The aquarium was built right on the edge of Monterey Bay. There were many decks available where anyone can step outside in back and admire the natural setting.

The sea otter exhibit occupied two levels. This provided both an underwater view of their activities below and a surface view on the second level.

The main lobby in the aquarium had full sized replicas of a whale and a dolphin suspended from the ceiling along with a scuba diver for scale.

Up on the second level, sea otters could be seen swimming on the surface. Here was one otter swimming on is back with only is mouth and nostrils above the surface.

Hanging from the ceiling of the aquarium were three panels that showed an octopus swimming.

The escalator up led to the second floor and access to the next building of exhibits.

In the next building was a special exhibit called, "Stories of Hope in a Changing Sea." It was an exhibit describing the changes expected by the warming climate.

Flamingos were on exhibit inside. The story was how climate change threatened Sea Turtles, Flamingos, Coral Reefs, and Penguins, just to list a few of the better known animals.

A wall of posters acted as propaganda to advance the cause of saving our climate.

Jelly fish (here were Spotted Jelly ) were on exhibit. This display was part of the climate change exhibit.

This was one of the sea turtles that was threatened by climate change.

Penguins are also threatened by climate change.

Another exhibit showed how to eat in a sustainable manner.

Another exhibit was the World Of Seahorses. Here was a Weedy sea dragon, just one of the many seahorses on exhibit.

The Portola was divided into two parts both accessed through the same door. Inside to the left was the cafe part with self service seating. Inside to the right was sit down service where your order was taken at the table. The person out front handled restaurant seating.

The gift shop was huge with lots of fine products for purchase to help you remember your trip.

Fish gathered around a dump of food into their water. Feeding time in the aquarium was popular because food always brought fish forward toward the viewing glass.

This undersea diver was not a scuba diver. Scuba divers carry their own air. This diver was fed air from a hose lead down from the surface. Here the diver briefly held onto an eel in search of that freshly released food.

An exhibit talked about the importance of kelp to the environment. This was the giant kelp that grew off the coast of California.

A western pond turtle was basking on a log as part of the outdoor exhibit of the tidal zone.

The surf exhibit spilled sea water over an an incline and into an outdoor exhibit of tidal life. Inside it was possible to stand inside the surf as it descended.

Two plovers rested in the water of an inside exhibit of shorebirds and birds that inhabited ocean wetlands.

An exhibit set up as a seafood restaurant provided information about what fish and seafood were sustainable and which were threatened or endangered . Pocket cards were available showing which fish were preferred for food and which should be avoided.