There are a lot of fun things to do in Newport. Some things are free and others cost money such as the Oregon Coast Aquarium. This is a great place to take the family.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S. It is home to Keiko the orca whale. It offers indoor and outdoor exhibits. One of the indoor exhibits is the Passages of the Deep. Another one is Keiko’s Former Home which is now an undersea adventure with sharks, rays and other ocean animals. There is also a glass bottom so it feels like you’re in the ocean with the other fish.

There are at least 500 species of animals at the Aquarium. There are Animal Encounter Tours that can be purchased. You do have to pre-register if you want to do this. Children must be at least 8 to participate and children under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. These programs are designed to bring people close to unique aniumals such as sea otters, sharks and sea lions. You will get to work with a member of the staff on things such as helping to feed the animals, preparing diets or toys and learning various skills and knowledge to care for each animal.

If you would like to visit the Aquarium adult tickets cost $14.25, children’s tickets are $8.75 and senior tickets are $12.25. Winter hours are after Labor Day to Memorial Day Weekend. They are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. You can also visit the Science Center.