Information
Landmark: Oregon Coast AquariumCity: Newport
Country: USA Oregon
Continent: North America
Oregon Coast Aquarium, Newport, USA Oregon, North America
Overview
Perched on the edge of Yaquina Bay in Newport, the Oregon Coast Aquarium stands as a leading center for marine science and conservation, where the salty breeze drifts in from the water.Known for its immersive exhibits, interactive displays, and dedication to marine research and conservation, it ranks among the Oregon coast’s top draws-where visitors can press their palms to a touch tank and feel the cool, slick slide of a sea star.Founded in 1992, it set out to share marine life through exhibits that teach and inspire conservation, from shimmering coral tanks to hands-on touch pools.Our mission is to spark care for the Pacific Ocean, its winding rivers, and tidal estuaries through hands-on learning, attentive animal care, and purposeful research.They’re recognized for pioneering naturalistic exhibits, like rocky shorelines you can almost smell, and for finding fresh, inventive ways to share the world of marine life.Exhibits and Features - Passages of the Deep: a massive 285,000-gallon tank where sharks glide past in dim blue water, echoing the depths of the open ocean.You’ll spot sand tiger sharks gliding by, wolf eels curling into rocky crevices, and plenty of other creatures from the Pacific Northwest.Passages of the River: Explore lively freshwater habitats where salmon leap through clear currents and trout glide in the shade of overhanging willows.It shows how creatures grow and change, how they migrate, and how a river’s fresh water finally blends into the salty sweep of the sea.Passages of the Coast: Rocky tidepools and intertidal flats alive with sea stars clinging to wet stone, anemones swaying in the current, crabs scuttling between shells, and countless other coastal creatures.Visitors can reach into shallow tanks to feel the cool, shifting shells of tidepool creatures in hands-on exhibits.At the Open Sea and Marine Mammal Exhibits, sea lions, harbor seals, and the occasional rescued animal swim through saltwater pools designed to feel like the real ocean.Educational talks bring to life the animals’ behavior, their role in the ecosystem, and the urgent need to protect them-like how a sea turtle’s nesting shapes an entire shoreline.In the Penguin Habitat, African and Magellanic penguins waddle through bright, chilly enclosures, where you can watch them court, dive for fish, and chatter together.Stroll the boardwalks and winding trails along Yaquina Bay, where you can pause at wooden platforms to spot herons, sandpipers, and the quiet shimmer of estuarine life.Hands-on seasonal programs that share the stories of migrating birds and the wildflowers blooming along the trail.Marine research teams work with universities and NOAA, studying oceanography, tracking fish populations, and examining coral reef habitats.Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation works to save stranded or injured marine mammals and seabirds, pulling seals from rocky shores and tending to their wounds.School and community programs bring learning to life with hands-on field trips, lively workshops, and citizen science projects where you might test water from a nearby stream.Special events like summer camps, workshops, lectures, and themed gatherings spark hands-on learning-think kids building wooden birdhouses or painting under a shady oak.The atmosphere draws you in-hands-on, engaging, and full of discoveries, like tracing your fingers over a centuries-old map-making it ideal for families, students, and curious adults alike.Accessibility includes wheelchair-friendly trails, smooth ramps, and viewing spots where you can roll right up to the edge.Bring your camera-there are great shots to be had in the shimmer of the indoor tanks and out in the fresh air by the viewing decks.Seasonal Highlights: In spring and summer, the water teems with marine life, outdoor events fill the calendar, and the doors stay open late into the warm evenings.In fall and winter, stand on the outdoor platforms and watch the waves crash hard against the shore, then step inside for a calmer, quieter look at the exhibits.Nearby Attractions: Stroll the Newport Historic Bayfront, where fishing boats unload their catch, seafood sizzles on the grill, and nautical shops line the dock.Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area offers a towering lighthouse, tide pools teeming with starfish, and cliffs dotted with seabird colonies.Hatfield Marine Science Center is a research hub with hands-on exhibits, from touch tanks brimming with starfish to displays of deep-sea exploration.Agate Beach and Nye Beach offer breezy coastal walks, winding paths, and tidepools where tiny crabs scuttle between rocks.The Oregon Coast Aquarium offers an unforgettable mix of hands-on exhibits, lively conservation efforts, and engaging education programs, from watching sea otters splash to learning how local reefs are protected.By exploring both the open ocean and the sheltered estuaries, visitors can see the full range of the Oregon coast’s marine life-gleaming tidepool anemones to darting silver fish-while learning about marine science and how to care for these waters.
