If you can't get to Monterey Bay, Calif., you can swim with the virtual fishes here. Global guests have several options, but we'd suggest beginning with the Exhibits area for a discussion of habitats, from kelp forests to dunes, and their inhabitants. You'll find information on more than 20 well-known creatures, including white sharks and horseshoe crabs, as well as a matching game and instructions for starting your own saltwater aquarium. The Behind the Scenes feature details how the aquarium staff keeps things running, from feeding the 10,000 charges to filtering the 2.3 million gallons of water required for the exhibits. Visit the penguin tank, swim with the sea otters or get up close with sharks.
Kids can try home science experiments or play a game that teaches how penguins communicate.
This site is fun but not heavy on information about marine creatures for that, try the extensive list of links. Although the homepage is fairly clear, visitors who don't want to miss a thing may want to use the site map. Go to Online exhibits to learn about whales, crocodiles, jellyfish, salmon and Pacific Coast creatures. The Gallery Tour offers nine ecosystem exhibits, so visitors can track their favorite animals. Aquafacts is full of questions and answers about fish, whales, otters, turtles and frogs.