Sunset Sails, Seashore Sleepovers and Other Fun Events at Monterey Bay Aquarium

By Kasia Deuel 

Monterey, CA - At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, special activities offer great ways for adults, children and families to experience the wonders of the ocean. Visitors can go behind-the-scenes with aquarium experts, take part in a sailing excursion aboard a 65-foot research vessel, put their kids in SCUBA gear for a diver’s-eye view of marine life, feed an abalone or a sea urchin, scoop plankton from the bay using the same tools as scientists, and discover where “Doc” Ricketts set up his laboratory on Cannery Row.

All that and more are part of the many exciting “Aquarium Adventures” programs available throughout the aquarium’s 25th anniversary year in 2009. A full schedule of all Aquarium Adventures is available online at www.montereybayaquarium.org/adventures. Online tickets for select Adventures will be available in early May.

New in 2009, the public can now attend a “Family Seashore Sleepover” on three summer nights: Friday, June 12, Saturday, July 11, and Saturday, Aug 29. Aquarium fans can sleep under their favorite exhibits and experience the aquarium after hours. Special presentations, feeding opportunities, a midnight snack and continental breakfast are all part of this exclusive evening. Space is limited, so interested visitors will need to book early. “Youth Group Seashore Sleepovers” are available for youth groups on seven other nights from April to November.

Behind-the-scenes tours, offered several times daily throughout the year, give visitors an inside look at the nation’s No. 1 aquarium. Each 50-minute tour is different, depending on what’s happening that day. All tours will show what it takes to care for animals and exhibits at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and will occasionally include an opportunity to feed the fish. Headsets provide additional information during the dynamic tour. Tour times vary daily and cost $12 for the general public, $10 for members, plus aquarium admission.

“Sailing Adventures” expeditions return early again this year, on May 9, for some spring sailing aboard the eco-friendly Derek M. Baylis, a 65-foot research sailboat. Visitors can choose among three distinct Sailing Adventures.

During “Day Sails” visitors work alongside aquarium naturalists gathering plankton, observe seafloor animals and learn about the intricate Monterey Bay ecosystem. Each participant will take a turn at the helm, steering the boat and learning about navigation and sailing, while fellow sailors keep an eye out for migrating whales, rafts of otters and pods of dolphins. A great way to enjoy Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10 is a Day Sail adventure where moms ride free with two paying participants. To celebrate World Ocean Day, all participants for Day Sails on Saturday and Sunday June 6 and 7 will receive a reusable grocery tote as well as information about how to become an ocean steward.

On summer evenings, “Sunset Sails” participants will relax on the elegant ship while sipping wine, enjoying hors d’oeuvres and watching the bay come to life as evening approaches. Seals, sea lions, otters, dolphins and whales are common in Monterey Bay. Sunset Sails begin on May 9 and cost $45 for aquarium members and $55 for the general public.

For a custom adventure, visitors can charter the Derek M. Baylis and its captain for a three-hour sailing adventure with up to 20 friends. “Charter Sails” cost $1,180 and are by appointment only.
The popular “Underwater Explorers” surface SCUBA experience for kids 8 to 13 resumes in mid-June and continues through early September. “Morning Rounds” behind-the-scenes feeding tours and “Fishing for History” Cannery Row walking tours happen on select days year round.

Extended hours return this summer with more time to enjoy the aquarium on summer weekends during “Evenings by the Bay.” Each Saturday and Sunday from July 4 through September 6, visitors will have two additional hours – until 8 p.m. – to commune with their favorite exhibits, including the new special exhibition “The Secret Lives of Seahorses.” The evenings include live music and an opportunity for dinner in the ocean-view Portola Restaurant.

Most Aquarium Adventures programs run May through September; some are offered year-round. Costs vary per program; aquarium members receive a discount. Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org/adventures for program details and previews. (A detailed list of Aquarium Adventures is included below.) Advance registration is recommended; register by calling 866-963-9645 or stop by the Aquarium Adventures Desk or Member Desk in the main lobby of the aquarium.

Regular aquarium admission is $29.95 adult; $27.95 senior (65+) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); and $17.95 children 3-12 and the disabled. Children under 3 are admitted free of charge. Discounted tickets for members of the military and their families can be purchased in advance at many California and Nevada installations.

The aquarium is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., in summer months and holidays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and extended hours until 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays July 4 through September 6.
In 2009 the Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates 25 years of inspiring ocean conservation. 

