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Free Aquarium Admission for Monterey County Families Is Back — Here’s How to Snag Tickets

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Good news for local families: the Monterey Bay Aquarium is once again opening its doors free of charge to Monterey County residents, and this year’s dates are locked in for September 8–20, 2026. If you’ve been putting off a trip to see the sea otters, the kelp forest, or the jellies, this is your window.Here’s everything parents need to know to plan the visit — and grab tickets before they’re gone.

The Basics

  • When: September 8–20, 2026Who: All Monterey County residents, all agesCost: Free, with photo ID and proof of residency required at the door for everyone 18 and olderEntry window: 12–4 p.m. on the day of your reservation
    • This free week is the Aquarium’s way of thanking the local community for decades of support, and tickets are limited — so a little planning goes a long way.

How to Reserve Your Tickets

Reservations opened online on August 12 and are handed out first-come, first-served, so don’t wait too long if you have a specific date in mind.A few details to keep in your back pocket:

  • Every guest needs a ticket — yes, even kids age 4 and under, and they do count toward your ticket limit.Limit of six tickets per transaction.Tickets cannot be exchanged or canceled, so double-check your date before you book.If your preferred day sells out, you can either buy a regular-priced ticket or grab free tickets for a different day in the window.Aquarium members and SNAP/CalFresh EBT cardholders don’t need to reserve in advance for this promotion.
    • Reserve your free tickets here

    What to Bring

    Because this offer is exclusively for Monterey County residents, the Aquarium checks residency at the door. Every guest 18 and older needs a photo ID. If that ID doesn’t show a Monterey County address, bring one of these along too:

  • A Matrícula Consular with a Monterey County addressCurrent student ID from a university or community college in Monterey CountyA utility bill showing a Monterey County addressA monthly Monterey-Salinas Transit bus passDocumentation of residence at a group home or senior living center
    • Heads up: guests from outside the county are welcome to join your group, but only with a paid ticket — the free admission is for county residents only.

    Make It a Full Day

    Since entry is limited to a 12–4 p.m. window, we’d suggest arriving right at noon to make the most of your four hours — otter feedings, the kelp forest, and the touch pools are always crowd favorites with kids. For tips on tackling the exhibits, avoiding the busiest pockets of the day, and where to grab lunch afterward on Cannery Row, check out our Monterey Bay Aquarium guide — it’s packed with planning advice from local parents who’ve done this trip more times than they can count.

    Questions about the promotion itself? The Aquarium’s guest services line is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 831.648.4800.

    Your Guide to Monterey County Library Storytimes

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    Nothing beats a good story — especially when it comes with songs, rhymes, and a room full of other little ones to wiggle along with. Monterey County is lucky to have five different library systems, each running its own storytime programs for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Here’s what’s currently on the calendar, branch by branch, so you can plan your week around books instead of the other way around.

    A quick note before you go: library storytimes shift with staffing, seasons, and summer reading programs, so we recommend a quick check of the library’s own calendar link (included below for each) before you head out.

    Salinas Public Library

    Salinas has three branches, each with its own storytime personality.

    • El Gabilan Library — “Learn and Play” Storytime
      Tuesdays, 12:00–12:45pm · Ages 0–4
      Stories, songs, and rhymes for the youngest readers.
    • El Gabilan Library — “Spotlight Storytime”
      First Saturday of the month, 11:00am–12:00pm · Ages 0–6
      A themed craft every month alongside the stories.
    • John Steinbeck Library — “Storytime Jamboree”
      Thursdays, 4:00–4:30pm · All ages (family-style)
      Stories, music, and dancing.
    • Cesar Chavez Library — “Toddler Tales”
      Wednesdays, 12:00–1:00pm · Ages 0–3
      Bilingual storytime with stories, songs, and rhymes.

    MORE INFO

    Pacific Grove Public Library

    • Music With Mary Lee
      Second Wednesday of the month, 11:00–11:30am · Babies and young children with caregivers
    • Preschool Stories
      Tuesdays, 11:00–11:30am · All ages are welcome. However, the content will specifically be developmentally appropriate for preschoolers.
    • Baby Rhyme Time Storytime
      Thursdays, 11:00–11:30am · Songs, rhymes, stories and play tailored for children under 2 years.

    MORE INFO

    City of Carmel-by-the-Sea — Harrison Memorial Library / Park Branch

    • Story Time (Park Branch Children’s Library)
      10:15–11:00am · Ages 2–5 · “Stories, Songs, Rhymes and Play.” Check online calendar for specific dates.
    • Babytime with Marylee (Park Branch)
      11:00–11:30am · Caregivers with babies under 9 months
      Check online calendar for specific dates.

    MORE INFO

    City of Monterey Public Library

    • Storytime
      Fridays, 10:15am · Ages 2–5 (all welcome) · Community Room
      No registration required.

    MORE INFO

    Monterey County Free Libraries (MCFL)

    MCFL runs 17 branches across the county, from Aromas to Soledad. To get a full list of story times and events, check the link below.

