The Alaska SeaLife Center, Alaska’s only full-time marine mammal rehabilitation and captive conservation center, is located on the sandy beaches of Resurrection Bay in Seward on the northern shore of Alaska. Established in 1977, the center continues to serve a growing community of sea enthusiasts and nature lovers who love the unique wildlife of Alaska and want to know how they can preserve the species and maintain their natural environment. Visitors are often wowed by the variety of marine animals that can be seen at the SeaLife Center. “We have the largest number of exotic birds in the entire world here,” said veterinarian Bill Yorey, SeaLife’s director of communications. “The center does everything possible to make sure that we have the most amazing sea life in the world.”
Visitors are welcome to tour the SeaLife Center and learn more about nature and wildlife of Alaska while marveling at the beautiful sea creatures. Among the animals that can be viewed in the SeaLife Center include: harbor porpoise, barracuda, sturgeon, giant clam, anemone fish, rainbow runner, albatross, kingfish, sting ray, and several species of rainbow trout. There is so much to see and do in Alaska that many visitors decide to stay longer and explore the wildlife in more depth. Some enjoy fishing, while others just want to swim and view the spectacular marine mammals. Others still want to explore the pristine waters of Alaska’s marine habitat.
Travelers who wish to take tours to Alaska should first make sure that they are traveling on a tour operator’s bus. Tours may be arranged by tour operators in cooperation with hotels, cruise lines, cabins and attractions in the area. Since all of these tour operators are in coordination with the Alaska SeaLife Center and the hotels that offer tours, most all of them will be able to offer a tour of the marine habitat in some form. However, tourists should ask if the tours offered involve the buses of Alaska SeaLife Center or their affiliates. In this way, they will know if they are being exposed to educational material or promotional materials.
Alaska SeaLife has several shows that it presents to the tourists that visit their exhibits. The Alaska SeaLife Center has a full season of shows that start in April and run through November. These shows, which are called “Alaska Seeing” programs, feature live animal shows as well as hands-on, educational activities that educate individuals about marine life in Alaska. For example, one of these shows, called “Muck Art”, will allow participants to create a personal piece of art while observing a muck artist create it. The participants of this show will also have the opportunity to attend a special presentation about marine life at the end of the program.
Alaska SeaLife has three different theaters that visitors can visit. Theaters include the Inside Out Theater, the Backyard Zoo and the Big Screen. In addition, the center also offers a theater where guests can experience live performances by Alaska seals. Here, visitors will see how seals interact with each other and what they like best about the ocean.
The Inside Out Theater is ideal for those who want to get closer to the animals. Here, visitors will see seals playing with toys and then be able to touch one personally. There are sometimes live models of seals that can be viewed on a screen in the theater. At the Backyard Zoo, visitors can swim with the seals, feed them and see how the seals play around. Finally, the Big Screen is a great place for those interested in seeing a great variety of marine life on a large screen.
As mentioned earlier, there are several programs available at the Alaska SeaLife Center. All of these shows are educational opportunities that will help visitors learn more about marine life in Alaska. For example, “Alaska Seeing” shows provide visitors with the opportunity to interact with the animals at the center and learn more about their personalities. This is an interactive experience that many people find exciting. Other popular shows include” Sharks from the Deep,” “An Aquarist’s Guide to Alaska,” and “Marine Mammal Clinics.”
No matter what kind of experience you are looking for at the Alaska SeaLife Center and whether you want to see wild animals or have an educational experience at the same time, you will be able to find something of interest at the Alaska SeaLife Center. In addition, Alaska SeaLife offers several other activities for visitors to enjoy. For example, scuba diving and snorkeling lessons are available for individuals of all ages. In addition, Alaska SeaLife partners with several hotels to offer special discounts for groups of people coming to the center for the day or weekend.