I was excited for puffin sightings in Alaska but when they happened to be flying by at the same time as the baby humpback was doing tail slaps the previous day, the humpback won. So I had to stop by Alasika Sealife Center for a close up of both the horned and tufted puffins. If you are hesitant about that admission fee like I initially was, remember ASLC does great work, as the only institution in Alaska to rehabilitate stranded marine mammals as well as care for animals affected by oil spills. The only thing I wasn't a fan of is the non-static pricing but how it changes from the night before to the day of. Although I thought I would only need about an hour to explore the two floors, I ended up spending most of my morning there, starting with the touch pool, seeing the different stages of the Coho salmon, and staying for both the seabird keeper chat and the stellar sea lion training session. read more

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We truly enjoyed the Sealife Center. The tanks with fish and other critters. The descriptions and teaching. Loved the sea birds especially the Puffins. The seals and sea lions were also fun to watch. Educational movies. Great gift shop too. read more

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What a great way to spend a rainy afternoon in Seward Alaska! Very informative and interactive. The seals were a highlight, as were the touch pools. Highly recommend if you're having a bad weather day in town like we were. read more

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Oh my goodness it was the most amazing places I ever been it was relaxing to see the animals My top 3 favorite animals there are 3. The harbor seal 2. The bird area the horn puffin HM the star fish at the touching area 1 the skull of some kind of whale near the entrance read more

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We happen upon this delight when visiting some friends in Anchorage. They suggested we go on a day trip down here and we were very glad that we did! It's located on the water down in Seward, a stones throw from about a dozen restaurants. We did learn that the restaurants are very much on sea time, meaning that most of them are closed when the boats are out during the day. The number of different sea animals That are represented here was pretty impressive. They have a ton of sales, who are just delightful, seabirds including some lovely puffins, and tons of different fish and less mobile sea life. There's some great discussion about conservation efforts in the area, and some great interactive exhibits. After all, who doesn't love, touching a sea cucumber or a starfish! You could easily spend the better part of a day here, and there really is good stuff for adults and kids alike. It's a little on the expensive side, but overall we felt like it was absolutely worth it. It's a place we will go again the next time we're in the area! read more

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The work they do at the Sealife center is really invaluable and goes far beyond what we see in the center. I do agree that the admission cost is on the higher side & am thankful they provide a resident's discount. I also understand that they cater mainly to a tourist clientele & their business/revenue is mainly coming from the very short tourist season so it's understandable that they would charge what other aquariums do. My only complaint is the Sealife center is small compared to other aquariums I've been to. I think it's really cool how the entire place is dedicated to Alaska Sealife, but I find it weird that there are no otters at the Center. The coolest part of this place is the open seabird habitat. I also love the salmon exhibit (very Alaskan) and the observation deck overlooking the bay. I mainly make a yearly trip here for my son. If it was just for me I would've probably only been once & for my fill. They did recently update the touch tank area so I hope they continue to make improvements & add more interactive areas. I definitely think this is a place everyone should visit at least once! read more

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It's a very small aquarium and nature center but with a big heart for research and eduction. I could see how people would be disappointed coming due to its size but if you do the audio tour you'll learn so much and come away with a great experience. The enclosures are close up. All encounters can be done from inside but there are a few opportunities to go outside if you'd like. The staff is very knowledgeable. They have great handicap services such as elevators and wheelchairs. read more

It was a nice place to learn about the local yocal animals and community. Way over priced in my view 30 dollars per person . I think the biggest turn off was the girl/guy working the gift shop! Extremely unfriendly wearing a mask and some kinda weird outfit. She screamed angry woke angry hate America liberal why they have it working at a gift shop is kinda mind blowing read more

Pretty cool. The up-close puffins and sea lions were the most memorable of several species on display. The displays were informative. I just noticed reviewing my receipt that we got a significant 'murky water' discount (they pump sea water in directly to the displays from the neighboring bay; so after recent rains, the display water was indeed murky.) read more

