The Marine Mammal Center
The Marine Mammal Center
4.5
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Marine Mammal Center advances global ocean conservation through rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education. Visit our Sausalito hospital, the world’s largest marine mammal hospital, to see animal care experts providing life-saving care to patients so they can be released back to the wild. Watch as our volunteers prepare meals in the Fish Kitchen, peek into our laboratory to learn more about our scientific research, and explore interactive exhibits that give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to rescue hundreds of marine mammals every year. Plus, you’ll discover how you can take action to protect marine mammals and the ocean. Book your free ticket now at MarineMammalCenter.org
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
340 reviews
Excellent
219
Very good
92
Average
23
Poor
6
Terrible
0
svale87
Sunnyvale, CA281 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Purchased the 45-minute guided tour. Our guide, Sam, was excellent. The center does such valuable work, and it was very interesting to learn more about it and see some of the action. The center itself is beautiful, with stunning views to the ocean. Keep in mind that their goal is rehabilitation of animals, so the interaction with people is limited. You can see them from a safe distance. For lunch afterward, there is a nearby beach, or a short drive into the town of Sausolito.
Written January 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel084
Burlington, Canada96 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
The Marine Mammal Center was a fantastic end to a great trip. After enjoying the beauty of the coast and getting to see all the wildlife it felt important to educate ourselves about the protection and rehabilitation care for the animals. The staff are super friendly and very informative. There is a tour of the facility of where all the work of the volunteers and doctors is done. The tour ends with the pools of where the animals are held as they are nursed back to health. In September when we went there was only a handful of seals, but we were told there are times during the year where all pools are filled to capacity. It is fantastic all the work that they do and you can tell how much they care about these animals. If I lived anywhere close to the center I would volunteer in a heartbeat!
Written March 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynx123
San Francisco, CA192 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
To those who are not familiar with the Marine Mammal Center, it is a place where rescued or abandoned sick and injured marine mammals are nursed back to health and released back to the ocean. They have audio tours as well as guided tours every day. Extremely interesting and educational for kids. The exhibits and the tour raise the kids’ awareness of environmental as well as man made challenges facing marine mammals. Their facilities are very impressive, state of the art( or rather technology). For example, the water in the individual pools in the pans is filtered, sanitized and recirculated every 35 minutes to prevent cross contamination and keep the injured or sick animals healthy. It is a non profit organization. The bonus:
A million dollar view of the city and Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day!
A million dollar view of the city and Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day!
Written October 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
theconciergemom
Wassenaar, The Netherlands322 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
I thought this would be neat for my kids, but with only three days in Sf, it wasn't worth the visit. The volunteers were super nice to my kids, but you couldn't see any of the animals (even with binoculars provided) and we just read about rescues and visited gift shop.
Written October 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mindy G
Springfield, Missouri5 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
I drove two hours hoping to see seal/sea lions/fur seals upfront. While the facility does a great job rehabilitating marine mammals and educating the public, I was hoping for a better view of these animals. If you are looking to just see them closer, I would recommend going to a wharf or other roadside overlooks for a better view. Like it was stated in another review, you can only see the first row of enclosures, of which we could only see two with seals.
If you take a tour, it will not take you through the enclosures!
If you take a tour, it will not take you through the enclosures!
Written March 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
244brb
Sacramento, CA1 contribution
Mar 2017 • Solo
The facility is very small and restricted, if you go you can take their small tour for nine dollars to see their kitchen and their lab through a window. you can only see the seals from a balcony but the fencing around them makes it hard to see them, so don't expect to see much if you go there.
Written April 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
inekesg
Walnut Creek, CA136 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
It is incredible important to see what can achieved by all volunteers. Their job is very important for saving species and learning everything what is going on in the ocean. The guides can tell you everything about the animals and the bigger picture of the research. We visited the site several times and every time it’s a great experience!
Written August 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan L
Croydon, Australia309 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
This place does a great job looking after sick and injured sea mammals and we were quite happy to donate to a worthy cause. Here you can learn a lot on how we are messing up the world and what we can do to change. It doesn't take much, and we can make the future brighter.
Please note, it is free to go in and if you then think it is a good cause donate.
You can see the magnificent work saving seals, sea lions, see elephants etc, and there are so many volunteers that give there time. Fantastic work!
Please note, it is free to go in and if you then think it is a good cause donate.
You can see the magnificent work saving seals, sea lions, see elephants etc, and there are so many volunteers that give there time. Fantastic work!
Written May 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lois a
San Mateo, CA53 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
We were visiting the Marin headlands and are members of the center but had never been so I suggested we go. We were welcomed and given a map of the facility. I was surprised there was no admission fee just a box for donations. They do have escorted tours but we decided to tour on our own. From the upper level you can look down on the pens that hold the rescued seals and sea lions. A volunteer docent is here to answer any questions you may have as well. There is also a very nice shop where we bought a few items. Very worthwhile for an excellent cause!
Written July 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeslieKchill
San Francisco, CA50 contributions
Dec 2016 • Friends
I used to come here all the time, when I lived closer. A friend of mine just came down from Oregon and we headed over to see it again. The docents are amazing with their interesting facts from filtering the water, to what and how often they feed the sick seals and sea lions. GO! It's free and the family will love it. (So will a bunch of 60 year old ladies that have been friends for years.)
Written December 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janetlovesdenmark
22 contributions
Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?
whybefly
San Francisco, CA12 contributions
Nope. You can get them when you arrive.
mermaid331
glendale ca31 contributions
Hi! I would like very much to visit the Marine Mammal Center, as I photographed Northern Elephant Seals for five years.
I will be traveling from the Los Angeles area, and would love feedback on the least painful way to get to Sausalito.
My budget is limited; can anyone tell me a hotel near there to stay that is safe for someone that might be travelling alone, and also public transportation from the hotel to the Marine Mammal Center?
Do I HAVE to have a car?
Thank you so much for any ideas and info!
-Mermaid331
WhitbyWanderers
Whitby, Canada38 contributions
Expensive to cab there and you need a car or ubber to get there. I came from San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge.
spuryerd
Memphis, TN34 contributions
Is the Marine Mammal Center in walking distance from Sausilito? Since I am taking ferry into Sausiilito, is there a safe road or trail that will get me there without a car, or would I get a ride?
Paul K
14 contributions
It is definitely a car ride. From the Bay, across 101, through a tunnel, and then come out on the Pacific Ocean.
Jackie B
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States1 contribution
We are visiting in August with our 4 and 6 year olds. We are interested in the docent led tour (45 min - 1 hour). Other than that, how much time should we plan on visiting the Center? Trying to plan the day around a few other sites to see.
Richard H
Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States44 contributions
I would allow a couple of hours for the tour - you can always head down to the nearby beach if they get bored!
I have a reservation coming up in December in a studio that, I believe, has no washer/dryer. Is there an on-site public laundry facility?
ZanneHall
Pittsburgh, PA45 contributions
I believe in the Marin County or Sausalito areas there might be public laundry facilities but not at the Marine Mammal Center.
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