Centro de Descubrimiento Marino Seymour

Experiencia fantástica: Such a hidden gem!!! No wait, no crowd, and you get to touch so much sea life!!! We love how informed the employees are!! It's kid friendly as well as easy for those with limited mobility. 10/10!!!

Experiencia fantástica: Such a fun experience, worth the time and drive.

Experiencia fantástica: Always love visiting this educational center.

Experiencia fantástica: We had a great time. The big kids liked to touch zone and petting the sharks! I was bummed the dolphin exhibit was closed

Experiencia fantástica: This place is AWESOME!

Experiencia fantástica: There was an excellent touch pool where you could touch sharks, sea urchins and more marine creatures. Great free tour with a knowledgeable guide. Not busy during a summer weekend visit.

Experiencia fantástica: Better than the Monterey Aquarium. Awesome staff, Awesome exhibits, highly recommend.

Experiencia fantástica: We love it here and the marine labs. We come here at least once a year. There are some good activities for the kids. The small aquarium is nice. The area around the lab is fun too. The kids love to play on the sea lion statues.

Experiencia fantástica: I will miss the big blue whale skeleton

Experiencia fantástica: Great insight, tour, and very interesting whale bones!

Experiencia fantástica: Great time for the kids. They're allowed to touch critters in the water.

Experiencia positiva: Awesome place for whale, shark, and dolphin facts! #MarineLife. nice view near beach. you can get experience of touching fishes like small shark, star fish and other

Experiencia fantástica: This place is so amazing! Me and my friends were visiting for a few days and discovered this center on the last day of our trip on the way to the airport. It was such a fun and informative experience. We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium a few days prior and we thought this was much more personal and fun. We went on the tour with Frank and he was truly amazing. He was so knowledgeable, kind, and answered our questions with open arms. I would love to come back here the next time I’m in Northern California!

Experiencia fantástica: Enjoy the visit very educational.

Experiencia fantástica: Great discovery center! Super friendly docents and wonderful exhibits that are interactive and designed for little kids. A great place to visit for about an hour. The tour is great but can be windy.

Experiencia fantástica: We enjoy the tour very much. The guide was knowledgeable and pleasant.

Experiencia positiva: Good place for young kid. Ticket price is high cosidering exhibit items. You need to pay parking fee.

Experiencia fantástica: Trey educational. Take the tour to see the dolphins

Experiencia fantástica: What an amazing experience my kiddos had. Definitely a must visit for any local or tourist. We even were able to visit the dolphin's and Hawaiian Monk seal! Great learning environment for all ages

Experiencia positiva: This could be such a wonderful experience but I think the docents need some training for how to interact with younger kids. We went to the Monterey Aquarium on Monday and had the most spectacular time. The docents there were gentle and patient with little kids (2-5) and spoke in simple language so the little kids understood. At the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, we encountered several [young] docents who used enormous scientific language and complex explanations when talking to the kids. And at the touch tanks, they repeatedly "reprimanded" (not in a mean way but in a reactive, short way) my 2.5 year old before she had even done anything wrong. It felt reactive and unsupportive. It wasn't a fun vibe at all. At the Monterey Aquarium, the [older] docents were patient and kind and the exhibits were set up to allow 2.5 year olds to explore in the way a toddler would. The Seymour Marine Discovery Center was not set up for younger kids. They should either rethink the age requirements or create touch tanks that are "toddler proof". And train docents on how to interact with younger kids. I felt like I had to be a hawk with my kid, which was not pleasant. At the Aquarium, I felt calm and at ease and welcome. I was surprised at the experience. Beautiful buildings. Cool grounds. Weird vibes and staff.

Experiencia fantástica: This scientific Seymour discovery center for kids and adults is relatively small, but pleasant in atmosphere for anybody interested in marine life. Excellent for younger and older kids to see and touch some crabs, starfish, sharks. You can walk then outside on the trail above the ocean with breathtaking views.