    • Marina Branch — Preschool Storytime ⭐ confirmed live
      Thursdays, 10:15am
      Also: Dads Read, a monthly Saturday event (~10:00am) featuring storytimes led by local dads.
      📍 Friends of the Marina Library calendar: friendsofthemarinalibrary.org — updates in real time
    • Seaside Branch — “Stay and Play with Story Time”
      Tuesdays, 11:00am–1:00pm (please confirm — 2024 source)
    • Carmel Valley Branch — Preschool Storytime
      Wednesdays, 10:30am · Ages up to 4 
    • Aromas Branch — Storytime
      Thursdays, 1:00pm

    MORE INFO

    Free California State Parks Pass Available Now Through July 6 — Here’s How to Get It

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    JULY 6 IS THE LAST DAY!

    Monterey County families have a great opportunity this summer: a free pass to more than 30 state historic parks, available to download right now through the Fourth of July weekend.

    Governor Newsom announced the special limited-time offer of the California State Parks Historian Passport — normally $50 — as a free download through Monday, July 6, in celebration of Juneteenth and America’s 250th anniversary. Each pass covers admission for up to four people and is valid for unlimited visits to participating historic parks through the end of 2026. 

    How to get your free pass

    Download the free special edition Historian Passport at ReserveCalifornia.com. You’ll need a free account with ReserveCalifornia.com, the state’s official reservation service, to complete the download. 

    What parks are included?

    The pass opens the door to more than 30 state historic parks across California. Monterey State Historic Park is located in Downtown Monterey and is accessible with pass.

    Some other standout parks included in the program:

    Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park — Explore a California town founded, financed, and governed by African Americans. Established in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth and a group of Black pioneers, it stands as a powerful symbol of self-determination and freedom. 

    Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park — View what is believed to be the largest collection of bedrock mortars in North America, along with one of the largest ceremonial roundhouses still used by Native Americans in California. The on-site Chaw’se Regional Indian Museum features artifacts from tribes throughout the region. 

    Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park — Visit the site where gold was discovered in 1848, sparking the California Gold Rush that transformed the state and nation.

    Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park — Step inside the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California, built at the heart of a Gold Rush-era Chinese American community.

    To see a full list of the included parks: https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/1012/files/DPR335HP.pdf

    Other free park passes available year-round

    If you miss the July 6 deadline, there are other free state parks options available to California families all year long:

    Library card holders can borrow a California State Library Parks Pass from any public library for free vehicle day-use at more than 200 state parks — just like checking out a book, with more than 33,000 passes available at over 1,100 libraries statewide. 

    Fourth graders and their families can access the California State Parks Adventure Pass for free entry at 54 state parks. 

    Income-qualifying families, including those receiving CalWORKs benefits, can get the Golden Bear Pass for free vehicle day-use at more than 200 parks. 

    Veterans who were honorably discharged can receive the Distinguished Veterans Pass, covering free day-use, family camping, and boat access at more than 100 state parks.

    Don’t wait on the Historian Passport — the free download window closes July 6, but once you have it, you’re set for the rest of the year. Head to ReserveCalifornia.com/passes/advancepasses to claim yours.

    27th Annual Wildflower Show at Garland Ranch Regional Park

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    June 13–14 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Free Admission Garland Park Visitor Center, 700 West Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley

    If you’re looking for a free, family-friendly outing this weekend, head to Garland Ranch Regional Park for the 27th Annual Summer Wildflower Show — a beloved Carmel Valley tradition that turns two days each June into a living celebration of local nature.Held at the Garland Park Visitor Center, the show features a stunning display of wildflowers collected from the park’s nearly 50 miles of trails, as well as blooms from Frog Pond Preserve, Marina Dunes Preserve, and Palo Corona Regional Park. Every year, a dedicated team of volunteers — ranging from serious botanists to folks who simply love a good wildflower — scouts the trails, identifies the blooms, and arranges them for the public to enjoy. It’s the kind of event that reminds you just how spectacular our corner of the Central Coast can be.The show got its start 27 years ago when MPRPD volunteer Gordon Williams attended a California Native Plant Society wildflower show and came home inspired. He and fellow volunteer Mary Saylor set up a small display at the Garland Visitor Center — and the response was so enthusiastic that they never stopped. This year, in addition to the wildflower display, you’ll find an educational gardening booth hosted by the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners and a Garland Ranch history timeline booth staffed by MPRPD — great for curious kids and adults alike.Schedule of ActivitiesBoth days, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM:

  • Wildflower Display (MPRPD volunteers)Gardening Information Booth (Monterey Bay Master Gardeners)Garland Ranch Regional Park History Booth (MPRPD staff and volunteers)
    • Sunday, June 14 only, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM:
  • Native Plant Information Booth (California Native Plant Society)
    • Admission is free and the event is open to all ages. It’s a wonderful chance to slow down, get outside, and discover the wildflowers blooming right in our own backyard.

    Garland Ranch Regional Park is located at 700 West Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. For more information, visit the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District website.

    Parenting OC