collection of over 350 different species and more than 6,000 creatures including giant rays and sharks!

Not only are there lots of displays, tunnels, and sea life, but they also have wonderful educational talks, and hands-on learning experiences and you can even witness feeding time.

And being a part of LEGOLAND, they’ve incorporated cool LEGO block people, props, and marine life into a lot of the displays so, along with the sharks, octopi, and rays you’ll see LEGO block turtles, rays, hammocks, palm trees, and beach-goers!

I highly recommend adding the Sea-Life Aquarium to your LEGOLAND California itinerary. It was a wonderful experience that left me with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and diversity of marine life.

It is sure to thrill every kid and adult!

Cool Features & Favorites

The SEA LIFE Aquarium is the only place to view the new exhibit ‘Sea at Night’. In this awesome experience, you can stroll in the gentle surf under a starry sky—during the day! Walk, jump, and “splash” in a simulated bioluminescent tide.

My favorite parts of the aquarium visit were the sharks, rays, jellyfish, and seahorses. With the most mesmerizing jellyfish displays and stunning seahorse displays, you’ll learn all about these beautiful creatures.

Another of my favorites was a tiny area that you can walk into and become immersed in the underwater world. As I walked into the space, a huge Ray swam overhead and covered the entire ceiling. It was huge, weird, and cool to see the underside of a Sting Ray—and I learned that it actually looks like a face.

Getting There

Sea-Life Aquarium is located in front of LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, California, and is packed full of amazing underwater creatures. To get there you’ll want to follow the directions to LEGOLAND.

Insider Tips

I must say that the experience was very enjoyable due in large part to the respectfulness of the other patrons. Everyone wants to see the coolest stuff like the big sharks and huge stingrays and everyone took their turn and moved on to let others enjoy the view. Very nice and it made the experience very enjoyable!

Almost every display has facts and information about the creatures, you are viewing.

Upon exiting the Sea Life Aquarium there was a touch pool that allowed kids and adults to get up close and personal with some of the inhabitants of the aquarium.

SEA LIFE Aquarium has an underwater tunnel, which allows you to walk through a glass tunnel surrounded by water on all sides. And as you walk through you are surrounded by sharks, turtles, schools of fish, and other creatures swimming all around you. The huge sharks swimming overhead and on both sides of you were pretty awesome!

Lean over the rocks and dip your hands into the water to check out starfish, sea anemones, and other sea creatures while their expert staff educates you about each animal and answers all of your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to get to San Diego and how far is it from L.A.?

When flying in, the San Diego International Airport (SAN) is only about 5 miles from downtown and with easy access to major highways so you can make your way to your Southern California getaway. Notably, for travelers that fly into Tijuana, the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) readily connects the two international airports.

As a top drive-to destination in Southern California, San Diego and its surrounding communities are easily accessible via I-8 coming from the east, as well as I-5 and I-15 the north. It’s about 125 miles from San Diego to L.A., via 1-5.

Are the beaches in San Diego swimmable?

San Diego’s coast stretches over 70 miles from Oceanside to the north to Imperial Beach to the south. With more than 33 beaches lining San Diego’s sandy shore, there’s certainly an ideal beach for your entire crew. Family-friendly spots with calmer waves include Cardiff-by-the-Sea and numerous Carlsbad beaches, while the surfer havens of Black’s Beach and Windansea Beach can offer waves that are not for the faint of heart. La Jolla Shores is a good spot for beginner-surfers.

What’s the weather like in San Diego and when is the best time to visit?

San Diego’s average temperature of about 71°F year-round makes any time a great time to visit “America’s Finest City”. With its mild Mediterranean climate, San Diego generally has the most stable and inviting weather in the country, topped with cooler evenings even in summer.

Spring and fall are some of the best times to visit San Diego, with fewer crowds and great temperatures. Summer is peak season in San Diego, with plenty of festivals and activity, though this also coincides with more precipitation particularly in May and June. Winter temperatures in San Diego can drop into the 60s during the day. Rather than dipping into the chilly waves, winter in San Diego provides a great opportunity to head out on a whale watching tour.

What’s the best way to visit Balboa Park museums and the San Diego Zoo?

The San Diego Zoo located in Balboa Park is world-renowned as a must-visit destination. In addition to the vast array of animals and exhibits within the Zoo, Balboa Park in San Diego also houses over a dozen museums. The Go City Card or a Balboa Park Explorer One-Day Pass are great options when exploring the area. Check with the Balboa Park Visitors Center online for more information.