Kids’ Exhibit Surfaces at Monterey Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium, which says 25% of its 1.8 million annual visitors are under 18, is adding hands-on exhibits aimed at young people, including toddlers.

The 7,000-square-foot Splash Zone, opening Saturday and running for five years, is described as a children’s museum inside an aquarium. Among the activities: Coral Cove for infants as young as 6 months, with a crawl-on water bed and a foam-floored play area with marine toys; Coral Crawl tunnel with views of eels, sea horses and giant clams; a colony of black-footed penguins from South Africa; and a pool where visitors can touch sea urchins, abalones and other creatures.

Splash Zone is included in museum admission, which is $15.95 adults, $12.95 ages 13 to 17, $7.95 ages 3 to 12 and free under 3. Tel. (831) 648-4888.