Great experience! Learned all about the native sea life，such as puffins, harbor seals, and the local fish, which I have also been eating for the past few days. I used to love aquariums, and I completely understand why！all the tanks were, well lit and clean. This is a great place in Seward. read more

Alaska Sealife Center - Puffin - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

After seeing a good amount of wildlife on a Kenai Fjords boat tour, i still enjoyed this well thought out Sealife Center, located in Downtown Seward. It's pricey to get in ($40 per person) but what isn't pricey in Alaska? They do support marine mammal rehabilitation and have a bird sanctuary. I really enjoyed seeing Puffins up close and getting to see rescued sea lions getting acclimated. Lots of viewing areas and it wasn't overly crowded on a Sunday. Nearby, you can walk through the shops or downtown, get a bite to eat and view the bay. It's a nice way to supplement your day in Seward. Great for small kids, with a touch pool and interactive exhibits. Worth a stop if you have extra time in Seward. read more

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This is definitely a center designed for children. It was very nicely designed and offered many hands on activities for younger people. A great representation of local wildlife was present. If you took your time at every display and activity I would think you could actively engage your offspring for about 1 to 1.5 hours here before they try to run off to the gift shop. I would suggest you buy your tickets in advance to save on your budget as it appears the price fluctuates throughout the day. read more

It's not a mega aquarium like Georgia or Monterey, but it's a very well done presentation focusing on Alaskan sea based wildlife. The touch pool was outstanding, huge and definitely included things I hadn't touched before. Great bird enclosure with no barriers. I imagine when a cruise ship is in town it gets super crowded, but was very relaxed for my visit. The only thing holding me back from a fifth star is the high price considering the modest size...especially since I kept hearing it had been funded by the Exxon oil spill. read more

Alaska Sealife Center - Puffins up close - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

5 months ago Really enjoyed our visit! Learned a lot about the amazing work that the SeaLife Center does with animals throughout Alaska and the country. My favorite was the aviary. Being in by the puffins was a great experience! Seeing a Stellar Sea Lion up close really put their size into perspective. The harbor seals made the visit worthwhile! If you find yourself in Seward, Alaska, it's definitely worth a visit if you enjoy aquariums and conservation read more

I really enjoyed seeing all the sea animals being rehabilitated here. Especially the puffins!!! I could've spent all day with them. Absolutely loved seeing them up close & personal. Definitely worth the visit plus it's for a great cause!! read more

Alaska Sealife Center - More puffins!! - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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First of all, I'm a tourist from Minnesota. We drove here from Anchorage. It's very scenic. The listed admission was $34, then tax added so it was $38 something. Yikes, it better be worth it. There are literally 2 floors here. I touched the starfish and anemoes. I took some photos of sea lions and watched spotted seals swim. The view of Resurrection Bay was nice outside. There really wasn't much here besides some salmon aquariums also. Alaskan Residents get a discount. Hopefully my admission was used to feed fish and maintenance of tanks. Very underwhelming and expensive. Not a good value. It was OK, meh. read more

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The center has two amazing experiences: 1. The touch and feel some of the sea life. You'll be able to interact with starfish and shellfish. It's a great opportunity to teach your kids about some of the animals close to shore. 2. The open puffin, duck and bird area. I don't think I would have ever been this close to a puffin! They have a few different variations and a diverse bird community. The reason I gave it a 4, it's mostly cause of the price. I think they could have added more interactive sections because everything else was a big bland compare to the aquariums I've traveled too. Still 20x better than the Houston one. read more

