Central Coast Zoos & Aquariums

Central Coast Zoos & Aquariums Overview

The Central Coast has a variety of large and small zoos. From the small community Charles Paddock Zoo to the Santa Barbara Zoo. From reptile and exotic insect exhibits to flamingos and elephants, California zoos are the perfect place for a one-day safari. The Central Coast also has some of the best aquariums in the country from the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium to the Ty Warner Sea Center on Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. Whether you're looking to step into a kelp forest or dip your hands in a shark petting pool, California's Central Coast has what you're looking for.

Central Coast Zoos & Aquariums
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Seymour Marine Discovery Center is located off Highway 1 at Natural Bridges Drive. Situated on the bluffs next to Natural Bridges State Beach, this is a small-scale aquarium that's actually a marine laboratory for U.C. Santa Cruz. Exhibits include aquariums, touch tanks, an Ocean Discovery Shop and more.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 Shaffer Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-3800
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Monterey Bay Aquarium is located off PCH (Highway 1 - Pacific Coast Highway) in beautiful Monterey. This is a large-scale aquarium featuring local species. Exhibits include sea otters, octopus, tuna, sharks, wolf eels and more. One of the deepest sections of our oceans is just a few miles off the Monterey coast and provides the aquarium with unusual deep sea species.

Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, California 93940
(831) 648-4800
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Charles Paddock Zoo is located off Highway 101 between Portola and Santa Rosa Roads at Morro Road. This is a small-scale zoo with over 100 animals on display. Exhibits include foxes, owls, pythons, tigers and more.

Charles Paddock Zoo
9305 Pismo Avenue
Atascadero, CA 93422
(805) 461-5080
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Morro Bay Aquarium is located off Highway 1 at the Morro Bay Boulevard exit. This is a small-scale aquarium with mostly local species. Exhibits include a seal feeding area and several tanks with eels, lobsters, sheepheads, horseshoe crabs, leopard sharks, seabass and more. Entrance is in the back of the gift shop.

Morro Bay Aquarium
595 Embarcadero Road
Morro Bay, California 93442
(805) 772-7647
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Ty Warner Sea Center is located off Highway 101 between the Castillo and Garden Street exits in Santa Barbara. Look for the triple dolphin fountain at the end of State Street and you've found Stearns Wharf. The Ty Warner Sea Center is situated on Stearns Wharf along with restaurants and touristy shops. The Sea Center offers aquarium displays of local sea life, interactive exhibits of ocean science, petting pools, a theatre and much more.

Ty Warner Sea Center
211 Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 962-2526
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens is located off highway 101 in Santa Barbara. This is a moderate-sized city zoo with over 500 animals on display.

Santa Barbara Zoo
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, California 93103
(805)962-6310
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