Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour Coming To San Diego

LA JOLLA, CA — Nintendo is bringing its Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour to San Diego.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego will host a stop on this year's tour. Inspired by the in-game aquarium experience, visitors will dive into a real-world aquarium with an Animal Crossing: New Horizons twist from Feb.16 through March 26 at the La Jolla-based aquarium.

• Also see: Birch Aquarium Bringing Back Popular Nighttime Experience, Launching New Event Series

Allyson Gobler, Birch Aquarium's chief guest experience and business development officer, said she is excited the tour is stopping at the aquarium this year.

"We saw the success of the first Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour and knew it was something our guests would love," Gobler told Patch. "Plus so many of the creatures featured in the game can be found right here at Birch Aquarium, so we hope guests will have a fun experience seeing their real-life counterparts and learning about the important conservation work being done here to protect them."

The tour will feature themed activities throughout the aquarium, including a photo opportunity featuring characters from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. There will also be standees of characters, exhibit signage featuring Blathers giving creature descriptions with information from the game, and themed merchandise in the gift shop.

The aquarium will also host two stamp rally weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 21-22 and March 7-8, when visitors will be able to collect themed stamps on a card by locating character standees. Fans can also meet characters Isabelle, Tom Nook or K.K. Slider during the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Meet-and-Greet Weekend from noon to 4 p.m. March 13-15.

Animal Crossing Aquarium Tour activities are included with general admission. Birch Aquarium opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing hours varying by day.