# Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Little Blue Penguins & Tide Pool Touch Tanks > Place to go for families in the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad area (CA). Times are Pacific Time. - When: Open daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (open until 7:00 PM select holiday dates); Advance online… - Dates: Tue, Dec 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: Birch Aquarium at Scripps, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 - Ages: All ages; hands-on touch tanks and low penguin viewing windows ideal for toddlers and kids; 100% stroller friendly - Price: $29.95 adult; $24.95 child ages 3–17; free for children under 3; Scripps members free - Schedule: Open daily 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (open until 7:00 PM select holiday dates); Advance online reservations required - Organizer: Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC San Diego) - Official page: https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/visit/tickets - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/birch-aquarium-at-scripps-little-blue-penguins-and-tide-pool-touch-tan--listing-1b42de17d64bf6c192c01c76 ## About Perched on a dramatic bluff high above La Jolla Shores, Birch Aquarium is the public exploration center for the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The centerpiece Beyster Family Little Blue Penguins exhibit lets kids watch the world's smallest penguins waddle, dive, and swim up-close in a naturalistic coastal habitat. Outside on Tide Pool Plaza, children can touch live sea stars, sea cucumbers, and hermit crabs while taking in breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. The aquarium features smooth ramps, elevator access on all levels, stroller parking, and an oceanfront cafe. ## Similar picks in San Diego - [Birch Aquarium Autumn Ocean Exploration & Tide Pool Wonders (La Jolla)](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/birch-aquarium-autumn-ocean-exploration-and-tide-pool-wonders-la-jolla--listing-63ad98b8054d53a614025a83) — Nov 20 – Nov 29 · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla · All ages · From $24.95 · checked Nov 4. Perched high above the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, Birch Aquarium at Scripps delivers world-class marine biology adventures for families during the Thanksgiving holiday season… - [Living Coast Discovery Center: Sweetwater Marsh & Stingray Touch Tanks](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/living-coast-discovery-center-sweetwater-marsh-and-stingray-touch-tank--listing-d1f655364984ec4a373c8f82) — Open daily 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Shuttle runs continuously from parking depot · Living Coast Discovery Center, Chula Vista · All ages · From $20 · checked Nov 4. Tucked away inside the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Chula Vista, the Living Coast Discovery Center offers an intimate, crowd-free wildlife encounter. Children can… - [Birch Aquarium at Scripps](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/birch-aquarium-at-scripps--listing-e61e89c5d214ba9350f3dfab) — Open daily from 9 a.m.; closing time varies by season (see Daily Schedule); closed… · Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla · All ages · From $29.95 · checked Oct 13. The public aquarium of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, on a hill above La Jolla Shores. Open daily at 9 a.m.; closing times vary by season and are posted on… - [Birch Aquarium & Flagship Cruises: Winter Gray Whale Watching](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/birch-aquarium-and-flagship-cruises-winter-gray-whale-watching--listing-db735a688335846f75157a55) — Dec 12 – Feb 28 · 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM · Flagship Cruises (Downtown San Diego Embarcadero) · All ages · From $50 · checked Nov 4. Witness one of nature's greatest marine spectacles as more than 20,000 Pacific gray whales migrate past the San Diego coastline on their 10,000-mile journey from the Arctic to… - [Discovery Tables at Mission Trails Visitor Center](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/discovery-tables-at-mission-trails-visitor-center--listing-f2bc3a7823a480f79eff2044) — Wed, Nov 11 (+1 more date) · 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM · Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center · checked Oct 14. Drop-in hands-on discovery tables in the Visitor Center lobby run by MTRP Trail Guides, with take-home materials for kids and adults. Topics in the window: Oct 31 Bats and… - [Full STEAM Ahead: Cyanotype Prints — Del Mar Library](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/full-steam-ahead-cyanotype-prints-del-mar-library--listing-0812e3604094d12379516c04) — Sat, Nov 14 · 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM · Del Mar Library · Ages 6–10 · Free · checked Nov 9. School-age kids sign up to learn cyanotype printing, a sun-printing process, at the Del Mar branch library. ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in La Jolla, CA](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/towns/la-jolla-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/towns/la-jolla-ca.md) - [Things to do with kids in San Diego County, CA](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/counties/san-diego-county-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/counties/san-diego-county-ca.md) - [Things to do with kids in San Diego — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/events/2026-11.md) - [This weekend in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego.md)