Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography has a new play area: Blue Beach, an outdoor zone on the south plaza (near Shark Shores at the Shark Head photo op) where visitors can relax and connect with the ocean.

The blue-hued space features seating, spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, and a 4,500-sqft floor mural that depicts a map of the depth of the underwater canyons off La Jolla Shores.

Birch says Blue Beach will also be home to a new, family-friendly happy hour series that runs Monday-Wednesday, 5-6:30 p.m., from Monday, July 10 to Wednesday, Aug. 30.

The happy hour events are included with admission and will feature music, lawn games (we see you, cornhole), and pop-up interactions with Scripps experts. There will be beer, wine, and small bites for sale by The French Gourmet; last call is at 6:20 p.m.

Pro tip: Dive into the Happy Hour on Wednesdays and you'll be able to sip and snack alongside Scripps scientists as they dive into details of their research in a fun way that's appealing to all ages, covering everything from plankton and sharks, to penguin and heatwaves.