Experiencia fantástica: Our wedding at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center was an absolutely unforgettable experience, and we're still glowing from the memories! The venue itself is breathtaking, with that stunning ocean overlook providing the most magical backdrop for our ceremony and photos. The unique combination of natural beauty and the interactive exhibits and aquarium really made our celebration stand out. Our guests were absolutely charmed and engaged throughout the entire event – it was truly a 'fin-tastic' time! We can't say enough about Venk and Cassidy. Their professionalism and friendly demeanor were invaluable during the planning process and on the day itself. They were incredibly responsive, attentive to every detail, and truly went above and beyond to ensure our wedding was perfect. Their expertise and genuine enthusiasm made us feel completely at ease. They were always there to lend a 'helping fin' and made sure everything went 'swimmingly.' The Seymour Marine Discovery Center delivered a truly unique and memorable wedding experience. If you're looking for a venue that combines natural beauty, educational charm, and exceptional service, we wholeheartedly recommend it. Our wedding was a dream come true, and we're so grateful to Venk, Cassidy, and the entire team for making it so special. We were 'hooked' from the start, and it was a day we'll 'sea-riously' never forget! Photos by: Soil and Sea Photography

Experiencia positiva: Cute, research based facility. Great for young kids or people who like oceans. Interesting touch pools. Close to tidepool and walkable ocean path and beach.

Experiencia fantástica: A great way to spend an hour or two with a toddler. The staff was super friendly and our kiddo loved it.

Experiencia fantástica: My time at the discovery center was great. I went and was able to tour, I forget the name of the man who guided the tour but he is great and knowledgeable about the wildlife and history, and I'd like to thank the crew making making this a memorable experience. Petting the shark was neat too, didn't think I'd be doing that going in.

Experiencia fantástica: Awesome for the kids. They have a touch pond and there's a tour.

Experiencia fantástica: Only went outside but it was stunning!! Looking forward to going back when it's open!

Experiencia fantástica: The Seymour Center was a great experience! The place is cool and interesting, we recommend going there with your family. Lots to learn!

Experiencia positiva: Great place to go with the kids for a few hours. Learn about university research and how to protect the maritime environment.

Experiencia fantástica: The guided tour tickets can be bought from the center itself. The tour was great and it's kid friendly. We loved it here. Kids enjoyed touching swell shark, star fish, sea urchin, hermit crab etc

Experiencia positiva: Good for little ones to learn more about sea animals. The guided tour was great

Experiencia fantástica: We had our baby shower at the Seymour Center and it was absolutely perfect! Our guests all commented about how much they loved the venue and with kids in attendance it was a great place for them to explore/learn. Would 1000% recommend the Seymour Center to anyone looking to host an event in the future.

Experiencia positiva: Not an aquarium... but a fun place for interactions for the kids. Touch tanks and knowledgeable docents. Can be done in an hour but be sure to walk around outside and see the whale skeletons and the view. Pretty cool.

Experiencia fantástica: This is a mini-Monterey Bay Aquarium. Certainly not as big or expansive, but with a touch pool, jellyfish, lots of great info and a souvenir-gift shop. A fantastic place to visit a bit away from the tourist vibes. Donald & Marion Younger donated 40 acres of gorgeous coast to UCSC to create a marine lab dedicated to wetland preservation in the early 1970’s. Donations by Joseph Long, the founder of Long’s Drugs, made the Long Marine Laboratory possible. It is the only working research lab in California open to the public every day, through the community-supported Seymour Marine Discovery Center, which opened in 2000. Outdoor exhibits include Ms. Blue, one of the largest skeletons of a blue whale on display in the world. The Monterey Bay is a National Marine Sanctuary. Its Submarine Canyon is larger than the Grand Canyon. With a deeply rich and diverse marine environment, it’s understandable that UCSC would have great interest in marine science and exploration.

Experiencia fantástica: I highly recommend the Seymour Center if you are holding a meeting or retreat! The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and simply outstanding! The room has a wonderful view and all the technology needs are there. Our event was a success!

Experiencia positiva: The younger workers were very nice and welcoming to us and our children, the older workers seemed disgusted that we brought younger children including our tour guide. The tour was EXTREMELY boring... and the tiny place they have the dolphins is very sad

Experiencia fantástica: Highly recommended the free tour there that we were able to see the area closed to the public and it was educational. The surroundings were very beautiful too.

