Field Trip

Thistle and I made a field trip, along with CG, to a local attraction that I have been taking kids to for years now, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center.  It used to be called Long Marine Lab, "back in the day" as my kids say.

I miss the old Long Marine Lab sometimes.  There were some amazing, albeit small, fish exhibits of marine life in the Monterey Bay, housed in a dark building that was one step above a big, long shed.  The exhibits--everything from an octopus to sand dollars (live ones) were lit with ultraviolet light, and there was little to no lighting in the rest of the exhibit, so it was very restful and wonderful to attend on a hot day.

That was years ago, and now we have a full-on attraction that Thistle and I go to frequently, as I've a guest membership.  It's simply wonderful--there are big tanks of marine life native to the Monterey Bay, a big touch tank, a scavenger hunt for kids (which Thistle wins every time), a tour to see the research dolphins, and lots of other things to do (there is even a large puzzle table for kids, which is restful as it allows me to get off my feet while Thistle puts puzzles together).  I often realize again what an enchanting little person she is when I take her there.

If you happen to be in Santa Cruz and want a great place to visit (or even if you live here and want a relatively inexpensive place to spend a very fun and educational afternoon), here is the link to the marine center:

http://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/