Wednesday

In the morning, we had a lot of laundry to do so we stayed at the park. The kids and I took a walk to see if we could find a way down to the ocean. Instead, we found lots of these signs...

After the laundry was done,we headed into town. We had lunch on Fisherman's Wharf.

We took a walk and saw the trolleys.

In the evening, we went to the Aquarium of the Bay. The tour person said that we should look very closely because some of their coolest animals like to hide. James said that they probably didn't have any cool animals and she was just saying that, he's a skeptical boy, he's a lot like Jarrett.

They did have cool animals though. Lots of Seven Gill Sharks and Leopard Sharks, tons of huge Starfish and Rays. At the end, there's a touch pool where you can pet baby Leopard Sharks, Bat Rays and Skates.

Riley loved the skates. One of them swam up to where she was and just sat there, she was able to pet it the whole time she was there. She really wanted to bring it home.

The baby sharks were very cool. They swallow water in order to intimidate enemies, they can swell to twice their size. After they swell, they pop up and spit out the water, swimmming vertically. James petted the sharks but was a little freaked out about them.

Also in the aquarium they had a video and section set up to educate about 'finning', when people cut off the sharks fins and then throw them back in the ocean to die. If you go, I would avoid it with little kids, or at least be prepared. It was pretty gory. James was fairly bothered by it.