Experiencia fantástica: DEFINITELY 5 star material. The volunteers/docents are very knowledgeable and friendly (shoutout especially to Nancy Driscoll, who's a guardian of this planet) and apparently you can whale watch from their location. We did see deals and some other marine life while we were there. The whale bones are definitely a wonder, too. Amazing place to take the kids, too (or the kid inside).

Experiencia fantástica: The Seymour Center was a fantastic venue for our wedding – it had the perfect mix of stunning ocean views for our outdoor ceremony and a unique indoor reception space featuring marine exhibits. We were lucky that between booking and the time of our wedding they renovated the La Feliz reception room and replaced the older blue carpet with a beautiful hardwood floor – a dramatically superior improvement! Important things to note: Since this center is for public education, the arrangement of the exhibit hall space can change after you book (be flexible on reception set-up) and you can’t set up for your wedding until after it closes to the public at 4pm. This would likely not be a good venue for those wanting elaborate ceremony decorations or reception set-up because of this time crunch. This rule also makes it absolutely crucial to hire vendors who are familiar with the space and its cleaning rules. However, I would’ve liked a better area for guests to mingle and wait out of the way other than the parking lot in front of the center. It would be nice if they offered a ‘buy-out’ option so that we could close it even an hour earlier to allow more time for set-up, especially since there was less than 5 people in the center during that final hour. In addition, several significant features were separate costs outside of the packages such as reception lighting, storing items at the venue in advance, and a ‘get-ready’ room – so budget accordingly. Emily and her team are very kind and accommodating with answering all of our questions throughout planning and we were able to coordinate around these constrictions with their help. Our wedding day went incredibly smoothly and we had such a positive experience, and you truly cannot beat hearing ocean waves as you walk down the aisle to your wedding. Would highly recommend the Seymour Center if you are looking for a memorable and unique venue! Photos: By Katie & Morgan Hallas

Experiencia fantástica: We use the La Feliz and UC Teaching Room at the Seymour Center for our Highschool Marine Mammal Scientist in Training program each year. The team at the Seymour Center is so amazing each year in helping us coordinate and making sure we have everything we need each day. The location can't be beat and its awesome that our students can also explore the wonders of the center itself. THANK YOU! I cannot recommend this venue more.

Experiencia fantástica: Great little aquarium and museum about the bay! The whale skeleton is really neat and we enjoyed taking the tour and learning more about the research being done onsite. It's a good size with lots of entertaining exhibits for young kids. Our 5 year-old had a great time petting the shark!

Experiencia fantástica: The place is simply magical! We just celebrated a retirement party there. As the speakers were talking, one could look out the window to see a flock of pelicans flying over the blue Pacific Ocean. And the staff are just wonderful! My favorite place to celebrate life’s milestones

Experiencia fantástica: Such a wonderful place to support marine research! While it is small, it's a great way to get kids interested in caring for the ocean. I definitely recommend taking the tour, it explains what they're doing and really expands the experience

Experiencia positiva: The kids had fun with the sea life but they were done in about 30 minutes. Very expensive for a short amount of time. $12 for adults $9 for kids

Experiencia fantástica: The tour was nice, it ends up overlooking the sea cliffs! Spectacular view! Fantastic little gift store, something for everyone. The aquarium animals are wonderful, and some are touchable. The staff is very helpful!

Experiencia fantástica: Very nicely organized marine aquarium. Kids can touch star fish and check out sharks. Don't forget to go on the tour of the place.

Experiencia fantástica: Hosted an event at the SMDC and was so impressed by their helpful and knowledgeable staff! Every question and detail was worked through with ease and the venue itself had the BEST indoor and outdoor view that was enjoyed throughout our program.

Experiencia fantástica: Collection of various live sea animals: anemone, jelly fish, hermit crabs and small shark. Interactive gentle touching experience at indoor mini tidepool. Freindly volunteers and staff willing answer any q's about the exhibits! Relaxing rear porch area above the cliffs

Experiencia fantástica: Very nice small center with plenty to explore, tiger sharks, starfish, jellyfish and more, the views are amazing so arr the skeletons of whales. If you buy a bracelet from the fun giftshop, you can track an animal through an app, you are contributing in a good cause, and your child is learning.

