It should be no surprise that earth-conscious and caring Santa Monica would have as part of its “Heal the Bay” program its very own aquarium to educate, inspire and empower its visitors to be stewards of the environment.

Open to the public, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is housed at beach level under the Pier’s historic carousel and features hands-on presentations and interactive exhibits of organisms from Santa Monica Bay. Programs and resources include books, crafts, story hours and films, as well as curricula for teachers and kindergarten through 12th grade students. For more information, visit www.healthebay.org/smpa.