Ocean Institute

“The Ocean Institute may not be as large or as fancy as other marine-based attractions, but that is a large part of its charm. Though small, it packs an amazing amount of information and exhibits into its space. Volunteers and employees are friendly and knowledgeable--the touch tanks have staffing to ensure there are no "Finding Dory" moments for their occupants. Teir new estuary walk is beautiful and informative. In addition, the Ocean Insititute offers an unbelievably affordable ($40 pp includes the tour and museum entry) marine life tours on their craft--we chose the 2.5 hours Whale Watching/Dolphin tour. We found plenty of space on the boat, and again, crew were first rate: helpful, kind, and informative (even when reminding people not to straddle the anchor chain multiple times!). We found ourselves extraordinarily fortunate to see both bottlenose dolphins and "common" dolphins (a nursery pod!)--everyone on the ship had the opportunity to view these beautiful creatures. Even their gift ship is exemplary, with unique items instead of the same four stuffies you see at every amusement park or aquarium, necklaces, other jewelry, and plenty of books, maps, and educational materials. Their location right next to a well-rated coffeehouse/bakery means you have an entire day in a gorgeous location with fantastic food and wonderful people.”

“Highly recommend the Adventure Sails tour! The crew were very friendly and my family had a great time on the ship”

“This location is excellent for a family outing, providing children with a hands-on experience to interact with marine life and learn critical lessons about ocean cleanliness and conservation. The fascinating tour of the historic ship further enhances the visit, though the cost of admission is a significant drawback.”