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All 12 Florence Attractions »

Sea Lion Caves

91560 Highway 101 North, Florence, OR 97439
541 547 3111
Ranked #6 of 11 attractions in Florence
3.5 of 5 stars 134 Reviews
Type: Caverns/ Caves
Activities: Viewing wildlife
Description: Considered the largest sea cave in the world, this site is where herds of wild, golden Steller sea lions and their cubs take shelter each year.
Useful Information: Activities for young children, Activities for older children
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134 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
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    48
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    14
    6
Date Rating
san diego, ca
Senior Contributor
26 reviews 26 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed May 26, 2012 NEW

We drove about 50 miles from Lincoln City to visit the caves--not worth the drive. They do not list the admission price for the sea caves in the advertisements...I can understand why...Admission price was about $10.00 per person....way too expensive..One view spot to the "cave" and you have to endure the smell of the sea lions..typical tourist souvenir shop merchandise... More

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Auburn, Washington
Reviewer
5 reviews 5 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 19, 2012

Sea Lion Caves have been a tourist attraction for a very long time, and it is a quaint & quirky place to go. I loved it! Watching the sea lions play was very entertaining. Don't miss this! More

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Florence, OR
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 16, 2012

Interesting to see a sea cave that the sea lions frequent, but costly to see it, and you have to endure the smell if the sea lions are in the cave. Good for kids, but there is a little bit of a hike to the elevator, so the infirmed should be aware of that. More

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See 4 more reviews by Lydiagirl for Florence
Elk Grove, California
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 14, 2012

The largest natural sea cave in the world. We had been here before in the summer, but there were even more sea lions there in the winter. It's fascinating to watch them both in the cave and from the cliffs outside. There is an elevator which takes you down so even us old folk can enjoy it. Nice little gift... More

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See 11 more reviews by Ravensgrammi for Florence
Eugene, Oregon
Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
26 helpful votes 26 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 13, 2012
2
people found this review helpful

This is my 2nd time to Sea Lion Caves, and it's been many many years since my first visit. They have a gift shop as you enter, and the fee is $12 for adults and $8 for children. Prepare for a workout, because the trails to the viewing areas are steep. As you go down the trail, you can bank... More

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Eugene, Oregon
Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 12, 2012

The coastline here is very spectacular in itself, and when the sea lions are there in large numbers (April and November seem to be the best times, though they are there year round in some numbers), it's quite a spectacle. Going down into the caves be prepared for a strong unpleasant smell, and noise of the lions barking and growling.... More

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Seattle, Washington
Senior Contributor
43 reviews 43 reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 10, 2012

I visited this place as a kid in 1983 and it was so memorable to me that I wanted to take my kids on our recent trip down the coast. It hasn't changed a bit. Still has all the magic I remember. Once in the caves you feel like you are looking through a window directly into a National Geographic... More

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Corpus Christi
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 7, 2012

Always a favorite when in the area, we stop here every time we are in the area. The elevator ride to the cave is always a treat. The smell of sea lions in the cave is always a fun reminder of what their diet is. The view of the lighthouse is very nice. The souvenir shop always has something worth... More

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Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA
1 review
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 5, 2012

After whale watching and having no luck the staff was nice enough to invite us into the gift shop 20 minutes prior to opening so that we could watch inside where it was warm. Then we got a fantastic tour and even got to meet the owner. Everyone was extremely friendly. Great way to spend the day. More

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Eugene, Oregon
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed May 5, 2012

The Sea Lion Caves are probably the most famous tourist attraction in the Florence area, as it has been around for a very long time. As someone who has spent a lot of time on the Oregon Coast, I feel that there are better ways to spend your time, especially if it is limited. If you've never seen a sea... More

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See 4 more reviews by Jerry T for Florence

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