On the most recent of my many jaunts to the Bay Area of California, I took the time to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/relgar/sets/72157608229288145/
It was quite nice. While Chicago’s aquarium has more acreage, and dolphins, the jellyfish exhibit at Monterey was as good as advertised. The salt water tank and the older (i.e. huge) fish inside were also very impressive; my mouth watered as the bluefin tuna swam by. 
