hatfield marine science center

JKDodge

We took our children 4 and 1 to watch the Octopus being fed today.You can get hands on with the sea anemones but that's about all.I think this place is best suited for Ocean enthusiasts and older children as my little ones didn't understand the exhibits therefore couldn't appreciate them.

220karelr

Visitors need only make a small donation for entrance. Displays are not only kid friendly but fascinating for adults too! One could spend hours looking at the displays. Information abounds in very digestible packets! Even the gift store is geared more to education and entertainment, then commercial profit. Go often as there is never enough time to see it all. Kids interaction displays as well as the touching tidal pools are fabulous! My grand-kids loved it and never get tired of going!

Wildfireash

You will want to donate and keep the science center running every dollar helps. When I was a young mom and had very little money we would visit for a fun educational outing. Now we donate more and find it super rewarding. The staff are all super friendly and knowledgeable.

gbsmallie

This place was really cool. It was very interactive and you could touch almost everything, living or not, which my family loved. The staff was super friendly and knowledgable. Lots of fish tanks, fossils, ect, and amazing that it is by donation only. Highly recommended.

Hfate627

I feel this was very educational. They do have an octopus feeding that was interesting to watch. This would be very good for kids. . They also have hands on activities for kids and a touch pool

Capet0nian

What we love about Hatfield Marine Science Center is how interactive the exhibits are. The children have a great time and for the adults have lots to read about what is going on with marine life and research. The tsunami interactive display is fun and there normally is a friendly sparring as to who gets to play. Make sure to leave a donation, every dollar is needed and appreciated for research.

KJB51862

Been going to Hatfield Marine Center since our kids were little. Very near the Aquarium but less expensive for a family. lots of interesting displays, movies, touch pool.

46rustyp

didn't expect this!! We were just looking for a place for the grandkids to pass a few hours, but the aquarium in seaside was too far to drive. I saw this on a web site of stuff to do in newport, and thought,"why not?" As i recall, there wasn't a fixed admission, but a requested donation. and awesome!!! think pacific science center meets aquarium. Lots of cool stuff to see and learn, but also a lot of it was "hands-on" stuff that the kids loved!!! the youngest kept bugging me to take her clam digging the rest of the week!! if you have kids along, i highly recommend this place!!

OutdoorBoomer

Marine life, marine phenomena and fishing industry all on display. Watch an octopus being fed, touch urchins and sea cucumbers in the recreated tide pools, create your own tsunami to knock over a Lego structure, learn about natural cycles in the ocean, fishing industry strides, and more. Great place for kids and adults alike. Admission by donation. This is a dandy place! Look up details on-line before visiting.

CTL21

The Hatfield Marine Science Center was great. There was facts about sea life I didn't know! There was also lots of hands on projects that were fun. It was a great experience.

Kathgip

This Science Center is wonderful for children. There are so many hands on exhibits for them to enjoy. They can touch and feel and experience the ocean and its wonders first hand. It is free and that is especially nice. My Grandchildren love it here.

Empress_Holly

I really wanted to love this place, but it was not as child-friendly as it should have been. We brought our toddler who loves animals thinking it would be a great way to spend a morning with him. Unfortunately, many of the hands-on activities were out of his reach and no step-stools were provided. The wave action and tsunami exhibits would be perfect for preschoolers to learn about the power of the ocean, but they are situated about 3-4 feet off the ground so we had to hold him up for him to reach. He enjoyed making sand sculptures and building Lego structures to withstand a mini-tsunami, but when I asked about getting a chair for him to stand on, the staff said it was not allowed.The touch tanks were accessible to him, but he much preferred seeing the anemones and sea urchins in their natural environment. There are great tidepools at Newport and Cannon Beach which provide better viewing.In addition, there was no octopus during our visit. We were all a bit disappointed.

MarjorieC652

Lots of fish tanks and hands on exhibits. The touch tank is always a favorite of children - with colorful and slow-moving species - perfect to touch. It includes anemones, sea cucumbers and chiton (looks like an underwater Roly-poly). The volunteer at the tank explained why there are no starfish (technically sea stars) at this time. 85 % of Pacific coast starfish have died and they have just determined the cause is a virus. Hopefully, they will be able to stop the spread of this disease. It was disappointing not to see the large octopus but we had seen one on our last visit and the children were easily distracted by many more aquariums with interesting fish. Of course, they know 'Nemo' There was a very small 'red' octopus and I enjoyed hearing about the personalities of the previous octopi and why there was not one at the moment.Definitely worth a visit for both adults and children.

jkmarick

We were so disappointed that the octopus was not there. Was looking forward to that part of the science center. My kids are getting older and liked the science part of it this time, reading and participating in the activities that were available. Glad we made the stop.

AnnKirby

We arrived around 12:30 p.m., made the suggested $20 family donation, and were immediately absorbed with the skulls and fossils of marine animals nearest the entrance; more like OMSI, immediately different from the Oregon Coast Aquarium we visited the day before. This was our first visit, and we definitely will come again.We moseyed over to the octopus feeding where a docent explained why they were between giant red octopuses and had the little one they were going to feed a bit of squid at the bottom of a bottle. Our short, little kids were able to slide into spots in front. I knelt on the floor so as not to block the view for people behind me for the several minutes it took for the octopus to climb into the bottle for her dinner.