Visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium for the Finding Dory Event last month really opened my eyes in different ways. I’ve been there over a handful of times, but this time I was on a mission. This time I was keeping my eyes peeled for specific animals that played roles in the new Disney sequel to Finding Nemo, Finding Dory. The movie will be in theaters on June 17 and we were lucky during this event to see exclusive scenes from this long-awaited story and were introduced to cool new characters in the film. The Disney/Pixar animators spent a lot of time at the aquarium researching for Finding Dory as she travels on a life-changing adventure across the ocean to California’s “prestigious Marine Life Institute” (MLI). When you see the movie, you’ll see many parts of the MLI resembling the aquarium, it’s very cool! With so much exciting and new information, we had hours to explore and here are 6 reasons my recent Monterey Bay Aquarium visit was incredible!
1. Otters
Just a few days before we arrived in Monterey, a wild otter gave birth in the Aquarium’s Great Tide Pool and we were lucky enough to catch some precious moments of mom and pup! 
We also got to go behind the scenes during the otter feeding program. The program is offered three times a day where you can see how the aquarists train and feed the sea otters and learn how their exhibit otters help us understand the animals in the wild. Did you know that they have 1 MILLION hairs per square inch on their bodies?! I caught this adorable otter on film eager to play! (click on the arrow in the middle of the picture)
2. “Hank” the Octopus
Okay so this guy doesn’t have a name but in Finding Dory, Hank the Octopus is a new and fun character and you can find some cool Giant Pacific Octopuses at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! 
These neat creatures are masters of disguise that can solve a maze, recognize the aquarists, and have the power to jet across the exhibit in a whoosh of water. You may have seen the Finding Dory movie trailer (if not I have it available at the end of this post) you’ll see that Hank’s character uses this feature to his advantage. 
In another special VIP experience, the other bloggers and I got some one on one time with an octopus and it was out of this world!
I’ve never touched an octopus before and when we were behind the scenes at the top of the tank, the octopus jetted over to us and became extremely friendly. Their bodies are smooth and incredibly flexible, and when their tentacles get a hold of you, their suckers are sticky and the sensation when they adhere to you is nearly unexplicable. The suction is strong but not painful and when you pull them gently off your skin, they leave marks that fade fairly quickly.
3. Pacific Sardines
This may sound weird, but in the Open Sea exhibit, right when you walk in you see these guys swimming around and around….and around and they give me the feeling from Finding Nemo of “Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming” and I could stare at them and watch them for hours!
Staying together’s their way of life, they are like synchronized swimmers, sardines in a school move together as one. This communal lifestyle’s good for these small fish. When predators come near, there’s safety in numbers.
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming…
A video posted by Travel. Wine. Food. Family. (@themomjen) on
4. Jellyfish
Jellies are another exhibit I can sit and meditate in front of for hours. Their bodies are so mesmerizing as they move so delicately through the water.
Our event included a VIP dinner in the Open Sea exhibit while chefs prepared a meal for us as we sipped on cocktails. We mingled with the other bloggers as well as among the presence of the co-directors, animators, and creators of Finding Dory.
The experience was surreal as we ended the night with dessert in front of the hammerhead sharks and giant tuna!
5. Touch Pools
There’s a scene that we previewed in the movie that is based around the touch pools that was super funny, super fun to learn about from the animators, and will be one of your favorites when you view the film, it was one of mine! All I can say is this photo of the starfish reminds me of that scene and I can’t wait until you all see it!
6. We Found Dory!
Of course the event was complete when we headed to the most family friendly area of the Aquarium, the Splash Zone. Here in the anemone with her clownfish friends Marlin and Nemo, Dory swims around as the striking blue tang she is! 
If you live in California, or are planning a visit, you must check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Especially if you’re excited for Finding Dory and want to explore all the neat areas like I did. If you can’t make it, read all about it on their website and they have many great webcams to watch the animals in action live!
For more great information leading up to the premiere of Finding Dory, visit the following social media channels: Facebook/Twitter (#FindingDory)/Instagram/Pinterest/YouTube/Website
My trip was compensated thanks to Disney/Pixar, all opinions 100% my own.
So what will you see? Here’s the good stuff! Octopuses! Octopuses’ ability to contort their form and coloration to camouflage with their environment is entrancing and makes them exceptionally successful survivors at sea. Look at this big guy the Giant Pacific Octopus, he’s like the Incredible Hulk when he’s angry, only he turns deep red!
Make sure you’re following me on the following social media channels next week for live coverage:
The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
Plenty of space, areas to sit down to dine, televisions, wi-fi, patios with nearly 270 degrees of views, honor bars, ceiling fans in most rooms, the softest down feather beds, fleece lined robes, pillow menu for your best night’s sleep, complimentary turndown service and newspaper, and my 9 year old daughter’s favorite, the baby Grand Piano. Literally an hour just tickling the ivories and we kick ourselves for selling grandma’s piano years back. Comfort and luxury shouldn’t be overlooked just because the kids are in tow. 
We found Saturday evening entertainment in the Piano Lounge by the fire, cocoa for the kids and coffee or a cocktail for the adults. Offer your request, and when they played mine, I gave back by way of gratuity.
Schooner’s Coastal Kitchen and Bar on property offers beautiful morning views for breakfast and so many great traditional and seafood choices bakery options, and a special children’s menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can dine in the main room with open exhibition kitchen or outside.
Don’t forget to pamper yourself, Vista Blue Spa is a full service spa and one of Travel & Leisure’s TOP 25 Spas and has been named Conde Nast’s TOP 75 Hotel Spas in North America three times consecutively! Have dad take the kids for a walk down the row while you get a massage you really need!
Though locals, this spot was new to us and we started our meal off with some sodas and exotic libations for mom and dad. The Hawaiian Breeze and the Hopper Berry Lemonade got our palates excited for the appetizer to come. The appetizer was a medley of artichoke hearts, deep fried calamari, and crab cakes. The crab cakes were served with a side of mango papaya relish that combined with my cocktail just gave me a feel of the islands and that’s never a bad thing!
More mango papaya relish accompanied the skirt steak my husband ordered while I enjoyed crab meat stuffed prawns over lobster ravioli. I can’t express the flavor combinations and how well prepared the prawns were but the sauce was silky and rich and I crave that dinner now weeks later!
You can find American, Chinese, Italian, and Mexican restaurants on Cannery Row plus pubs, many dessert venues and a wine bistro showcases many wonderful local wines!
Another first for us locals was renting one for the five of us. Five locations of the 
With pedals for four and one main person to steer we were off on the path with boundaries of Lover’s Point and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Winter in Monterey can be one of the most gorgeous as you can see most of us are in shorts and short sleeves! The cruise along the path is generally flat with minimal elevation, this is good because with the weight of the five of us over 400 + pounds it’s a workout! By the time we made it to Lover’s Point (with another rental area) we were pooped and took a break in the sand for about 25 minutes! 
The ride back was fun as we all took turns steering and doing the majority of the pedaling. We’ve already decided it was really fun but we’re going to try kayaking on our next trip!
One is bowling and another is mini golf! 
The themed murals, one of a kind motion greens and obstacles will have you bringing out your inner competitor and wanting to play a second game right away. Especially if you came in second.
The 
My youngest daughter and husband were addicted to the Lazer Maze. 
They channeled their inner ninja and the Mission Impossible theme song kept playing over and over in my head. Once they got the hang of it, it was a race to break their record time. They jumped, crawled, slithered through a web of security beams all while we watch outside on the video monitor. Each time they came out we cheered and their time and rank of fellow players appeared on the screen.
