Robyn Laing

Review of Birch Aquarium at Scripps

I love visiting aquariums, but in this case I was ...

I love visiting aquariums, but in this case I was incredibly disappointed... I see that most of the other reviews are very good, so perhaps I'm just spoiled by the Seattle aquarium (and got incredibly lucky with the other out of state aquariums that I visited)???

But for a regular entry fee of $17 (or even the student fee of $12) an attraction should have AT LEAST two hours worth of entertainment for anyone. However, if you're not with small children there is not much to do and see here (and even with children, there isn't a whole lot more). A good portion of the aquarium is just games/activities for little kids and the science facts on the walls are also very basic common knowledge (global warming, what is CO2, etc.). I finished with everything in about 40 minutes, and I was REALLY taking my time. Several of few attractions are very interesting (especially the sea horses and shark embryos), but there are just so few of them that it was really not worth it in my opinion (a 30 minute taxi ride each way for this). I think a few of the tanks repeat the same species as well (or they are at least very closely related species).

There are essentially 2 small wings and a back, outside area. One wing has several aquariums with interesting critters, but again, it's so short... The other wing is mostly children's games and the science facts, with a couple of other aquariums. The back area has a kind of murky shark tank and a very, very sad touch tide pool (not much in there and not very colorful). And that's it. I even asked the guy at the front desk if I was missing something. But yeah, no sea birds, no sea mammals, no unique displays that aren't found at other aquariums. I don't get it. There's no source of food that is a not a junk food stand either.

I feel a little bad for rating this place so harshly because I know they're doing what they can, but I wish I knew this before I wasted my time and money on this.