Aquarium!

A few years ago we had a membership to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and it was one of the coolest and most worthwhile things we've ever indulged in.  With the zoo membership Mom and Dad gave us last year expiring and a list of friends we want to share this amazing place with growing in our minds, we decided to go for it and become members again.  This means we once again have 2 transferable guest passes to share with you!

What was awesome about returning to the place we knew so well after taking a few years off was seeing new exhibits-- this Tentacles one in particular.  Featuring what I consider to be the most amazing creatures in the ocean, the cephalopods (squid, cuttlefish, octopus, nautilus, etc.), visiting it was by far our favorite part of the day.  This is where I took the most pictures.

 We started out by admiring the strange squid.  We watched them eating whole fish too.  It was weird and wonderful!

 For this exhibit, the aquarium acquired two new giant octopuses, and they are ACTIVE!  Each time we returned to check them out, they were zooming all around their tank changing colors and making us squeal with excitement.

 A trip to the aquarium always makes me remember what an artist Creator God is.  The nautilus was beautiful, its shell appearing to be hand-painted.

And then we came to the family's favorite: the cuttlefishes!  These guys changed their color, pattern and even texture right before our very eyes!  When we walked up, this white guy above was disguised as a snail; he had even turned his tentacles into antenna.  As we watched him move around his tank, though, he smoothed out those spikes on his skin and switched to what looked like dark tiger stripes (below).  IT WAS INCREDIBLE and we could have watched it for hours.  We're going to look into what it would take to get a cuttlefish for a pet! :)

This octopus was another quick change artist, we watched him switch from pure white, to the pattern of this corral he lived in, to this orangish/brownish color.

Besides the fascinating creatures in this exhibit, there were some cool interactive displays too.  Here Delia messes around with a computer that changes her skin color and texture like a cephalopod.

And here are some shots of us doing the more typical, but always fun, aquarium stuff.  Above, visiting the jellies.

Being brave at the touch pools.

 Posing in the giant clam shell.

 Peeking at the penguins.

 Giving the bat rays a back rub.

And getting surprised in the wave room.

Well, did this post sell you?  Are you ready to visit the aquarium with us now?  We'd love to share these amazing sights with you too!!