Alaska Sealife Center - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Right on Resurrection Bay... you can't miss it. hahaha! (It's at the other end of town from the boat harbor and and where you take the day cruises.) My favorite part was the Puffin exhibit. You got to see the Puffins up close which was much better than on the day cruise where we saw Puffins at a distance. (These birds are smaller than Eagles so they are much harder to see at a distance.) Oh... and my other favorite part was the touch tanks. (If you have littles, this is a good time to teach them how to touch softly or gently.) Note, I don't know why I was surprised, but I was.... the water was icy cold. The facility is well laid out and organized. All in all, I'd say plan on 1.5 to 2 hours to take your time and enjoy the exhibits and the different tanks. And if you're like me... and it happens to be a beautiful day.... you may want to bask in the beauty that is Alaska and Resurrection Bay on their outdoor deck. read more

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The Alaska SeaLife Center is one positive result from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, in that the settlement largely paid for this world class public aquarium and marine mammal rehabilitation facility. The facility is located on the water in Downtown Seward and was also easily accessible to me and Gayle via a shuttle bus that also stopped at our Hotel. We probably spent a couple hours here (our usual upper end for museums) and especially enjoyed watching the puffins (and other sea birds) and the marine mammals. The staff we interacted with were friendly and happy to be here at this very well organized non-profit and kid-friendly complex. The gift shop (including the Lobby kiosk) is also cut above. read more

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This place is nice, they offer a local discount so i am in. I am a fan and love this place but it is small compared to other sealife centers i know this is due to being in freaking Alaksa and a million miles from people, crowds and other support. It would be hard to have a larger center with little no no visits during winter. I do love a lot here and will continue to come back and support. I think they can improve in a few areas. This would make it a 5 star for me more audio options. buttons to push and hear about the think i am sitting in front of. That way you don't have to pay an employee to do this and it's short and sweet. Viva the robot Revolution! Just kidding but in some areas where you don't have employees this would be nice. Your lobby is large and i feel could have more interaction in it. donate to here donate to there. this could be a normal thing but covid ruined everything. i saw the one spot with the sea lions but maybe a larger interactive donation buckets where people can donate to vote for your favorite creature today? I am not saying supper large but have photos of the animals and below maybe put some stats of wheee the money will go. an example of this did you know one meal for mr sea lion cost $x the octopus eats only the finest X and it cost X anything educational but also help me understand where my donation is going. just food for thought. i would feel better paying more if i knew it cost $Xxx per day to run the place. This is probably coming from my new found fear of donating to places that pay the top executives more than they are worth to do next to nothing. not saying this place is like that but help me know where my money goes. read more

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Absolutely LOVED this place. Took free trolley around town and ended up here the day before our cruise. We loved it so very much. Lots to see and learn but best of all, the staff was so nice! And the place was so clean. read more

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We stopped here after the northbound Alaska cruise. It was an interesting place. It was full of sealife knowledge. The gift shop had a plethora of books on the different wildlife in Alaska, for purchase. It was clean and orderly. I highly recommend people see this exhibit. read more

The Alaska Sealift Center is really a wonderful place to take the kiddos! I was disappointed in the admission cost, and not being a cross-admission discount with any other aquarium/zoo memberships. It is only 2 floors, it's not huge but very well done and lots of things for the kiddos to enjoy. The $38 for admission is outrageous. The center itself is well taken care of, clean and staff are friendly. I think maybe $15 is reasonable for the exhibit. I don't think it'd a good value. read more

Get to watch feedings and interactions throughout the center at different times - they will announce over the intercom when things are happening. So many things to look at and very educational read more

Alaska Sealife Center - Puffin - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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The Alaska SeaLife Center is Alaska's premier public aquarium and Alaska's only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility. It was so wonderful to be amongst these adorable wildlife creatures. It's a good reminder of how important it is to protect our planet. read more

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Wonderful! Had lots of fish, birds and a huge sea lion. A hands-on pool allowed us to touch sea urchins, starfish, sea anemones and more. Marine educators talk about the creatures and answer questions. There is an elevator and a very nice large gift shop. Nice restrooms. Is worth your time. read more

