Is the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center free?

Yes, completely free admission. It is run by NOAA and has no entry fee.

What days is the Exploration Center open?

Open Wednesday–Sunday, 10AM–4PM. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Is the Exploration Center good for young children?

Yes — touch stations and interactive exhibits are accessible for kids as young as 2. The whale skeleton and sea creature displays captivate all ages.

Is the museum stroller-friendly?

Yes, the space is fully accessible and stroller-friendly.

What is near the Exploration Center?

It's steps from the Santa Cruz Wharf, where you can watch sea lions, walk the pier, and find seafood restaurants — easy to build a full morning around.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

Name: Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
Address: 35 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, US
Telephone: +1 831-421-9993
Rating: 4.6

1 / 5

Rating

4.6(491)

Price

Free

Duration

1–2 hours

Best Ages

2–17

About

Right next to the Santa Cruz Wharf, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center is one of the best free family activities in the entire Santa Cruz area — and that 'free' part is not a typo. Run by NOAA, this small but richly stocked museum tells the story of one of the most biologically diverse marine sanctuaries on the planet, and it does so in a way that genuinely captivates kids of nearly every age.

Walk through the entrance and you're immediately greeted by a whale skeleton overhead — the kind of scale that makes kids gasp and adults pull out their phones. The exhibit continues with interactive tide pool touch stations, specimens and fossils, gorgeous displays about deep-sea creatures that look genuinely alien, and most memorably, live video feeds from underwater cameras deployed in the actual Monterey Bay Sanctuary. Watching real-time footage of what's happening 30 feet below the water you walked past an hour ago creates a connection to the ocean that no aquarium replica can fully replicate.

The exhibits are designed to be hands-on and accessible. Kids can touch shells and natural specimens, watch ocean footage, and engage with content at multiple levels of complexity — enough for a curious 4-year-old and enough depth to hold a 14-year-old's attention.

The center is compact — a thorough visit runs 60–90 minutes — which makes it an easy fit as part of a larger Santa Cruz day rather than a destination requiring a full day commitment. Combine it with a walk on the nearby wharf to watch sea lions, and you've built an excellent free morning.

Note: closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Age Suitability

Infants (0-1)Toddlers (1-3)Little Kids (4-6)Big Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13-17)

Parent Logistics

Stroller-Friendly

Yes

Nursing / Changing

Limited

Kid Meals

Not Available

Setting

Indoor

Rainy Day

Great option!

Plan Your Visit

Best Time to Visit

Weekday mornings; closed Monday and Tuesday so plan around that

Wait Times

None — rarely crowded

Nearby Food

Santa Cruz Wharf has multiple seafood restaurants and casual dining options. Ideal for a post-museum lunch with ocean views.

Why Kids Love It

Touchable tide pool exhibits, glowing deep-sea creature displays, and video windows into the actual Monterey Bay — kids are riveted by seeing what lives beneath the water they just swam in.

What Parents Say

“Wonderful experience! Great for families, young kids, and seniors! There's toddler time, films, exhibits, and a fabulous gift store. Best of all, it's FREE!”

Google Review

Pro Tips from Parents

The whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling is an immediate wow-moment for every age.
Interactive touch stations let kids handle shells, fossils, and natural specimens.
The live video feed from underwater cameras in the sanctuary is genuinely mesmerizing.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays — check hours before visiting.
Located steps from the Santa Cruz Wharf — excellent for combining with a harbor walk and sea lion watching.