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What is the Alaska SeaLife Center?
The Alaska SeaLife Center is a marine wildlife aquarium located in Seward, Alaska. It provides an educational and fun experience for visitors, while also conducting research and animal rescue. It’s like the marine version of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center!
The Wildlife Response Program portion of ASLC rescues marine animals and can occasionally rehabilitate them enough to release them back to their natural habitat, which I got to experience in high school and it is quite impressive and amazing.
Where is ASLC located?
The SeaLife Center is located in the quaint Alaskan town of Seward, Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. It is less than a few hours drive south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. You can also travel to Seward by way of the Alaska Railroad.
What will I see there?
Sea lions, seals, octopus, urchins, and more; oh my! There are also a variety of fish and birds to see as well. You can view many of these animals from the first and second story of the building, which gives you a great perspective of the animals from both above and underwater, and is especially neat when watching the sea lion and diving birds.
One of my favorite areas is the touch pool, which has a bunch of critters to see and is much larger than most touch pool areas I’ve seen in other aquariums. There, you can get up close with sea stars, urchins, and more.
Detailed and interactive learning exhibits are located all over the facility, with topics ranging from salmon identification, animal statistics, and conservation. There are educators nearby to answer questions about any of the sealife you see as well. You also have the incredible opportunity to book a behind the scenes experience and even feed an animal as well!
In addition to the marine life and exhibits, there is also great artwork to see as you walk around the two story center, and around Seward itself.
Who would enjoy visiting ASLC?
Anyone who enjoys having fun! The Alaska SeaLife Center is obviously a great experience for marine life enthusiasts, but really any animal lover or anyone interested in learning about Alaska’s ecosystem would benefit from a visit to ASLC. There are activities for kids of any age, and it is wheelchair accessible.
When should I visit?
Anytime! You can stay inside during your whole visit if you want, so even if the weather is bad you can still enjoy your time at the SeaLife Center. If you have the opportunity to visit from about September through May you’ll probably find that the crowds are less, or maybe will have no crowds like we did when we went in March! During those times you’ll be able to spend as much time as you want at the different exhibits. When it’s a bit more crowed you may not have as much time at each spot, but should still have enough time and space to enjoy everything.
What should I wear and bring?
Layers! If you live in Alaska you know layers are a necessity, and if you’re visiting I highly recommend layering up. No matter what the forecast is, and no matter what the weather is when you leave, always be prepared for any type of weather.
In this case you’ll be inside for most of your time at the Alaska SeaLife Center, so you can just wear what you’d normally wear inside for the season you’re there. But, if you start your visit to the ASLC in the sun, just bring a coat incase it’s raining when you leave.
As far as bringing things, I would just keep it minimal and bring the necessities and a good camera. Other than that you should be set!
Why should I visit the Alaska SeaLife Center?
There are many reasons to visit the SeaLife Center. First off, you can see a variety of Alaskan marine life in a very convenient and fun setting. It’s great for all ages, and especially perfect if you have small children, are elderly, or are prone to seasickness, making it harder to enjoy a glacier and wildlife cruise. It’s also a great option if you are looking to save some money by going to the SeaLife Center instead of a cruise, but if it’s at all within your budget I’d recommend doing both! Overall, it’s just a great place to have an up close experience with marine life, including behind the scenes tours where you can feed some of the SeaLife Center’s resident animals!
How to I support ASLC?
You can best support ASLC by visiting the center, seeing what all it has to offer, learning about marine life, and sharing that knowledge and experience with friends and family! You can also donate or even become a member. There’s even an option to “adopt” an animal, which is such a great gift idea for folks back home.
I hope you get the chance to visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I do! If you’re going to ASLC and have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments. And if you’ve already visited, let me know what you thought of it in the comments below!
