The Newport Aquarium is located in Newport, Kentucky, across from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. The aquarium has more than 70 different exhibits and 14 galleries, which include five seamless acrylic tunnels that total over 5,000 feet in length. The Newport Aquarium showcases thousands of different animals from all over the world, and is open daily all year round. The most popular attraction at the aquarium is "Sweet Pea and Scooter;'' one of the few pairs of shark rays in captivity in the world, and the aquarium has the only breeding pairs of shark rays in the world. The aquarium is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and is a leader in global conservation efforts.
In the "Surrounded by Sharks'' display, guests will get to walk through an 85 feet long, 385,000 gallon tank that has see through floors. The tank is home to Tiger, Nurse, and Sandbar, and Sand Tiger Sharks, Southern Stingrays, Jacks, Grunts, Groupers and Loggerhead Turtles. Guests can view the underwater Atlantic Ocean exhibit through bubble windows, and witness colonies of fish and various other animals in peaceful coexistence.
The "Bizarre and Beautiful'' exhibit is comprised of thirteen displays, and houses some of the most unique and stunning sea creatures in the world. Some of the animals found in the exhibit are the Giant Pacific Octopus, Flashlight fish and seahorses. The Red Sea Reef Tank is a 450-gallon tank that features live corals, fish and invertebrates.
The Coral Reef exhibit is housed in the 4th tunnel of the aquarium. The display immerses visitors into the color and splendor of marine life in an Indo-Pacific reef environment. The exhibit is a 60,000-gallon saltwater tank, which is home to Tangs, Unicornfish, Honeycomb Moray Eels, Port Jackson Sharks, Porcupine fish and Bonnetheads.
One of the most popular attractions at the aquarium is the Penguin Encounter Exhibit. Guests are invited on a 20 minute tour led by a qualified biologist, and are welcome to view and touch the three Blackfooted Penguins. Tours of the exhibit are limited, and reservations are made on a first-come-first-serve basis only. Tickets can be purchased the day before the visit at the ticket window or by calling the aquarium.
The Aquarium also offers guided tours for visitors, which allows them to learn about the marine life and what it takes to maintain a 1,000,000-gallon facility. The tour shows visitors miles of pipes, learn how the animals are fed, and is topped off by a visit to the veterinarian lab.
From its commitment to wildlife conservation to its interactive displays, the Newport Aquarium always has something interesting to offer visitors. The aquarium invites guests to venture through some of the most amazing aquatic life from all around the world, and learn about the importance of preserving the delicate environment in which they live. To enjoy everything the aquarium has to offer, it is recommended that guests allow two hours for touring the facility. Newport Aquarium surrounds visitors with the wonders of an underwater world, and is an amazing experience they will never forget.