Experiencia fantástica: Full of fog and cool winds,in front of the ocean.

Experiencia fantástica: Highly recommend this place, my kids love going to learn here. Take the guided tour, you get to see Dolphins and Hawaiian Monk Seal.

Experiencia fantástica: I had gone in as a staff member, so my review doesn't count. It's comparatively small place, but with lots of activities for young kids. There are exhibits, interactions with marine animals and one can score a sticker upon touching a shark.

Experiencia fantástica: peaceful ocean breeze, right here

Experiencia fantástica: It's a small but very insightful place, like you're in Biology class, but you get to learn by touching the animals.

Experiencia fantástica: We have always enjoyed this small aquarium. Family friendly, beautiful location.

Experiencia fantástica: This was at the top of my list of things I wanted to see in SC and it did not disappoint. The staff is incredibly friendly and ready to give detailed and interesting explanations of the exhibits. There's something for people of every age, wether it's using the learning stations or just watching the fishes and critters they have. And the admission fee was worth it solely to touch the sharks.

Experiencia fantástica: This place was nice, small but they are fun. They have shark that allowed touch, also starfish and small crabs. The view was also nice. It took 1-1.5hr to go through.

Experiencia fantástica: Great experience at any age. It's great for small children. The touch pool is great and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The grounds outside are beautiful.

Experiencia fantástica: We had a wonderful experience! We would love to return and bring our friends. The tour was great and informative and I appreciated the volunteers knowledge.

Experiencia fantástica: My family had so much fun visiting his place and looking at all the whale bones outside was so awesome. And the view of the ocean

Experiencia fantástica: Great, relaxed place to take kids to see and touch marine wildlife without all the intensity of Monterey aquarium (and size). Lovely, friendly knowledgeable staff and informative displays with reservation based tours of the larger tanks. Great place to let the kids run around a bit with the wild rabbits but keep an eye near the cliff edge!

Experiencia fantástica: This was our second time visiting and we will be back again next year. So much to see, learn and do. Try to arrive in time for the behind the scenes tour. Runs on the hour I think until 3pm.

Experiencia positiva: Really cool and interesting place. My kids really enjoyed the visit here and the tour is nice as well! Great place with some beautiful views.

Experiencia positiva: This place was pretty cool. We haven’t been there in quite some years. About 10 to be exact. They no longer allow you to take photos on the guided tour. They have a couple dolphins that you can see for about 10 minutes but no photos are allowed. Some new Federal law but the place is still a lot of fun. $12 per adult and $9 for kids 3-17. They had a lot of school buses going in and out so it can get a little chaotic but there was plenty of room to walk around and have a picnic before our tour.

Experiencia fantástica: What a gem! Do the tour- it’s informative and cool to see the dolphins. It is o it doors so bundle up. Our family likes the hands on activities and plenty of knowledgeable docents and volunteers to answer questions. We like that this place is not crowded on weekends and hard for kids to get lost. We are members, which includes 2 guest passes.

Experiencia positiva: Nice place to visit, good tour. Recommended. The activity time on shark tank is a bit confusing and hard to get an answer.

Experiencia positiva: Loved the place. Kids are going to love it more - Skeleton of whale gives you goosebumps while thinking about it when it was alive. Waking along the costal line is fund and opportunity to take beautiful pictures of yours or your loved ones. Free parking on holidays (but check because may not be for all the holidays)

Experiencia positiva: Very nice place to visit with little kids. Cozy and warm atmosphere and not crowded. Found a unique image of wildlife on the wall, liked it a lot.

Experiencia fantástica: Learned a lot. Friendly staff. Close to the ocean. Lots of fun!

Experiencia fantástica: Reading hour was very nice...the octopus was showing off in his aquarium and the sharks were hiding and Miss Blue was still out front, although she's scheduled to come in sometime soon

Experiencia fantástica: The whale skeleton is actually free to see and doesn't need a ticket!

