
Ocean Institute
Dana Point, CA
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.7(432 Google reviews)
Touch tanks, tall ships, and marine labs right on the Dana Point harbor. Pair it with a harbor walk and ice cream.
Happening near here
- Festival of Arts & Pageant of the MastersLaguna Beach · 7 mi
- Pageant of the MastersLaguna Beach · 7 mi · Evenings, summer
- Sawdust Art FestivalLaguna Beach · 7 mi · Daily, summer
- First Thursdays Art WalkLaguna Beach · 7 mi · First Thu 6–9pmFree
24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629, USA
~$12.50/person weekends
Map
What visitors say
- Rosabell M.★★★★★
Great field trip destination for middle schoolers and even elementary students. We participated in the lab, nature and whale watching tours and each experience was fun and informative. Every group had a dedicated guide who made the information engaging, easy to understand and enjoyable for the kids. We were able to see dolphins and a whale on our boat tour! They have a cafe on site where you can grab lunch or a coffee! Had an amazing time coming here!
4 months ago
- Christie Lodics★★★★★
Love, love this area of Dana Point. This has been my families spot to learn about the ocean and to enjoy sea life. We have always come to the Marine protected area when the tide is low and walked along the beach and sand outside the Institute to see all sorts of sea life. It is amazing what you can see, even saw an octopus one time. Just make sure that you know when the tide is rolling in and out to not get caught out on the rocks! On the backside of the Institute there are also benches to sit at and listen to the ocean. The Institute itself is filled with wonderful sea life and is a great learning experience no matter your age. Outside, there is a calm bay area where paddle boarders are all over as well as the educational ships filled with history. There is nothing that you cannot do in this area!
2 weeks ago
- joanie m.★★★★★
Love here always bring my own fresh lunch coffee water. Being prepared saves money and not deal with I'll trained restaurant staff selling low quality food items. Bad service. Institute great and best access to beach front.
4 months ago
- Caliboy★★★★★
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.
8 months ago
- Doug Farrell Godard★★★★★
Enjoyable and educational. Kid friendly, but much of interest for the serious adult too. Absolutely beautiful location near the harbor in Dana Point, CA. There is also a beautiful beach and jetty just outside. It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
2 years ago
Reviews from Google · See more on Google Maps
Nearby places
Love finding spots like this?
Get our best family things to do near you in one weekly email — free outings, weekend picks and local tips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.