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Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Rating Details »
100 Shaffer Rd
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-3800
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-3800
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
10 reviews for Seymour Marine Discovery Center
We went here a few weeks ago for a wedding reception during the evening. What a GREAT location for a reception, it's out at the end of this long road that makes you think you might be lost, but then this huge skeleton looms out of the darkness...neat!
The center was closed but we were able to walk around the exhibits and see some of the work they've done over the years, things like measuring impacts of local growth on the marine life in SC and proposing solutions to conserve this habitat. They also had SUPER neat exhibits:
- one exhibit had a crab in it and talked about how the crab changes the algae he puts on his shell depending on his environment, changing out from red to green to blend in better
- One exhibit had a baby shark pod waiting to hatch
- other exhibits had rays, a shark, other crabs and some just plain beautiful fish
Normally I'm strictly opposed to any place that houses animals regardless of their good intentions, but it was hard to feel like this center has anything but the best intentions for these animals. I would check this out again. And it's a great idea for a wedding reception, as the bride and groom sat at a table and behind them was the most wonderful view of the ocean. Good stuff-
I used to volunteer here during my UCSC times... AwwWww... miss it. It's like a mini-Monterey Bay Aquarium. For a super cheap admission, you get unlimited access to a touch pool, a humungo whale skeleton, and a little wet lab area for kids, and guided tours. CAN'T beat that! =) Don't forget to stop by their gift shop (& show your financial support)!!
place has awesome views.
i came here on a field trip.. $4 tour.. which was pretty cool..
they have a blue whale skeleton outside.. which is cool.. said it was the only one that was almost 100% real bones..
they have a tiny little aquarium inside.. which was cute..
since i went on a field trip, we got to go behind the scenes.. and we watched these two girls do little tests on their bottle nose dolphins.. they were so adorable!
we showed up at a bad time for the tide pool since the water level was in between high and low.. so apparently it was dangerous.. so that was a no go. =(
i'd come back..
This is a great place to take kids when you don't want to deal with the big, populated, long time committment trip that is the Monterey Aquarium. Not that the MBA isn't great - it is - but this is smaller and more manageable - and frankly - you probably get more actual education out of it than the shock and awe approach that takes over at the MBA, where you thrill to giant artful displays and cute marine mammals. I have spent and entire hour with a guide at a touch tank learning about really neat stuff, like sea slugs and hermit crabs. There is no sense of being hurried or crowded here, the tanks are small, the scale is more cozy - and they have a big ol whale skeleton to look at. last time I was there they also offered a tour of the facilities of the Long Marine lab and we got to see some dolphins.
They have a small gift shop as well, and educational presentations on a varying schedule.
Well worth a drop in - it won't break the bank or your schedule, and it is highly likely that you will learn about and be amazed at the residents of the Monterey Bay.
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When we're in Capitola, next to the beach, the kids' favorite thing is going to the aquarium. Yes, we hooked 'em by taking them to the big one in Monterey, but pound for pound...this one is better. Sure, the MBA is very grand, but is also always crowded...even on a Tuesday at 10:30am. This means every exhibit, tank and "wall-o-glass" is 10 people deep--it's like trying to get to the stage at a Julio Iglesias concert in Buenos Aires.
Anyway, if you have children between 2 and 8, the touch pools, the exhibits, and the docent lead tour to the dolphin tanks at SMDC will satiate them just as well at one-fifth the price of the MBA (parking is free too).
Bonus: This place is right on the bluffs at the end of W. Cliff Drive...the views are spectacular--bring picnic stuff.
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Over ten years we've been up and over the hill to visit Santa Cruz never knowing about about this discovery center. We have a membership to Monterey Bay Aquarium, as well as Oakland Zoo, so we were debating whether or not to purchase a membership to this Santa Cruz attraction.
