seacoast science center

This is such a great place to bring your children and grandchildren. We wanted too spend the day with my grandson, so this was one of the stops! What a great decision to do so. With many inside exhibits and interactive displays, we were busy enjoying each one. The parking is easy. Access is great to the building, and there is plenty of outdoor activities to do as well, ie, nature trails and playground! You won't be disappointed!

This aquarium is small but also has trails through the woods and along the beaches. There is a play ground on the grounds plus the remains (although few) of an old fort that was constructed and reworked from the Civil War through the early cold war. Pick a sunny warm day and bring the family for the entire day.

Seacoast Science Center is a non-profit marine science education organization right on the rocky seacoast of Rye, New Hampshire. Their exhibits include touch tanks, live displays of fish, seahorses, crustaceans and other small sea life, and now includes the widest collection of marine mammal skeletons on public display in northern New England. I loved the touch tanks.. you can handle (gently & carefully!) starfish, snails and other small creatures that habituate tide pools. It was nice to hold a starfish and feel its tiny tube-feet moving across my palm. And the horseshoe crabs are fascinating; scuttling along the tank bottom like miniature tanks. There are hourly programs (films, informative talks) for all ages from toddlers to adults. Really nice gift shop too!The Center is not exceptionally large, for instance like the Scripps Institute of Oceanography in California, or the Boston Aquarium, but it is a nice way to spend a few hours learning about the ecology of the area's sea life. Since the Center is just feet from the ocean, you can also walk, hike, picnic or just sit and watch the waves. I'm glad I stopped to visit the SSC while vacationing in New England!

Small but well done. The sealife is well displayed and appears well cared for. (Another reviewer mentioned that there is a lobster stuck in a "tiny tank"--the exhibit explains that this is because she is temporarily quarantined.) There is a touch tank, which kids always enjoy. It is true that some of the light-up type features are not working; however, they are not necessary to understand the displays. The staff are kind, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, and even the gift shop was not outrageously overpriced. Outside, you can wander on trails along the shore and climb around on the rocky beach in peace; we examined tidepools, found lots of shells, and watched lobster boats chugging in and out of the bay to check lobster traps.

Like a little version of the Boston Aquarium. Nicely done. The local painted turtles do grow a lot bigger than those in their tank.

Perfect for families, lots to do and see, after you tour the museum, there are several trials to walk along. Staff is very helpful and the views are breathtaking.

There's not much to see in this place. I don't know about the trails and whatever else because it was too cold on the day we visited, but the inside of the "science center" building has not much going on except lame exhibits which don't even really work and some poor lobsters stuck in tiny tanks. I felt sorry for them. I paid $7 per person to get in which isn't too bad but there really isn't much to the place It was kind of a waste.

The Seacoast Science Center offers lots of hands-on activities and special events for adults and children. While it's easy to breeze through and say, "That's nice," you'll get a lot more from your visit if you schedule it at a time when they're presenting some history or seacoast science, or during a class.Parking can seem expensive, but if you stay and see the rest of Odiorne Point State Park -- with its many nature trails and historic bunkers -- it's a great, full-day outing that will engage the entire family.Bonus: On hot summer days, you'll almost always enjoy cool summer breezes at this site. Bring a kite, or at least a picnic lunch (tables available, on site).

This is the best time of year to go. Few crowds and no parking fees. Discover new trails every time I go. You can walk on trails at the water's edge or go through paths in the woods. Also no issue with bugs in mid Sept. I also like their gift shop and have found fun and educational toys for the kids. Wish they had more aquatic life on display

I totally enjoyed this place, indoors or outdoors...The exhibits are interactive and educational. They have a touch tank and we were also able to feel some other fish at a "show" where we learned about horseshoe crabs, skates and some type of shark. Took lots of pictures. Oh, and my kids loved it too...lol WORTH THE MONEY!!!

We made our way to the right around the corner of the beach to a shallow cove where the water was still warm(ish) and saw starfish, baby lobsters, baby eels and baby crabs. It's a hoot...go there.Take bug spray - the mosquitos are the size of B52s.

We went with all adults and really enjoyed our visit. However, I kept wishing I had my grandchildren to share the experience. The museum is interactive and very well done. Lots of information, fish I had never heard of and an opportunity to hold starfish, urchins and more. I will be going back.

A really nice exhibit space which my grandchildren enjoyed. I actually enjoyed the stone sculptures on the walkways. I spent as much time outside as inside. Would go again.

We have been for years and years. They often change exhibits so you keep wanting to go back. The touch tank is amazing and has a variety of animals for kids to check out. This is also one of the most beautiful spots on the seacoast, with picnic tables for lunches and playground on the ocean. It is a favorite family spot!

This is a good place for the area and it's not overpriced like Boston's aquarium. Kids can touch small sea creatures like starfish in their tank so what else do you need. When you let them touch stuff at the aquarium that's what they really remember. And as far as I know we didn't pay for parking on the weekend just the small admission fee to go to the science center. Also the gift shop was "very affordable" so with 2 small children they were able to go and get a couple souvenirs without me having to pull out a credit card and a prayer.