After last week’s post, it should come as no surprise that my family would be on the hunt for an alternative to the New England Aquarium. The Seacoast Science Center had been on my list for a while, but I could never find the right time to pull the trigger. This is mostly due to my own neuroses. Knowing the ocean breeze would make the experience cooler than the inland temperatures, I wanted to go on a pleasant day. A day that was warm enough to enjoy being near the water, but not so warm that I’d rather be at the beach.
Ultimately, we finally decided to visit in early September. It was still warm enough to enjoy the outdoor amenities, but well past beach season for me. Did we enjoy it? I would say in the moment – no. My oldest was in the middle of a grumpathon, and my younger two really just wanted to enjoy the day. As an empath, it’s extremely hard to enjoy the day when someone I love is unhappy. Being torn between two happy children and one unhappy one is a dance I don’t wish upon anyone. Looking back, I will say that the Seacoast Science Center is truly a wonderful place to visit. Why? Well, that’s the whole point of this post!
SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER FAST FACTS
| Address | 570 Ocean Blvd, Rye, NH 03870 |
| Hours of Operation | 10AM – 4PM (Days open seasonally dependent) |
| Admission: Kids*/Adults/Seniors | $10-$12 / $16 / $10-$14 (includes state park fee) |
| Parking | Lot, dirt |
| Water Bottle Filler | Yes |
| Picnic Friendly | Yes |
| Clean Bathrooms / Changing Areas | Yes / Yes |
| Stroller Friendly | Yes, but unnecessary |
| Gear Recommendation | Baby-wearing apparatus |
| Apparel Recommendation | Seasonally-appropriate clothing plus a removable layer |
| Sunscreen / Bug Spray? | Sunscreen |
| Breastfeeding Friendliness | Very |
| Best Ages | Toddler + |
| Best Season to Visit | Late spring through early Fall |
SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER LAYOUT
The Seacoast Science center is located inside Ordiorne State Park. The building is quite small and there aren’t many exhibits, but because it’s within the state park, people cycle in and out without the building becoming crowded.
Upon entry, there is a main room where the touch tank and dramatic play area are located. Toward the eastern side of the facility, there is a small hallway with fish and coral reefs. There is also a bathroom and a little alley of historical artifacts. Toward the western side of the facility, there is a cozy area with light-sensitive fish and jellies, bathrooms and the local sharks exhibit. The building isn’t huge, and you could walk end-to-end within a few minutes.
SEACOAST SCIENCE CENTER EXHIBITS
KID’S FAVORITE
I’d have to say that my kids’ favorite was the dramatic play area. And not just because there was a lot of drama in our ranks that day. They had both small wooden toys for imaginative play, as well as a fish market/fishing boat setup. The dramatic play area had everything from the boat and fishing poles to waders and hats. The Seacoast Science Center even has the area surrounded by a mural of a harbor. It was very cute, and the creativity and execution were considerable. My kids seemed to spend the most time here.
MOM’S FAVORITE
This is a tough one for me. I want to say the coral reefs exhibit because I had never seen living coral before, but the local sharks exhibit was fascinating. Even though it was super simplistic (it is black felt cut to the size and shape of different sharks), it was very cool, if not a bit terrifying.
DAD’S FAVORITE
The touch tank. He’s a man of few words so there’s not much I have to go on here. If I had to guess, it would be due to the fact it was his first time holding a starfish. The lady running the touch tank had a lot of anxiety about everyone’s hands being sufficiently clean. Do her a favor and wash your hands twice.
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
RESTROOMS
There are two bathrooms in the Seacoast Science Center. One between the main area and the coral reefs exhibit and the other behind the Local Sharks exhibit. The bathroom next to the coral reefs is male/female and the other is a family-style experience. The Coral Reefs bathroom did have a step stool for the kids, but I was super confused by the changing station – it’s floating on the wall next to the sinks and it is really high. At 5’6″, there’s no way I’d be able to safely change a baby on it because it looks like it was meant for someone who is… taller. I would vote to change the baby in the car or try the other bathroom.
FOOD
One very pleasant surprise from this experience was the picnic situation. The Seacoast Science center has picnic tables overlooking the water. Additionally, there is a massive playground with plenty of picnic space. My family loves a picnic, and the playground was a delightful bonus. As if it could get any better, there are food trucks and a lovely trail around the playground area.
WATER
A water bottle refill exists near the family restrooms, toward the back of the Hall of Sharks.
NURSING
Nursing at the Seacoast Science Center couldn’t be any more pleasant. Behind the Corals exhibit, there is a very quiet sitting area overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re hoping for a quiet spot to nurse your bambino, I’d head here. Otherwise, there are plenty of benches throughout, as well as outdoors in Ordiorne State Park.
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