Experiencia fantástica: Great place to take the family. Even great for just adults, too, if you don't have kids. We got to pet a shark!! The docents are nice and you can learn alot. Beautiful ocean views here and cute dolphins in a tank.

Experiencia fantástica: 12$ to get in, and money goes to a great cause. Awesome place, GREAT FOR KIDS, young and old. Don't forget to get your free ticket to the behind the scenes tour.

Experiencia fantástica: This place is special. The focus of this place is the amazing nature that surrounds it. We chose to hold our wedding here, Emily and the event coordination team were wonderful to work with and helped reduce the stress around getting married. The venue allows for a lot of flexibility in plans, and we loved that the cost of the venue is put back into the research center. Guests told us they had never been to such a uniquely beautiful setting. The best decision we made, 1000 times over.

Experiencia fantástica: This was a fun experience and affordable. We did do the free tour that was included with the price our the basic admission. This is a small museum but is interactive. People can touch starfish and even pet a shark. The tour involved going to the back of the museum to see the dolphins and the students doing their daily duties tending to them. The observation area allows you to walk around the cliffs to better view the beaches, landscapes and protected areas, truly beautiful. We actually enjoyed this more than the Monterey Aquarium. It was very affordable and more personal, definitely worth the visit. Parking was a bit tricky as you needed to download a parking app to pay but found this was common for parking around Santa Cruz.

Experiencia fantástica: Super cute small exhibit. The tour was cool but I wish we could get closer to the seal and dolphins but overall a great experience.

Experiencia fantástica: I found this place interesting and liked it. Families with children also come here to have a good time and look at the aquarium. The bones of whales are impressive with their size. I have never seen a live whale, but I believe that I will. Behind this center is a very picturesque view of the ocean, I recommend walking along the sidewalk to the lighthouse or even the pier.

Experiencia fantástica: We had my father’s memorial here last week and my three siblings and I are very happy with this venue. Their employees guided us along the way, were responsive with emails and generally very helpful. And it’s a beautiful location!

Experiencia positiva: Interesting and entertaining. An hour is plenty of time. There is a nice path to walk alongside the water.

Experiencia fantástica: We held our wedding ceremony and reception at the Seymour Center in July 2023. We were so happy with our wedding experience! Communication was great all the way from reserving our date through putting the last details of our ceremony and reception in place. The Seymour Center team was friendly and responsive every step of the way, and working with some of their recommended vendors helped us use the space for an ideal setup. We got to treat our friends and family to breathtaking scenery, and the walking path around to the shipwreck deck made for a slow-building, dramatic bridal entrance. Plus the exhibits and docent-led touch pool were a great way for our youngest guests to stay occupied!

Experiencia fantástica: This review is in regard to the Seymour Center as a wedding venue. (Yes, it's a wedding venue too!) I got married here in August 2023. I wanted a venue that was unique, close to the coast, and didn't cost an arm and leg. The SMDC met all the above! Their venue reservation actually benefits their non-profit that supports Marine research and education, and I loved that! I planned my wedding from a distance, but Emily and her events team were always super responsive, helpful in recommending other vendors (this place allows you to pick and bring in your own vendors!), and made the planning process a breeze. I felt their fees were reasonable. We got married on the back "shipwreck deck" and had perfect coastal weather. Our reception was in their La Feliz room which comfortably sat my 98 guests in three long rows of six 6-ft tables. We had cocktail hour in the exhibit hall with the touch tank open and a live band to dance the night away too. Overall, highly recommend if you want a unique venue thats not another barn, vineyard, or beach wedding!

Experiencia fantástica: Juliette was a great tour guide! Very informative and exciting. I would come here again, you can see different sea creatures, skeletons and some dolphins

Experiencia positiva: Great place if you're taking someone out or just casually want to learn more about sea life I would highly recommend coming here sadly during the time I was there the petting of the shark was not active since the shark was sleeping but there's always next time will recommend to have a list of questions cause they will get answered here they're pretty knowledgeable

Experiencia positiva: Pretty nice staffs but the place is small… Charged $12/each person. We touched swell sharks, sea stars and urchins. Nice place for kids.

