Oregon Coast Aquarium
add photosA great place to visit for all ages! The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a not-for-profit educational facility specializing in aquatic and marine science allowing an intersting and fun way to learn about the coastal ecosystem in Oregon.
Ages 2 and Under FREE
14 Reviews for Oregon Coast Aquarium
106
91
'10, '12
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"Lovely Little Aquarium"
On a trip to Newport, we wanted to get out as much as possible, but it was March, and the rainy season, so we had a couple of places that were indoors that we wanted to check out while it was wet outside. The Oregon Coast Aquarium was one place we ducked into during a downpour. Part of the aquarium is outdoors, so we stayed inside with the rain, and went out to see things when the weather settled down. There were little nooks and crannies to dunk into if needed too.
Aquariums are one of our favorite things, and this one is good, but on the smaller side of what we are used to. They have many specicies that you would find in Oregon, along with a tidal pool where you can ‘pet’ the starfish and sea anenomes. This was a favorite spot for the lad. It really lets you get up close and personal with creatures you might not otherwise be able to!
There was also a beautiful display of jelly fish. With the way they can sting, it is nice to see them behind some glass.
The seals and otters tend to be one of the biggest draws (after the tidal pool petting area). There are feeding times for them which are always fun to watch because they get really active (before the feedings, they were just kind of laying there). If you are going to watch the feeding, make sure you get there early and get a spot where you can see into the larger swimming areas. That is where the main events happen. The crowd gets deep and kids end up on shoulders, so it can be really hard to see.
There are several exhibits on sea birds and turkey vultures, various fish, and a favorite is always the giant Pacific octopus. The octopus is always amazing to see, and so massive. At the old aquarium, they made a habit of getting out of their enclosure and taking a wander around the place. Since they have moved to this aquarium, I understand the security is a little tighter when it comes to the octopus.
They have an underwater tunnel to walk through with sharks swimming all around you. On your way into the building that houses the tunnel, they had a really great exhibit on sea garbage when we were there. There were all sorts of sculptures made of different things that had been collected off our beaches. It was really amazing and made you think about your consumption.
All in all, we highly recommend the place. There are various places to get coupons for discounted admissions. We used one from our Chinook Book, and I believe other coupon books also have coupons as well.
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"A real sense of the Oregon Coast"
I was raised near the Monterrey Aquarium and now live an hour from the Long Beach Aquarium with regular visits to Sea World, so mine and my kid's exposure to sea life behind glass has been exceptional. But this Easter Break I met up with family on the Oregon Coast and I was able to experience the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Having seen so much, it takes a lot to impress me. This aquarium didn't fail to do so. I'm a sucker for jelly fish and here I was able to watch them dance close up. My kids loved the hands on experience of the simulated tide pools. We also watched the feeding of the otters (and what screams Oregon more than otters?!) In fact, I felt a better sense of Oregon having gone through this aquarium. It wasn't flashy or over commercialized, but rather natural and down home. The octopus kind of looked at me as if saying "Yep, I'm pretty great, but you have to watch me awhile to really know that." We went through the whole place in less than two hours but ended our time letting our kids release some steam climbing on the animal statues in the "children's play area." It wasn't much of an area but they are in the middle of building a new children's interactive center. The aquarium offers a military discount, so if you are active military, be sure to ask for that.
1 family found this helpful
"Too Expensive"
Look for a coupon in the summer in one of the free parent magazines, I think one of them is Metro Parent, we usually find ours in the local library. The last 2 summers it has been for a free child admission with purchase of an adult. Otherwise it cost a small fortune for the entire family.
It is a very nice aquarium with tons to see. They have the touch pool where you can feel the starfish and such, this is always a hit with my boys. We went when the boys were 7 & 9, they really enjoyed the shark encounter where you basically walk through a tunnel with sharks swimming above you and all around you, a total immersion experience. They moved quickly through the smaller displays and weren't interested in reading about the facts for each display. I think this is a great attraction for kids of all ages. Bring in your own food and snacks because those are expensive as well. For the price they charge normally I wouldn't go, 2 for 1, yes.
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"Nice, but expensive! "
My 3 year old loves animals, so we thought the aquarium was a good idea. They had some nice exhibits, a python, cool tunnels that you walk through and little sharks swim overhead, and little tide pools the kids can put there hands in. overall, my son enjoyed it. My only problem is that besides the sharks, everything there we could see at the Oregon Zoo. I think it is quite expensive for what you get, and everyone over the age of 1 has to pay (unlike most places where it is 3). If you have the money, then I would recommend going, but if you are traveling on a budget, I would skip it.
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"Jaws!"
