Marine Mammal Care Center

MMCC is a non-profit facility that treats sick, injured, and malnourished marine mammals that end up stranded on more than 70 miles of beaches between Malibu and Seal Beach, and is one of the Best Things To Do With Kids In L.A. Since 1992, MMCC has given life-saving care to distressed marine animals with the intention of rehabilitating and releasing them back into the ocean. The only year-round hospital for marine animals in Los Angeles County, MMCC is one of the busiest in the nation, admitting over 350 patients annually on average. MMCC is situated on land owned by the Los Angeles Unified School District in San Pedro, close to the Los Angeles Port.

In an effort to reintroduce injured marine animals to the ocean, this San Pedro rehabilitation facility collects them from the coastline between Long Beach and Malibu. The ambiance is kept upbeat by a friendly group of volunteers and a humorous chorus of sea lions barking, despite the fact that some of these stories are heartbreaking (sudden blindness, a shark bite, etc.). Only a sidewalk outside the walls is allowed for viewing, which is close enough to glimpse the adorable faces of belly-flopping young elephant seals.

Google Rating: 4.8/5.0

Location: 3601 S Gaffey St, Los Angeles, 90731
Contact: www.marinemammalcare.org

Phone: 310-548-5677
Price: Free
Opening hours: Open daylight hours daily, educational talks Mon–Fri 10 am–4 pm and Sat, Sun 10 am–5 pm