I just visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium today, and it is a terrific medium-sized aquarium that could be a candidate for inclusion on any list of the 10 best aquariums in North America. The so-called BIG FIVE (Georgia, Shedd, Monterey Bay, Tennessee, Baltimore) are possibly followed by places such as Vancouver and Dallas World, but then it gets a little hazy and thus Oregon Coast might have a legitimate shot at cracking anyone's top 10 list. I might be exaggerating due to the fact that there are still a few top aquariums that I have not visited, but I was tremendously impressed with the facility.
The outdoor area is simply superb, with massive, craggy rock walls surrounding outstanding sea lion/harbour seal and sea otter exhibits. The shorebirds aviary (with 5 different species) is brilliant and amongst the best of its kind in North America, and it was apparently recently renovated in 2009 and the rockwork was made to look even more naturalistic. There is also an octopus tank, a large tidepool and a brand new turkey vulture aviary (it opened in October of 2009) and the entire area is top-notch. There are viewing platforms that peer into an estuary, and several species of wild birds can be seen along a mini nature trail.
Indoors is very well done but small, with 3 main rooms that have large, clean tanks that showcase the wildlife from off of the Oregon coastline. A lovely addition to the aquarium many years ago, "Passages of the Deep", has 3 walk-through underwater tunnels that highlight numerous species of sharks, rays, skates and various other species of fish. The floors all have glass viewing areas, and this section of the aquarium is extremely popular with all ages.
The Seaside Aquarium was also visited today, and it is 2.5 hours up the Oregon coast from the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Seaside Aquarium:
I visited this crappy aquarium, which opened in 1937 and is one of the oldest aquariums on the west coast. The place is absolute junk, and that is being kind to a decrepit, tired, badly outdated establishment. There were 11 harbour seals crammed into the smallest possible pool that I've ever seen for pinnipeds, and then there were about 35 tanks around a dark, gloomy room. The tanks were atrocious, as they were barren of much substrate other than the occasional rock or ugly rust. Disgustingly muddy and dirty tanks, combined with the pride at breeding harbour seals in such a tiny bathtub, made the 30 minute visit a disgrace. I'd be shocked if there is a worse aquarium in the United States, unless one counts the goldfish bowls that are evident in the rooms of many Americans.
