La Jolla culture centers upon the community’s scenic seas. Visitors and locals alike pack themselves daily onto La Jolla beaches: Black’s Beach, La Jolla Shores, Windansea, and the La Jolla Cove. But sometimes the crowds can be a little exhausting. How about seeing the ocean from a different angle for a change?

The Birch Aquarium is the “Public Exploration Center” for La Jolla’s renowned Scripps Institute of Oceanography at UCSD. Birch is an interactive Mecca for marine life-lovers, featuring thriving exhibits, shows, and hands-on tide pool experiences. It also boasts an incredible view.

Even better, Birch experts love to bring their knowledge outside the aquarium’s walls. The Institute offers numerous “Field Trips” to the public, like the exclusive Full Moon Pier Walk down the La Jolla pier, the opportunity to snorkel with leopard sharks, and Sea Kayak Adventures with Scripps naturalists.