Now open to the public, Sea of Adventure is currently featured in our East Wing Gallery, appropriately positioned just five yards from the waterfront intersection where Newport Harbor meets the Pacific Ocean.

The exhibition features three distinct areas that examine the past, present and future of nautical exploration.

The Touch Tank is Fun for Kids of All Ages!

Come Play with Our Sea Creatures and Experience What Lives Beneath the Sailing Seas

touch tank

Read about the importance of giant kelp forests and get your hands wet in our interactive touch tank display. See and touch animals that are found along our coast and in our local kelp forests. Feel the prickly spines of a red sea urchin, stroke the bumpy skin of a California sea cucumber, and watch as giant ochre stars pull apart mussels for their lunch.

The touch tank animals are rotated in the exhibits as not to exhaust them or cause them undue stress. The animals “visit” our museum for a 2 week stay. After 2 weeks they are returned to their homes on the reef and we welcome new animals. Because of this rotation, our touch tank population changes regularly but usually includes: