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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Oregon Coast Aquarium

I don't remember the last time I visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, but I am so glad we went this past weekend! It was on my list of places to visit for science, and we just finished the unit on water creatures. Perfect timing. And perfect weather for early February at the coast! No wind, low 50s, and superbowl Sunday. The place was all but deserted!

I was quite impressed with the aquarium. Beautiful scenery, tasteful fine art (displayed on walls, as part of the architecture, and in the aquariums themselves...), exhibits to keep us busy for a few hours, friendly staff, clean, and very natural.









Beautiful Japanese fish printing artwork:



The shark passage was incredible. Nothing like having sharks swim within inches of your head!
More beautiful artwork:

Levi enjoyed touching a small shark. The blown glass in the pool was vivid and gorgeous.

More blown glass in the tanks:







That wraps up our biology studies. On to earth and space!

12 comments:

Kristi said...

looks like fun!

Darcy said...

I love winters as the Oregon aquarium when you have the whole place to yourself! We just went the beginning of January and hope to go again the end of this week.
darcy
http://ittybittyblog.wordpress.com

Precision Quality Laser said...

My boys were pretty little the last time we went to the Aquarium and they freaked out over the plexiglass "holes" in the floor of the Shark Passage! I didn't blame them...I didn't want to be the first one to fall in either :) lol It was really cool though..that was my favorite part--"swimming" with the sharks.

Craft Tea Lady said...

I haven't been in a long time either... the last time I was there, we didn't go in - we were geocaching and hunting for a cache w/o being seen. :)

Your pics are great!

Gina DeLude (aka CraftTeaLady)

www.xanga.com/crafttealady
www.crafttealady.etsy.com

Unknown said...

I've never seen a tunnel aquarium before...that must be so awesome! What animal is the jawbone from? It's HUGE!

Renee said...

Great pics. Looks like you all had a great day!

Christi said...

Looks similar to our (Georgia) aquarium - very cool & lots of fun!

Anonymous said...

I adore the aquarium. My husband and I love taking our boy there and letting him enjoy the wonder of it. We love it too. My personal favorite is the horseshoe crabs. A day trip to Newport is perfect with Mo's, the aquarium, and the salt water taffy store. Did you ever go to the aquarium when Keiko was there?

Skeller said...

Wow - what an awesome-looking aquarium. Great pics, of course! And hey, no tidepool Nazi to fine you $1100 for looking too close or touching (like some other place I can remember - ha!)

Aja Jenise said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Mab said...

I love the Seaport Aquarium- I went oh about 15 or more years ago- just after the whale they used for Free Willy movie was transported to live there. Did you know UPS moved the whale?
Pictures are great- wished I took advantaged of the good weather to head over to the coast...

Heidi said...

Kiley~ Maybe a whale shark? They grow up to 50 feet!!

Rachel and Mab~ I think the last time I was there was when Keiko (Free Willy) was there! Too funny that UPS moved him. :)

skeller~ Tidepool Nazi... Bwa-ha-ha!!