Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz

This discovery center is relatively small but filled with great educational stations, opportunities for hands on experiences and beautiful views upon exiting. I enjoyed my visit because it didn't feel overwhelming. Also, I appreciated that the staff welcomed curious adults like myself to touch animals and get involved without making you feel a kind of way. Great place for family trips, dates and solo exploration. Plus, beautiful area to take pics. I recommend this place hands down!

Have been going every other year for 12 years now. It's a fairly small aquarium but still has a good selection of things to see and interact with. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable. On this most recent trip we were able to pet some swell sharks which was very cool. They have an amazing whale skeleton out front which is very impressive. There is a short tour which takes you around the outside of the facility where you can see dolphins among other things. It's been closed since covid, but will reopen very shortly (July 2022) apparently. It's the highlight of the aquarium. There's a gift shop inside and we have packed lunches and used the benches out front to eat lunch in the past. If your looking for something to do in Santa Cruz and only need to kill an hour or so, this is your place.