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Monterey Bay AquariumCall it the Carnegie Hall or the Fenway Park of aquariums. After a day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA), the superlatives will gush from your lips as surely as the breakers that pour over you every 30 seconds in the Wave Crash Tunnel at this mega-aquarium. Some say it’s America’s best. While many aquariums are paired with theme parks, like the various Sea Worlds, the MBA offers no dolphin shows or whale encounters. There aren’t even any dolphins or whales. But it’s anything but boring, because you’ll get to “ooh” at the hammerhead sharks that prowl right past you in the million-gallon Outer Bay tank and “aah” at the sea nettles—giant orange jellyfish so ethereal that they’re displayed in a “gallery” rather than a mere tank. You’ll also get to watch sea otters play and pet bat rays that flap past in the touch pools. Count on spending a few hours at MBA, and not just to observe the 600 species of marine life. When your feet start aching, you can duck inside the auditorium to watch one of the half-hourly film presentations, many with live presenters. When you want to escape from the crowd noise, outdoor paths behind the aquarium let you inhale sea air at the water’s edge. There’s even more for kids. Interactive exhibits are scattered throughout the aquarium, but kids really go nuts in the spacious Splash Zone designed just for them. Hot Pink Flamingos, which debuted in March, is the newest exhibition. Flamingos, Magellanic penguins and other colorful coral reef inhabitants are seen in six rooms. Integrated with the creatures are displays that convey the tales of individuals and communities around the world who are working to preserve this habitat by taking on climate change. Like much of what you’ll experience at the MBA, you’ll be simultaneously entertained and informed. HelloSanJose tip: Buy your tickets online or else expect to wait in line outside the entrance. Also, visit Tuesday to Thursday in the afternoon if you want to beat the biggest crowds. - by Bob Cooper, San Jose Reporter for HelloMetro (Click to leave a message)  Bob CooperBob Cooper is a full-time freelance writer (www.bob-cooper.com) who writes about travel, outdoor sports and health. He is a monthly contributor to Runner's World and has written recent articles for other national magazines such as Continental, Ladies' Home Journal and Inc.
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The Aquarium is right on Monterey's Cannery Row on the site of an old sardine cannery. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Rick Browne
The Aquarium's three-story Kelp Forest is filled with marine life. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
Visitors get a thrill every 30 seconds when beneath the Wave Crash Tunnel. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
Sea nettles are the largest of the jellies in one of the world's largest jellyfish exhibits. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
Leopard sharks prowl the Kelp Forest, inches from the glass. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Randy Wilder
A cylinder of swimming anchovies puts marine life inches away. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Rob Lewine
Bubble windows offer an immersive perspective on sea life. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Rob Lewine
The playful sea otters are always a hit. Courtesy of Monterey Bay Aquarium/Rick Browne
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