Oregon Coast Aquarium Immerse Yourself in the Underwater World
Courtesy Oregon Coast Aquarium
N
o visit to the coastal city of Newport is complete without a stop at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This world-class marine attraction overlooks scenic Yaquina Bay just south of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. The Aquarium strives to be a center of excellence for ocean literacy and plays an active role in conservation, education and animal rehabilitation efforts. Visitors can immerse themselves in the Aquarium with a wander through Passages of the Deep, named “The coolest 50 yards on the Oregon Coast!” by Spirit Magazine. The 1.32 million-gallon exhibit displays a diverse array of marine animals including sharks up to 10 feet long. The series of tunnels feature a 360 degree view of three different kinds of underwater landscapes that are characteristic of ocean off the Oregon Coast. The Sea & Me, an interactive exhibit designed for children ages 4-10, offers entertainment for everyone. Kids will enjoy the half a dozen interactive play areas while teens and adults will see seahorses, cichlids, and a wide array of colorful tropical fish. Meet the Aquarium’s seals and sea lions through the submerged and above water viewing windows that let visitors peer into these animals’ world. The daily feeding presentations at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. are a favorite of guests who delight in viewing the California sea lions’ athleticism at work. For an unforgettable behind the scenes experience, book a whiskery kiss delivered by one of the Aquarium’s resident seals or sea lions! Encounters can be booked online or over the phone. The Aquarium also boasts one of the largest outdoor seabird aviaries in the United States. Tufted puffins, common murres, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots and black oystercatchers all call the craggy cliffs and clear ponds home. Daily feedings at 2:30 p.m. delight visitors of all ages as each bird larks about to get the fishes of their choice. In addition to the seabird aviary, the Aquarium has an additional aviary that is home to two turkey vultures. Guests are often surprised by the size of the brother and sister pair, Ichabod and Olive, who busy themselves with toys and other enrichment items. A nearby underwater cave is inhabited by a Giant Pacific Octopus. Viewers sometimes need to stretch their powers of observation to spot the creature, which can camouflage with its environment and squeeze its soft body into dark crags. Researchers now believe that octopuses are as smart as house cats, capable of navigating mazes, using simple tools and recognizing individuals. Guests can book an octopus encounter to feed and shake hands with one of these intelligent, seemingly alien animals. The Aquarium’s sea otter exhibit is home to the largest population of sea otters in Oregon today. The all-male raft is comprised of rescued otters from the California and Alaska coasts. Judge, Mojoe and Schuster’s playful antics make them a popular attraction at the Aquarium. Guests can view daily feedings at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Oregon Coast Aquarium opened its doors in 1992 to inspire the public to better understand, cherish and conserve marine and coastal ecosystems. The 39-acre facility features indoor and outdoor exhibits that repeatedly earned the Aquarium a ranking as one of the top ten aquariums in the nation. Built on an abandoned industrial site, the Aquarium did a lot of work to transform the grounds into an expansive naturescape for guests to explore. The north end of the property is dedicated to a nature trail that skirts an estuary – a unique feature for an aquarium. This wild exhibit features over one hundred native plant species, many of them labeled to continue the Aquarium’s education program for guests. As one of Oregon’s most popular attractions, the Aquarium hosts an estimated 450,000 visitors annually. The 501c3 non-profit is funded through ticket sales, grants and the support of Aquarium members. The Aquarium is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer travel season and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter months. To check for discounts, purchase tickets and learn more, visit www.aquarium.org.
Holidays at the Oregon Coast Aquarium
There is always a lot to celebrate at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but they have special treats in store for particularly special times of year. Make sure to plan a visit during these events.
Creatures of the Night:
Saturday, October 26th from 6:30pm – 8:30pm Get your annual fill of goblins as the Oregon Coast Aquarium transforms into a massive haunted house for one night! Not recommended for children under 8 No strollers allowed at this event Admission: OCAq members are free, but encouraged to donate nonperishable food. All others $2.00 + 2 cans of nonperishable food (per person) for Food Share or pet food for the Lincoln County Animal Shelter $5.00 without food donation.
Sea of Lights:
Join us in kicking off the holiday season with the annual Sea of Lights at the Oregon Coast Aquarium! Kickoff weekend is Friday and Saturday nights, December 6th and 7th, from 6:30pm – 9:00pm. Come get your picture with Santa, stroll the Aquarium grounds and view thousands of holiday lights. Admission: OCAq members are free, but encouraged to donate nonperishable food. Admission on Friday and Saturday the 6th and 7th is just $2.00 + 2 cans of nonperishable food (per person) for Food Share, pet food for the Lincoln County Animal Shelter or a new unwrapped toy to be distributed by Newport Fire Department. As a bonus, this year’s Sea of Lights will also be open on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of December! Admission is $8.00 for all additional nights (December 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29). Hours for these additional dates will be 5:00pm – 8:00pm and yes, Santa will be here for pictures every night!
43