Explore the Ocean Depths at the Aquarium of the Pacific

Located about 45 minutes south of the Grafton Hotel by car, the Aquarium of the Pacific is a bit of a drive, but with an assortment of more than 11,000 animals representing the vast ecological variety found in the Pacific Ocean, the exhibits at this aquarium are well worth the time it takes to get there. The imposing Pacific Octopus, with an arm-span up to 14 feet, and the Amber Forest, where the giant kelp grow as tall as trees, are especially awe-inspiring. Sea otters sun themselves on the water’s surface, while puffins and auklets dive beneath the waves for food. See over 150 sharks and rays in the expansive Shark Lagoon, feed iridescent plumed lorikeets directly from your hand in the Lorikeet Forest, and slide into the underwater crawl space that lets you experience penguins as though you were swimming among them (while still staying dry, of course). You can also learn about the many conservation and rehabilitation efforts underway at the museum, which employs hundreds of staff members eager to guide you through this aquatic wonderland.