Oregon Coast Aquarium

If you are driving down Highway 101 by Yaquina Bay Bridge, stop at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport and stretch your legs out a bit. This aquarium is small enough for a child to walk around with you and it is not too busy. We enjoy walking through a water tunnel in the "Passages of the Deep" exhibit and see the sharks swim around us (The water tunnel is known as "The Tube" and is 8 feet below surface and 8 feet above the sea floor). Next, it's great to hear the docents talk about the coastal birds: tufted puffins, guillemots in the aviary exhibit during the feedings. Then, there is the "Enchanted Seas" exhibit to see the seahorses, but we're usually pretty hungry by then (something about seeing fish for hours). Finally, I always get emotional when I read the kids letters to Keiko. If you are in the area for vacation, this is a fun, relaxing day activity with the family. Visit their website and see the live cams throughout their exhibits ( http://www.aquarium.org ). more

Every time we visit the Newport Aquarium, we see more things than we saw on our last visit. We took a late vacation this year and the aquarium is particularly delightful in the fall. We really enjoyed their traveling exhibit on crabs and we enjoyed lingering and spending time at all the exhibits when there were fewer people surrounding us. Their passages of the deep tunnel surrounds visitors with a view of sharks and bat rays that I will not soon forget. I sat in a window with my kids watching seals zoom by close to us. It was an enchanted afternoon. more

I love to go to aquariums. This aquarium was worth the stop as we traveled along the Oregon coast. I stood for a very long time totally entertained watching the puffins nest, dive, and swim. Yes, I did say swim! If you want to see a bird swim, just come to this aquarium. I know I am looking forward to my next visit there, so I can watch the puffins play. I heard they added a shark tunnel since my last visit. I definitely look forward to walking through the tunnel surrounded by sharks. My granddaughter was quite excited about the sharks, and it left her with a memorable experience of her visit to Newport. I highly recommend a trip to the Oregon coast to see this natural aquarium. more

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is well maintained and nicely organized. Not as large as some other well-known aquariums, it still offers a delightful assortment of sea life. Otters, seals, puffins, octopus, all your favorites can be found there. My personal favorite is the shark tank where you walk through a undersea tunnel with sharks swimming all around you, including under your feet. Everything you see and do there is truly an amazing experience for all ages. more

Although not as big as some of the major aquariums around the world, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is a great place to visit. The only fault I can note in the former home of Keiko the whale is that it is relatively expensive, especially if over the age of 12 or 13. There are various indoor displays including jellyfish and exhibits like "open ocean." There is a place to touch starfish and anemones too, which is popular with people of all ages. The most popular area is perhaps the acrylic enclosed hallway which allows visitors to walk through a tunnel surrounded by swimming sharks, sting rays, and other fish. The outdoor area includes a sea otter area as well as a giant octopus. This place is great for people of all ages, and educational too. The only downfall is the cost! more

It can be an expensive ordeal to take a family to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but once you are inside the exhibits are worth it. The shark exhibit is amazing, especially if you walk through at feeding time. There are great "touchy, feely" exhibits where you get to pet some of the marine life like star fish and sponges. My personal favorite are the sea lions. They are so fat and slow on land, but amazingly beautiful and graceful in water. The inhabitants love to show off their swimming skills for all the visitors. more

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is amazing. Get up close and personal with seal creatures of all shapes, types and sizes. Fun for the whole family. Neat sea life! The sea life is very up close so you can see the details and bright colors. The gift shop has lots of fun gifts, although they are rather expensive. Parking spaces are limited, so you might end up walking a bit. more