Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco

Imagine exploring the ocean and experiencing what it takes to be a deep-sea diver... on dry land. That’s the Aquarium of the Bay for you—a 9,000-square-foot underwater world right on San Francisco’s waterfront, where you can get nose-to-nose with marine life and maybe even feel a starfish wiggle under your fingertips without actually getting wet. It’s the kind of place where science, spectacle, and “eww, that’s slimy!” all coexist perfectly.

The aquarium boasts a collection of over 50 species of sharks—each looking like it’s auditioning for a nature documentary—plus rays, eels, gobies, rockfish, and a whole parade of ocean oddballs. Also, don’t miss the river otter exhibit, opened in 2013. These otters are basically furry chaos with flippers. Every winter, they even get their own “snow days,” because, well, otters deserve to play in snow too...

The top attraction, however, is the underwater glass tunnel—an immersive, slow-motion glide through massive tanks teeming with sharks, crabs, and fish that look like they’re gossiping about you as you pass. It’s part art, part adventure, and part “I can’t believe that thing has teeth!” Another point that elevates the experience to the memorable is the presence of touch pools upstairs. There, kids and adults can have a hands-on thrill, gently poking and prodding sea cucumbers or rays, and then brag about it later, as if they went deep-sea diving themselves.

Indeed, if you haven't seen any of these in the wild, seeing them up close is quite fun! Ultimately, this aquarium is a lesson in sustainability, a sensory playground, and an excuse to behave like a kid again.

Oh, and here’s a pro tip: splurge on the behind-the-scenes tour (which is available on certain days only). You’ll literally walk above the tanks, watching the fish—and the people—inside the aquarium.