La Jolla, CA (September 15, 2022) — Starting this fall, outdoor enthusiasts will once again have the rare opportunity to experience breathtaking sunsets while taking a stroll on the iconic Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier as part of the 2022-2023 Outdoor Adventures programming at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
During Sunset Pier Walks, guests will join Birch Aquarium naturalists on an exclusive walking tour of Scripps Pier — which is normally closed to the public — and learn about fieldwork being conducted by Scripps Oceanography researchers. The 90-minute tour features hands-on science stations where guests can scoop up plankton, examine samples under the microscope, dissect a squid and learn about local shark research. Guests will also have the opportunity to watch surfers and keep an eye out for wildlife — including dolphins, sea lions and leopard sharks —from this unique vantage point.
“Fall has arrived and there’s no better time to get outdoors to learn about our local area,” said Cari Paulenich, program manager of public engagement. “The 1,090-foot-long Scripps Pier is an active, working research pier and we’re making that research accessible to the San Diego community through our Sunset Pier Walks.”
Sunset Pier Walks run on select Saturdays and Sundays from September 25 to November 5. Additional dates may be added at a later time. Tour times will vary depending upon sunset times. Please visit the aquarium’s website for the complete list of dates and times. The cost for the tour is $25 for aquarium members and $30 for nonmembers. The tour requires guests to walk the length of the pier and all participants must be ages 9 or older. Participants are encouraged to dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Birch Aquarium will be adding more outdoor adventures, including Tidepooling Adventures, to the lineup in the coming months. Details will be added to the website as more information becomes available.