We arrived at the center nearly 40 minutes early. The weather was absolutely perfect and it was truly a joy to be out in the sun especially after having nearly 2 months of grey skies and endless rain. We spent nearly half an hour walking around the pathways surrounding the center. The views are spectacular and definitely the best feature of the discovery center. 2 of the center's exhibits are outside of the center which include a grey whale and blue whale skeleton. So just in the first 30 minutes of arriving and not even a dime spent yet, we were honestly having a wonderful time. Finally as noon rolled around we made our way into the center paying 12 dollars total for the four of us (children under four are free). The ticket also includes a free 30 minute tour of the facility which we signed up for. While we waited for the tour we walked through the exhibits which included about a dozen educational centers and about 18 or so tanks with local marine life. Each of the tanks and centers have stools so the little ones can have a clear view of the exhibit. We didn't take advantage of the the touch pools, because our tour time was only minutes away. The outside tour include an explanation of the center's history, a visit to the whale skeletons and a behind the scenes trip to the center's dolphins Puka and Primo. The dolphin's are retired navy dolphins and don't perform tricks, but they made their appearance by playing peek-a-boo along the pool's edge.
Like Monterey Bay Aquarium, the discovery center offer's art for children (which again we didn't take advantage of) . The gift shop has wonderful books and cute unique jewelry.
Now... as for the membership? A family pass being 60, we would have to show up over 5 other times in order to save, so honestly at this time I think we'll pass. The beautiful views and whale skeletons outside the facility are well worth the trip and you don't even need to pay to see them. I would definitely recommend families to visit the facility. At $6 for adults and $4 for children and seniors, this spot is truly a bargain.
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For my 300th review, one of my favorite places in the 831!
The Otter wanted to go here for his birthday and booked us on the "Marine Mammal Research" tour. Our tour guide was Sallie, docent extraordinaire. Most of the Center is geared toward teaching school-age kids about marine life and marine biology. Even though this particular tour was geared towards adults we were (as usual) the only people who did not bring a munchkin. Sallie mixed it up so that the kids wouldn't get bored. And still left in the science. The first 45 minutes or so we were just sitting in a conference room but the talk she was giving was so interesting and interactive that we were riveted. Then we went out to the animal area where we saw the dolphins and seals that live here. These are not animals that get plucked from the sea, they are rescues that are injured or for some other reason can't be rehabilitated and released. Hearing about the work they do with the animals it is completely freaky how smart they are. It really changes the way you think about marine life. We were so impressed by the tour that we joined as members before we left.
After the tour we walked along the bluffs and stopped to watch some surfers. There was also an otter and a seal in the water. The sun was just starting to set and it was so beautiful and peaceful.
The facility can be rented out for events and it's a pretty popular wedding site. I went to a fundraiser for the O'Neill Sea Odyssey (http://www.oneillseaod...) and it is a fantastic space for something like that. Where you walk around with a glass of wine and a snack and look at tanks. I highly recommend it if you are planning an event and looking for a venue. Be sure to invite me. Thanks.
What To Know 'Afore Ya Go:
*Otter and I are total ocean nerds, so we'll go anywhere there is a tank, but the Discovery Center is not an aquarium. It is the visitor's center that is attached to a university marine research center. It is primarily an educational institution. The exhibits are geared towards kids but there's some stuff for science buffs, too.
*Try to combine your visit with a tour, most of which need to be reserved in advance. Don't be shy with the docents, many of them have studied this stuff for years and are eager to share. Ask lots of questions. Especially at the interactive area, where you can actually touch some of the tidepool-y creatures. Just touching a starfish is cool, but find out how it eats and you'll never forget!
*The Discovery Center is small, this is not an all-day thing.
*Adult admission is $6, students/seniors kids 4-16 are $4, under 4 is free. The first Tuesday of every month is free.
*It's open 10am - 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday and noon - 5pm on Sunday.
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A wonderful place to take your Kids to teach them about the Marine Environment. You don't want to miss the Marine Mammal Research Overlook tour you will learn a lot and you'll be surprised that you can do so this close to home.
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This place is a great option for kids. There are two whale skeletons outside assembled. Inside the volunteers are really nice and encourage you to touch the tidepool residents. Sometimes at the Monterey Bay Aquarium they don't let you pick stuff up - here they are very touchy feely. The decorator crab exhibit is worth a look.
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This really is a nice low key place, but yes, it has plenty of fish to see, art for the kids, touch tanks, and the people who work there were very friendly. It's also affordable.
