Marine Science Center
Marine Science Center things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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This was our second visit to the Marine Science Center. The center did not disappoint. Educational, informative and hands-on experiences give each visitor a chance to see just how invaluable the Center is. The sting ray and aquatic reef touch tanks are fun and amusing. Getting to touch a cownose ray, starfish, and other interesting sea life make the guests feel like a marine scientist. After exploring the inside of the museum head outside to the turtle hospital area. Guests can overlook seven turtle hospital pools from the Turtle Terrace. These pools house sick and injured sea turtles, hatchlings, and washbacks under rehabilitation. Majestic turtles are healing and recovering in clean observation pools. Now change it up and go bird watching. This bird rehabilitation facility is fully equipped to care and treat injured and sick birds. Upon full recovery, a healthy bird will be released into its natural habitat. Some birds become ambassadors for their species and are a part of education programs and the guest viewing area of the Marine Science Center. Finally, take a walk on the nature trail to the observation tower. Thanks to facilities like the Marine Science Center our wildlife has a fighting chance.
medic0818 Smithmedic0818 Smith
00
Wow! So much to learn. Shell, Education Manager, is a walking source of energy, enthusiasm, and information. She was AWESOME interacting with us and presenting to the group. The turtle hospital is several tanks divided into different levels of care. It is very interesting to hear what they do to rehabilitate these special creatures. The sting rays are fun to watch. They are interactive with the humans around their tank. Little Gracie was quite the ham seeking attention. We were there at feeding time. Very educational and fun to watch. We even got to feed them! Cool experience!!! Fed the sharks (little ones) as well. We were also there at feeding time for the seahorses. Super neat and interesting to watch. The raptor ambassadors are beautiful with nice “homes”. Be sure to ask about them and why their environment is as such. There is also a seabird rehabilitation section. Though small. It’s wonderful as well. Great find and well worth the time and money. 2 hours and $7 each! Very accessible to all abilities.
T TT T
00
Happily made use of $5 veteran's and student's discounted admission for my husband and myself, total of $10. Visited for the first time today (Tuesday) around 3pm. Polite professional welcome desk /admission counter lady. Facilities overall seemed relatively clean despite the larger families and kids in attendance. The touch tank with the rays were a big hit (we did not touch them but there were lots of adults and kids who had fun doing that). My favorite was the horseshoe crab hiding in the corner. The birds were more interesting to us than the turtles or fish since we enjoyed the silly interactions. My husband sang to Anastasia the cedar waxwing who sang back, which was nice. Zeppelin the red-tailed hawk took a liking to my husband as well, playing hide and seek behind the wooden post before the handler gave it an early dinner of a large rat and some baby rats (dead of course). Never saw a hawk eat before so we were morbidly fascinated. Worth the admission fee. Would return again 👍
L PL P
00
We arrived to find a small note posted on the door saying that none of the sea turtles were on site and that they had been moved to another facility due to renovations. Which is fine, if you tell people on your website since the sea turtles are a major draw and people might not want to come if the reason for visiting is not there. The center is small, it will take less than fifteen minutes to see everything, maybe twenty. You can pet the stingrays and they are very friendly and charismatic. The gift shop is an utter disappointment. At the very front, there are metal straws to encourage people to recognize how much of a problem plastic is. Yet the gift shop is absolutely filled with plastic junk that best case scenario will end up in a landfill, and worst case scenario will end up in a sea turtle. They should focus on more environmentally friendly items to sell in the gift shop and I will take the Marine Science Center's mission more seriously.
Autumn SAutumn S
00
I went on a Friday & arrived shortly after they had opened at 10am. I highly recommend attending all their programs which are 30 minutes apart. This is where you will learn so many interesting facts about the animals there. I watched seahorses getting fed. I was able to feed stingrays which was an incredible experience! The ladies there were so knowledgeable. There were a few turtle facts that I didn't know about which will be extremely helpful in the future. I learned some interesting information about some of the rescued birds at the center. From the moment I entered the center, where I was greeted with a smile, the staff that conducted the programs to the girl in the gift shop my experience was an extremely positive one. Everyone is friendly, professional & extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend visiting here whether you bring your kids or you're an adult that loves animals. I was there on August 19th.
JANET RJANET R
00
Small facility packed with very informed passionate staff. My son LOVED the touch tank, he didn’t want to leave Chip, Queso, Poseidon, Pancake (favorite b/c of his left turn swim,) and the only lady stingray, Gracie- ask me how long we stayed to learn all the thing!!! He wants to work with a rehab center when he grows up! Wish that the rehabbing turtles had a better viewing area. All of them are not able to be seen from the viewing deck. They do have a glass viewing area (with an overhead camera streamed to a TV) that visitors are able to watch while turtles were being examined. Bird section (a slight walk down from main building) was like a mini zoo path. Also, wish they had cuter stuffed turtles (and Bella canvas souvenir shirts)in the gift shop. We found plenty of items to purchase though, including a bracelet with a link to track our own turtle! 🐢💚
Mrs. HMrs. H
00
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Nearby Restaurants Of Marine Science Center
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Reviews
Overview
4.7
(1.3K reviews)
Phone
(386) 304-5545
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Website
marinesciencecenter.com
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