Nearby Hotel Aquarium Exhibits Animal Encounters Upcoming Events

Newport, Oregon Hotel near Oregon Coast Aquarium

One of the most family-friendly attractions in Newport, Oregon is the Oregon Coast Aquarium. It’s also environmentally-friendly as it’s just one mile from the Comfort Inn Newport. Spend some quality time at this exceptional aquarium where 500 species of animals abound in amazing exhibits, such as Passages of the Deep, Sea Otters, and Seals & Sea Lions.

Oregon Coast Aquarium Exhibits

 

• Passages of the Deep.

    An awesome undersea exhibit, Passages of the Deep features big sharks, rockfish and bat rays. Waves crashing against the tunnel give you the feeling you are underneath the ocean.

• Sea Otters.

   Extinct on the Oregon coast since the early 1900s, sea otters have come back home via the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Discover two species of sea otter, the Northern and Southern.

• Seals & Sea Lions.

   Encounter six spunky sea lions and five fun-loving harbor seals. Five of the sea lions and one of the harbor seals were born the Oregon Coast Aquarium while one sea lion and four harbor seals were rescued and rehabilitated. All are females except for one sea lion.

• Oddwater.

   This fascinating exhibit looks at many of the ocean’s bizarre life forms. One of the most peculiar species is the chambered nautilus, which employs an unusual movement using jet propulsion. Others include the lion fish (attractive but deadly to unsuspecting prey) and the puffer fish (see if you can tell if it’s actually smiling at you).

• Seabird Aviary.

   One of the largest North America, the Seabird Aviary is an open-air, walk-through aviary that allows visitors to see a wide variety of species that live just off Oregon’s shores. They range from tufted puffins, rhinoceros auklets, and pigeon guillemots to common murres and black oystercatchers.

For more information, visit http://www.aquarium.org/. [Top]

Oregon Coast Aquarium Animal Encounters.

 The Animal Encounter program at Oregon Coast Aquarium is a great way for guests to engage in an up-close-and-personal experience with sea otters, sea lions, and sharks who are often misunderstood. Enjoy a rare opportunity to work side by side with a member of the Aquarium's Education and Animal Husbandry staff. Activities include feeding the animals, learning the various skills and knowledge required to care for each animal, and, if you’re lucky, getting a kiss from a sea lion. For more information, visit http://www.aquarium.org/toursAnimalEncounters.asp?sid=3. [Top]

Oregon Coast Aquarium Upcoming Events.

 There is no shortage of fun, entertaining, and very family-friendly events at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Below are just a few of them coming up in 2009. For a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.aquarium.org/events.asp?sid=3.

• January 17, 2009

  
  A Flock of Fledglings: Parent’s Day Out
  9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
   Four-and five-year-olds will love this five-part series where they can sail through the "sea of senses" as they discover the ways animals see, taste, hear, smell, and feel! This first part focuses on sight by exploring what, how, and where animals see. Kids only, no parents!

• February 14, 2009

   
  Give Your Sweetheart a Kiss! Valentine's Day Sea Lion Encounter
  1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  For ages eight and up, this enticing event features learning about pinnipeds, getting a sea lion kiss from Lea, and exploring the Aquarium.

• March 28, 2009

  
  Girl Scout Sleepover
  6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
  Girl Scouts (age seven and up) are invited to spend the night in the shark tunnel. There will be pizza, a scavenger hunt, and hands-on activities designed to meet badge requirements. After a late night snack, they’ll settle down for bed-time stories about lost ships and giant sea monsters. In the morning, they’ll enjoy a breakfast of cereal and juice and a behind-the-scenes look at what’s involved in caring for the animals at the Aquarium. [Top]