Shapes in the Water

An Oscar-Inspired Visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach

Elisa in The Shape of Water falls in love with a humanoid creature from a mysterious underwater world, an affection that’s perfectly understandable when we visit the lovable real-life creatures that dwell in the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

Start your journey at the Southern California & Baja Gallery to get cozy with the locals—that is, creatures that live just off our SoCal shores. Pacific lookdowns and porcupine fish are among the handsome denizens here. The 211,000-gallon seal and sea lion habitat is a winner for aquatic entertainment: Inside, follow these slippery swimmers as they glide underwater; topside, watch trainers interact with these fascinating mammals. Just like Elisa looked into the eyes of the mysterious sea creature and saw her own soul, you can peer into the eyes of our distant oceanic relatives and see their curious and intelligent minds at work.

After the show, head over to the Northern Pacific Gallery to meet some cold-water critters. Furry cuties in the sea otter habitat will tug at your heartstrings. So will fluttering puffins and colorfully beaked auklets in the bird tank. Look closely in the giant Pacific octopus tank—this guy is a master camouflage artist.

The scaly creature in The Shape of Water may have seemed a monster to some in the film, but Elisa knew him to be a special and crucial part of this world. The same could be said about the sharks and rays at the shark lagoon, and various behemoths in the Tropical Pacific Gallery. Be fascinated. Befriend them! You’ll love the shapes in this water!

BONUS: Just outside the aquarium is Shoreline Aquatic Park, where you can enjoy a picnic on the grass beneath a lighthouse while enjoying a view of the natural home to the creatures you just saw. Just across the water is the Queen Mary, and all around are slightly smaller vessels to admire. It’s very easy to make an aquarium visit a very full day in Long Beach.

Take the I-710 south to Exit 1C (W. Shoreline Dr). Follow W. Shoreline Dr. 1.6 miles to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Parking is $8 with aquarium validation. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View