Spirit of Dana Point

About Spirit of Dana Point

Spirit of Dana Point is a historic schooner where visitors set sail on ocean cruises to experience Southern California's maritime heritage from the perspective of early tall ship explorers. The vessel operates from Dana Point Harbor as part of the Ocean Institute, a nonprofit ocean education center. Alongside the tall ship, guests can explore interactive marine exhibits including shark and ray touch tanks and intertidal touch pools. The waterfront campus features the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center with state-of-the-art teaching labs and rotating themed exhibits focused on local marine life and ocean science. Visitors can also board the R/V Sea Explorer, a 65-foot research vessel that travels beyond the harbor jetty to search for whales and dolphins. General admission operates on weekends with hands-on activities suited to families and curious explorers of all ages. The Ocean Institute is located in Dana Point, California, where more than 100,000 guests annually visit the waterfront campus.