Explore the Ocean World Oceanarium — Attraction in Hampton

My Fiance and I were in Hampton Beach for the weekend and decided to stop in here with my Niece on Saturday as it was a little overcast for the beach and we were interested in checking out the touch tank. The exhibit is small but interesting and the touch tank is great. My niece Vanessa is just shy of two years old so her attention span is short and her willingness to follow directions is fleeting. While we were a little concerned about my niece destroying the neatly organized educational exhibit and helping to demonstrate a starfish's ability to grow back a broken leg, Ellen and her assistant both reassured us that she was fine and free to touch any of the displayed items. Since we weren't able to take advantage of the full experience Ellen gave us a break on the price which is already reasonable to begin with. Ellen is very knowledgeable and it is obvious she has an incredible passion for what she does. It was also obvious that her and her assistant are incredible with children. I would highly recommend this oceanarium to anyone in the area and hope to bring my niece back again sometime in the future when she is a little older to check out the bigger creatures in the tank (there's a huge starfish). The customer service is second to none. A truly great place with incredible staff!...

Definitely worth the visit, easily expect to spend 1hr. Lot of things to learn and be amazed about the marine animals. Clearly Ellen is passionate and knowledgeable about her work and being a marine biologist; evident by the details and way of presenting about the critters; husband is a marine biologist too and owns fishing boats, and based on the pictures there, the family seem to share a common interest. The critters there are said to have been locally obtained each year and more importantly they will be released back to ocean eventually! Apart from the live animals you get to touch and view under microscope, there are other fantastic exhibits too. All in all, worth the $8 entry ticket. Parking is bit an issue, but plenty seemed to available along the Ocean...

Do not be fooled by the size, this place is AMAZING! My girlfriend and I happened upon this place by accident but we were immediately taken in by Ellen and given what felt like a private lesson on oceanography! It is an interactive tour with hands on handling of creatures both alive and extinct that you may never have had the opportunity to see up close! The admission fee is only a mere $10 which is an absolute bargain for this wonderful experience! The owner, Ellen, is a delight in every way and she is both passionate and knowledgeable! We also had the pleasure of getting part of our tour by her intern, Simon, who is also extremely knowledgeable and kind! If you're at Hampton Beach, do not miss out...