*Newport Aquarium hosted us for this visit. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
We were so excited to visit another beautiful aquarium for our daughter’s birthday. Here are our favorite parts of the Newport Aquarium.
Amazon Tunnel
There were several tunnels throughout the aquarium and we loved them all! The Amazon Tunnel is a 32-foot long seamless acrylic tunnel bisecting a 117,000-gallon freshwater environment. We enjoyed getting an up-close look at the giant arapaima – the largest of all freshwater fish looming through the water at 6 feet long and weighing 200 pounds!
Penguin Palooza
My son had such a fun time with the penguins. He would run alongside them as they swam in the water. The largest viewing window in this aquarium is for the penguins!
Shark Ray Bay Theater
Shark Ray Bay was probably the whole family’s favorite part of the aquarium. At 385,000 gallons of saltwater, it’s the largest tank in the aquarium and is home to stingrays, sharks, and a variety of species of schooling fish – all coexisting peacefully. We got to see Denver, a 200-pound loggerhead sea turtle!
Stingray Hideaway
At Stingray Hideaway, you can touch stingrays as they swim along the edge of the 17,000-gallon touch pool, specially designed to allow easy access for adults and kids. My daughter loved this area. In the past, she has been too scared to touch the stingrays, but not this time! She was so excited that she finally pet one!
Shark Tank Overlook
The most unique feature of the aquarium is definitely the Shark Tank Overlook. The Shark Bridge is the world’s first suspended rope bridge where guests can walk just inches above sharks, shark rays, and other aquatic animals. This V-shaped rope bridge is 75 feet long and is suspended over the open water of the 385,000-gallon Surrounded By Sharks exhibit. Shark Tank Overlook offers guests a top-side view of one of the largest open-air viewing tanks in the country. Our daughter loved this part of the aquarium!
Other Exhibits
Other fun exhibits include Freshwater Falls, Frog Bog, Gator Alley, Shark Central, and Splash & Bubbles Reeftown Adventure (a great spot for the kiddos)!
We had a wonderful time! The staff was so nice and friendly and the exhibits were very educational. You can follow the Newport Aquarium here: https://www.instagram.com/newport_aquarium/