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If you have a free afternoon head on over to the Alaska Sealife Center. The center offers one of the best views of this glorious bay and her mountains! The center is a sanctuary for all sorts of birds, fish and other marine life creatures. Plenty of knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions. Dip your hands in the section that allows you to feel the marine life. Watch the Sea Lions get fed. High quality center to learn about the marine life and fisheries of Alaska. Plan at least an hour. Close to several restaurants too. Be sure to walk the first mile of the Iditarod Trail since you are "in town". BTW Seward was "established" on 8/28. read more

It's a really cute aquarium. Tons of fish, seals, sea stars, birds etc. I always love a touch tank! The seals really looked well cared for and happy which is huge for me. There's tons of birds you can enter into the open fly area. It's a good engagement piece. My issue was that I love reading about different species but their electronic signs change too fast, and have very little information besides the origin of them and name. I was really bummed I was left really wanting more. Parking is just outside in a lot. The town is cute and the landscape is breath taking. read more

Very nice aquarium / sealife center focused on Alaska. Yes, there are bigger aquariums elsewhere, but not in Alaska focused on the flora and fauna of Alaska. This was also built with a lot of money from the Exxon Valdez settlement, so that's a plus. read more

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Definitely worth the visit. In the second floor exhibits/area there was a string urine odour and a lot of fans running which made it super cold. We got to see an otter get all cleaned up and dry with a worker through some windows. That was great to see. I really love how the place talks about our footprints and encourages you to use refillable water bottles and to reuse your grocery bags. This is very important. There was a giant octopus made from debris taken from a beach in Alaska also really cool to see. I loved all the information that you're provided throughout the facility. I wish I knew more about how they receive the animals and release the animals. I'm really hoping this isn't a sea world. Some of the fish "cages" were really small and seemed so sad. read more

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Great place to see some of the sealife of Alaska close up. They are doing some amazing stuff here for the animals and habitat/conservation. Loved it. read more

Alaska Sealife Center - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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I was very happy to see some puffins up close! Also got to touch some live starfish and shrimps! They do provide clean towels and hand sanitizers. The sea lions and seals looks so happy and content swimming all day. The sealife center does good things here, but I just wish it was a bit bigger. Why were there no otters? I had set aside an afternoon to visit here, but we were done in about an hour since there are not much interactive activities. Show your AAA card and save a few bucks on the tax. read more

Alaska Sealife Center - Happy Seal - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

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Really nice aquarium. The staff were incredibly friendly and full of loads of useful information about various species as well as specific animals they have. We especially enjoyed learning about the idiosyncrasies of some of the water birds. read more

Very well organized and fun to spend time here! Not too big but not too small. Admission seems to be a little bit of expensive but we had fun. Kids friendly. read more

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Grateful for this place! Very friendly people work here. We come here multiple times per summer, and we always find new animals to discover. We love the intention behind this facility and often we see animals being rescued my their great team! Thank you everyone! read more

Loved this family friendly place and the interactive exhibits. We also appreciated the docents, they were informative and extremely knowledgeable. They also rehabilitate marine life. Enjoy read more

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Great spot to learn about sealife in Alaska. The staff are all extremely friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. My friend and I learned so much about the birds (from Shana) and fish in their outdoor part. It's a wonderful experience! We had so much fun. read more

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Highly recommend the Puffin experience for up close and personal insights into Alcids! Overall experience is exceptional read more

Alaska Sealife Center - Hand feeding Alcids! - Tours Near Me - Seward, Alaska

Nice little aquarium. All the animals seem well cared for. Good focus on local wildlife. Good interpretive staff. Fairly extensive touch tanks. Pretty small (you can get through the space in an hour or so). Worth checking out if in area. read more

We were very surprised by how much sea-life they had in the center. The staff seemed to be very interested in the care and wellness of their animals. Some animals are being rehabilitated while others cannot be released into the wild due to health issues. Our whole family throughly enjoyed this place. If you have time to spare, stop by this place. It was also within walking distance of Best Western Plus (half a block). read more

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