Ca. academy of Sciences is in golden gate park, san francisco...you'll have to push past MASSIVE hippy populations, plus the occasional weed smoke cloud, but it's worth it. They have a 2 story reef setup, with the corals on top (ground level) and fish below (basement)...they also have an amazing arapaima and gar tank down below...flamboyant cuddlefish (amazing), sea horses, and some pretty incredible smaller stuff. If you are in long beach, you are too far away for a day venture. Maybe take a trip over the weekend sometime...it's really too good to pass up. Coolest. Place. Ever.
Monteray bay is pretty sweet too, it's the only place I've seen an actual sunfish in captivity. They have a 1 million + gallon "open ocean" tank...they usually have a couple six gill sharks their too. They have a baitfish tank that'll blow your mind...I won't spoil it...but it's leading into the open ocean exhibit. The had leafy sea dragons when I was their last time, I'm not sure if they are still there...just amazing creatures.
I travel up and down the CA coast x2 a year for work, up I-5, down highway 1...I always stop and weekend in San Fran (feels so european to me...) and hit up the aquariums. I go to HOT-Lanta during the winter and hit up their aquarium too...but I'm getting side tracked. I should start a thread on aquariums I've been too...I'm aiming to hit the Duluth, MN aquarium next time I'm in MN!!!