America�s families say the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the best aquarium in the United States and the third top rated overall family attraction in the country, according to the first-ever Zagat Survey� U.S. Family Travel Guide being released today, just in time for the summer travel season.

Now in its 25th year, Zagat Survey� is the world�s leading provider of consumer survey-based leisure content. To produce the new guide, Zagat Survey� and Time Inc.�s Parenting magazine surveyed over 11,000 avid travelers to rate family-oriented attractions, hotels and restaurants across the United States. Using the Survey�s signature 30-point scale, the Monterey Bay Aquarium received an overall rating of 27, which is considered �extraordinary to perfection� in Zagat Survey� terms.

For �child appeal,� �adult appeal� and �facilities� (restaurants, restrooms and getting around), the aquarium earned a 29, 28 and 27 out of 30, respectively � ratings also considered �extraordinary to perfection.� The aquarium�s �service� rating for the friendliness and availability of staff is 25, which is considered �very good to excellent.�

Here�s what the guide says about the Monterey Bay Aquarium (surveyors� comments in italics):

�One would have to be a very cold fish not to love the best aquarium in our Survey. Beautifully set on California�s rocky, gorgeous coast within 30 miles of Big Sur and Carmel (and near historic locale Cannery Row), it�s a favorite for a fantastic family outing thanks to stunning exhibits ranging from touch pools for toddlers to big shark tanks. With so much to enjoy, your biggest challenge may be getting the children away from the sea otters to see the rest of the fabulous displays. Just outside, you can watch sea lions, whales and other ocean dwellers in their natural habitat.�

Among U.S. aquariums, the Monterey Bay Aquarium ranked ahead of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, the Newport Aquarium in Cincinnati, the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and SeaWorld in Orlando.

Among the overall 10 top-rated attractions, the aquarium rated just behind the Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World Resort) and SeaWorld�s Discovery Cove, both in Florida, and ahead of the St. Louis Zoo, Disneyland, Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, Grant�s Farm in St. Louis, the San Diego Zoo, the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and Disney�s Typhoon Lagoon, also in Florida.

�Our exhibits are designed to spark a love affair between visitors and ocean life,� said aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard. �It�s wonderful to hear that they�re reaching families in all the ways we hope.�

�We�re thrilled to be recognized as a great place for families to visit,� said Claire Sherwood, the aquarium�s vice president of sales and marketing. �Our staff and volunteers work hard to make our visitor experience the best it can be, especially for families, and we�re proud to be recognized for our efforts.�

The Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2004. The award-winning aquarium offers families an enriching, educational and entertaining visitor experience in its nearly 200 galleries and exhibits devoted to the diverse habitats of Monterey Bay. The aquarium is home to more than 35,000 animals and plants representing 650 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, birds and plants found in Monterey Bay and other regions of the world. It also offers touch pools, auditorium programs, feeding shows, and the Splash Zone family gallery.

New this year at the aquarium is �Sharks: Myth and Mystery,� a special exhibition about sharks and rays of the world and how they�re honored in cultures around the globe. Starting June 18, the aquarium will debut a series of intimate and interactive programs called Aquarium Adventures, including a modified SCUBA experience for children, behind-the-scenes tours, and expeditions on a research sailboat in Monterey Bay.

Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org for more information, live web cams and an exciting preview.

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Media Contact: Ken Peterson +1 831-648-4922