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a super great place to go at the beach. They kids love it. They have a pool where you can touch sea orchins and starfish. And a shark aquarium that you actually walk through. You can see them on top of you, beside you and underneath you. It is super cool. And we always get a family pic inside the shark jaws, which is always fun in the photo alblums. Just plan other activities also, it will only last an hour or two.
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"Fantastic Aquarium"
This really is a great aquarium. The Oregon coast is a great place to visit, and if you're around Newport, it is absolutely worth a visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium. There is a ton of stuff for the kids to see. The touch-tank is a huge hit with kids from 1 to 99. The tunnel-aquarium is really neat, and I think someone mentioned it, but there is a playground there, too. Oregon really is family-oriented, and this aquarium is no exception. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone traveling the Oregon coast!
1 family found this helpful
"Loved it!"
Yes, it is expensive... but worth it! We had so much fun looking at everything. The tunnel with the sharks around us was a hit!
We didnt eat at the restaurant on site, but walked by... I think you might want to skip it and go somewhere else.
Our son loved it... he kept pointing at everything saying "wowwww"...
Make sure to bring your stroller if your kids still use them, there is lots to see and they will get tired but still want to see it all!!
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"LOVE"
We absolutely love this place! We took our daughter and our niece and nephew. Our favorite part was where you could walk through the tunnel and have all the sharks swimming around us - so neat to see them up close! There is a place where you can pet some sea creatures as long as your children are not scared and at the end they have a little playground. We highly recommend this educational and fun trip!
1 family found this helpful
"Fun but a bit expensive"
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a must see if you are vacationing in the area. The displays in this aquarium are both informative and beautiful. My kids loved the areas that allowed them to touch the animals. I thought the jelly fish exhibit was amazing. The only downfall is it is a bit expensive for a large family. But your family will love their experience at this aquarium.
1 family found this helpful
"Oregon Coast Aquarium"
The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a local gem of northwestern Oregon. Due to it’s manageable size (you can get through it in 1-2 hours), it serves well as a pitstop along US Highway 101. Admission is a little steep at $14.95 per adult and $9.45 for kids 3-12, but the aquarium is on par with the best, despite its size. The aquarium houses six main exhibits, including a deep sea area, an otter habitat, sea bird aviary, and jellyfish room (my personal favorite!). Angie McCoy of Jacksonville, Oregon says of her 22-month-old daughter: “Abby loved the ‘Open Ocean’ tunnel in the Deep Sea exhibit. She screamed at the sharks!”
If you have extra time (and money), the aquarium’s private Animal Encounter tours have received positive reviews. Also check their website for special events, discount days for homeschoolers, and more.
1 family found this helpful
"Up close with the sea"
This aquarium has some really fun exhibits. There is a "touch" tank where you can pet the manta rays as they swim by. There are jellyfish in large blue tanks and all the fantabulous sea animals you expect. Outside there are large tanks for the sea otters and seals as well as an aviary where the sea birds are loose and flying around you.
There is a small sculpture park where kids are encouraged to climb on the turtles, dolphins, and whales.
Some of these things might not be so much fun in the rain so aim for a dry day as the "best" exhibits are outside!
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"Fish Wish!"
The exhibits for the smaller animals are great and there is a lot to see. The shark tank is amazing and very fascinating! The food choices are a little sparse and the restaurant there didn't seem to have a very kid friendly menu, but it was still good food. The ten year old loved it, my one year old wasn't as entertained.
1 family found this helpful
"I became a kid again"
OK, I love this place! Even though it used to house Keiko the Killer Whale "Free Willy" fame. He was here for 10 years and never got to see him.
But, I have since gone, now that I have kids and I have to say it made me feel like a kid again when I got to pet a stingray and a shark! That was too cool. (Even for dad)
Walking through the underwater tube and seeing large sharks pass right over the top of you is also awesome! Kids get real excited when they are looking at one giant fish and then a shark comes along out of nowhere.
If you are on the Oregon Coast this is another one of those must stops.
FAMILY HINT: If you have 5 or more in your family, I think it is still cheaper to get the yearly family pass than it is to actually buy the day pass for everyone. (So even if you never plan to return, save some money and check in to the yearly pass)
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"Small but Sweet"
This aquarium has lots of hands-on activities for kids like water tables with sea anemones and starfish to touch. We were fascinated by the otters. They are really quite entertaining to watch especially during feeding time. They have an aquarium with a tunnel through it so you feel like you are in there with the sharks. There is a courtyard in between buildings where kids can run around. The aquarium is a fun place for kids ages 5 and up. Younger kids tire easily of watching fish and want to get down and run around.
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