Alaska SeaLife Center - Seward, Alaska - Aquarium and Ocean Wildlife Rescue Center

The Alaska SeaLife Center is located at Milepost 0 of the Seward Highway in Seward, Alaska and is 125 miles south of anchorage. Between mid May and mid September the center opens from 9am to 6.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 6.30pm Friday to Sunday, while the rest of the year it opens every day from 10am to 5pm except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day when it remains closed. For people touring the center there are free wheelchairs and strollers available to use if required.

The Alaska SeaLife Center opened to the public in May 1998 and functions primarily as a marine research center with resident animals and laboratory facilities. However, it combines this research with public education, and has 55,000 square feet of exhibit space to show visitors what is being done here. Live animals such as seals in their natural habitat along with various interactive exhibits, help visitors understand the significance and results of marine research projects.

There are various programs and tours offered here to give people a better understanding of marine animals and see them in their natural environments. One such program is the hour long Behind-the-Scenes Tour, which shows what is involved in caring for seals, sea lions, octopus, seabirds, and 154 species of fish. Other tours are specifically designed to educate the public on marine mammals, puffins, octopus and squid.

Groups can take part in various programs including all day ones where visitors take a self guided tour of the center before participating in fun educational exercises. Students can also have sleepovers here from 5pm to 9am the next day and includes dinner, breakfast and a tour of the center as well as a place to sleep. Staff members will also make visits to schools to give presentations and get students involved in ocean related education programs.

As well as providing wonderful sightings of marine life and explaining how the center rescues injured birds and animals, this attraction is available to rent for special occasions. The Alaska SeaLife Center can host up to 1,000 guests for a strolling cocktail reception or 300 for a sit-down dinner. Bookings need to be made well in advance to ensure the dates don't clash with one of the center's own scheduled programs.

Visitors wishing to stay in the area overnight or longer will find plenty of hotels very close to the Alaska SeaLife Center. Taroka Inn is just 200 meters away in 3rd Avenue, while Hotel Seward is 400 meters away in 5th Avenue. Approximately half a kilometre away is a couple more places with accommodation - Alaska's Point of View and Brass Lantern B&B.

There are a number of eateries nearby too including Thorn's Showcase Lounge, Crab Pot Restaurant and Peking Chinese Restaurant, which are all less than 500 meters away from the SeaLife Center. Generally the reviews given by previous visitors to the SeaLife Center are very good with comments that it is a great educational visit for both adults and children.