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Location
Visitor tip
Arrive early to secure spots on the 30-minute volunteer-led docent tours, as they fill up quickly. Reviewers highlight that tours significantly enhance the experience by providing insights into marine research and conservation work.
Visitor tip
Don't miss the interactive touch tanks and touch pool where you can pet swell sharks and hold hermit crabs. These hands-on exhibits are the highlight for visitors of all ages and are not commonly found at other aquariums.
Visitor tip
Explore the 1-mile loop trail around the UC Santa Cruz Coastal Campus after your indoor exhibits visit. Reviewers note the peaceful, less-crowded coastal scenery provides a complete experience that distinguishes this center from larger, busier aquariums.
About Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Aquarium & interactive science museum. Interactive marine science museum & aquarium, with hands-on exhibits, a touch pool & a gift shop.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Aquarium & Science Center
- Highlights
- Touch sharks and hermit crabs, volunteer docent tours, coastal wildlife viewing
- Hours
- Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM–4 PM
- Location
- UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
What visitors say
I definitely recommend visiting the Seymour Center on the UC Santa Cruz campus. They offer paid parking through an app, but you can also park on Delaware Street and walk to the entrance, which is what I did. The walk follows a paved…
Cute discovery center. Probably super fun for kids and may take longer to visit but my husband and I saw the center in about 40 minutes and we still enjoyed ourselves. Got to touch a shark! The staff was friendly and helpt. We did the…
🌟 Seymour Marine Discovery Center Where Science Meets the Sea! 🐙🧪 Tucked along the stunning Santa Cruz coastline, this center is a hidden gem for families, nature lovers, and anyone craving a deeper connection to the ocean. 🦈…
From 1,389 Google reviews Read all reviews
Did You Know?
- Visitors can touch and pet swell sharks in the interactive touch tanks, a hands-on experience that allows direct interaction with live sharks
- The center features a prominent blue whale skeleton as a major exhibit attraction, mentioned in 26 reviews as a notable draw for visitors
- The facility offers volunteer-led docent-guided coastal tours lasting 30 minutes that showcase active dolphin research currently being conducted at the center
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