AQUARIUM ADVENTURES PROGRAMS
2009

Behind-the-scenes Tours
Time: 10:30, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 (additional times added during peak season)
Ages: 6 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Fee: $10 members; $12 general public, plus aquarium admission
Visitors can get an intimate look at the inner workings of the aquarium during any of the daily behind-the-scenes tours. A guide will lead a group of visitors on a 50-minute tour behind one of the aquarium’s main exhibits. Daily feedings of fish are a regular part of this tour.

Underwater Explorers
Four times daily from June 13 through September 7
Time: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (90-minute program)
Ages: 8 to 13
Fee: $59 per member; $79 per general public, plus aquarium admission
Kids can get a fish-eye view of marine life as they don mask, regulator and dry suit and take the plunge in our Great Tide Pool for a surface SCUBA experience. Our certified dive staff will assist participants in the water and introduce them to the critters that live along the rocky shore. The small group size ensures a safe and educational adventure for everyone. No previous SCUBA experience is required, though you must have basic swimming skills.

Sailing Adventures: Day Sails
Saturday and Sunday: May 9 through June 14
Wednesday through Sunday: June 17 through August 30
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: September 2 through September 27
Time: 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. (3-hour sail)
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Fee: $49 per member youth (10-17 years); $59 per member adult; $59 per general public youth; $69 per general public adult.
Step aboard the Derek M. Baylis, a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly 65-foot research sailboat for the adventure of a lifetime. In this exclusive program you’ll spend three hours getting hands-on experience as you learn how marine biologists study the life of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Sailing Adventures: Sunset Sails
Friday and Saturday: May 9 through June 13
Wednesday through Sunday: June 17 through August 30
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: September 2 through September 27
Time: 5:30 p.m. (90-minute sail)
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Fee: $45 per aquarium member; $55 per general public
Join aquarium naturalists for a great evening of natural history and ocean wildlife aboard the Derek M. Baylis. Enjoy wine and light refreshments as you learn more about the many animals that make Monterey Bay their home and discover how we can keep our oceans healthy. 

Youth Group Seashore Sleepovers 
Saturdays April 11; May 9; July 25; Aug 15; Sunday, Sept 6; Friday, Nov 6
Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Ages: Youth groups with children, age 6 to 14; one adult chaperone 21 years or older is required for every five youth campers.
Fee: $60 per person (entrance to the Aquarium before or after the sleepover is not included) 
Youth group sleepovers are a special way to enjoy the aquarium after hours and sleep next to your favorite exhibit. We’ll offer activities throughout the evening, or you can explore the aquarium on your own. The evening concludes with a bedtime snack. In the morning you’ll wake up with the fishes and enjoy a continental breakfast in the Portola Cafe.

NEW! Family Seashore Sleepover
Friday, June 12; Saturday, July 11; Saturday, Aug 29
Ages: 6 to Adult
Fee: $50 members; $75 general public (entrance to the Aquarium before or after the sleepover is not included) 
Family sleepovers are a special way to experience the aquarium after hours and sleep next to your favorite exhibit. We’ll offer activities throughout the evening, or you can explore the aquarium on your own during this exclusive event. The evening concludes with a bedtime snack and movie. In the morning you’ll wake up with the fishes and enjoy a continental breakfast in the Portola Cafe.

Morning Rounds: Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Most Thursdays and Sundays, all year round  
Time: 8:15 to 10:30 a.m.
Ages: 8 and older, under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Fee: $45 per member; $65 per general public, plus aquarium admission
Join us for a rare opportunity to interact with our exhibit animals as an aquarist would. The 2-hour morning tour includes a private viewing of a sea otter feeding and training session. Then you’ll go behind the scenes on “morning rounds” and help prepare food, feed animals and learn daily maintenance for exhibits.

Fishing for History: A Cannery Row Walking Tour
All year round: By appointment only, minimum group of 6
Time: By request
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Fee: $16 per member; $20 per general public, plus aquarium admission
Past and present meet as we journey from the early days of Monterey’s native Rumsien/Ohlone people through the boom times that made Monterey the “Sardine Capital of the World.” Along the way we’ll share stories of the diverse communities and early marine scientists who contributed to the rich culture of Cannery Row. Our guided tour starts with the historic cannery exhibits at the aquarium then leads you on a walk along Cannery Row to the Maritime Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf. The program is co-sponsored by the Monterey Maritime and History Museum.