Hotels near Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Birch Aquarium is the public aquarium of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, one of the world's leading ocean research centres. Its Hall of Fishes holds dozens of tanks of Pacific species, including a two-storey kelp forest tank, and an outdoor tide pool plaza looks down the coast over La Jolla Shores and the Scripps Pier.

Exhibits explain climate change, ocean currents and the work of Scripps scientists, and the seahorse and shark displays are favourites with children. Birch Aquarium regularly takes part in Kids Free San Diego, which makes it a good-value stop for families visiting San Diego in October. Afterwards, the wide sandy beach at La Jolla Shores, a short drive down the hill, is one of the calmest swimming beaches in the county.

Pro Tip: Book timed tickets online for a weekday morning, then head down to La Jolla Shores for a swim while the water is still near 20°C.