Experiencia positiva: They let my niece and her fiance have their wedding venue here. They had a large room for us to dine in an area for a bar and another part of the building a place for the band and to dance. We had a wonderful time. Also got to see the wildlife that they have there.

Experiencia positiva: Smaller location with interesting info on the Monterey Bay and life within the ocean and out. Beautiful setting looking over the Bay. Great for younger kids. Chance to pet sharks, crabs and starfish. If you want the extra tickets for the extended tour be sure to be at counter early. We were there for over an hour waiting and when I went to counter they were already gone and clearly given out earlier than they said. Would give 3.5 stars if I could.

Experiencia fantástica: We were fortunate to host a reception for our son and his new bride at the Seymour Center. It was a magical sunny day and the Seymour Center was basking in its incredible location on the cliffs on Monterey Bay. The outdoor patio facing the ocean was a favorite spot to enjoy the beauty of Monterey Bay and converse with other guests. The La Feliz Room and adjoining patio were perfect for dinner, and the Exhibit Space was great for live music and dancing. Family and friends all enjoyed a wonderful time at this fantastic venue.

Experiencia positiva: Nice views of the coast. Inside exhibits are a bit dull. Good place for a party/event though.

Experiencia fantástica: Cute little marine animal place right on the ocean. Swell sharks to pet, as well as many other sea life.

Experiencia fantástica: This place was beautiful. My husband and I have taken many different trails thru Santa Cruz, and it was our first time ever riding our bikes thru this trail. It was a really nice area to see.

Experiencia fantástica: A great place for family to visit! Educational & lots of nature activities! A summer party at cafeteria for friends and family will definitely give you a wonderful day!

Experiencia fantástica: Nice museum to visit in Santa Cruz. Great for people, especially kids, who want a learning opportunity. There is free parking on the weekends. There are lots of sea creatures. There are starfish you can touch (with the supervision of some knowledgeable volunteers). Just a few hundred feet behind the museum is the coast (the coast is free). There are amazing views of the Santa Cruz coast.

Experiencia fantástica: Had an amazing time checking out the Seymour marine discovery. Great way to learn about the marine life in the area! Kid friendly hands-on learning. We even were able to touch live starfish. Highly recommend the tour. Our tour guide was awesome , knowledgeable, and answered questions. I also loved that they take care of the marine life they are researching. They give breaks to the sea creatures and don't overwork them. Gotta check this place out!

Experiencia fantástica: Nice interactive fun areas for kids. All of the ocean creatures had very informative information by them.

Experiencia fantástica: Seymour Marine is just a short distance for me...This is my favorite places to be...I love the sound and view of the ocean..

Experiencia fantástica: Great place for individuals, families and children to learn and explore. The Seymour Discovery Center could be added to your walk or a bike ride through native landscape on any day, enjoy touch and feel the outdoor exhibits (whale skeleton and life-size elephant seal sculptures) located on a beautiful coast with excellent views. Also can spend couple of hours visiting a variety of unique and interactive indoor exhibits, and experience the thrill of scientific discovery through breathtaking photos captured by UC Santa Cruz researchers and their collaborators.

Experiencia fantástica: Fun place to take kids and kids at heart. Our kiddo likes the Touch tank that has a leopard shark. Cool interactive museum to play with. They also have a giant blue whale skeleton as well as another smaller skeleton located outside.

Experiencia fantástica: This was the perfect start to Spring Break 2023. Our tour guide Nancy D. had the energy, passion and knowledge. The dolphins were being fed during our tour and they happily engaged the group. I keep trying to determine if my or I had the most fun!?!?! Thank you Seymour Family for making this possible for the community.

Experiencia fantástica: On vacation from Texas, our original plan was to go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but with historic flooding while we were here, highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey was closed. This was a great little place as a backup, the kids got to touch a swell shark, sea stars, urchins and anemones…cool exhibits and very friendly people.

Experiencia fantástica: Great photos of local marine life and some cool hands on experiences for kids of all ages. Fascinating and educational.