Newport Aquarium — Attraction in Newport

Updating my review. I've visited aquariums across the globe and the U.S., including Osaka, Barcelona, Bangkok, Shedd, SeaWorld (FL and CA), and the National Aquarium in DC. Domestically, this aquarium is the best. SeaWorld and the National Aquarium are overpriced for what they offer. The Shedd is reasonably priced but, factoring in parking and travel logistics, it’s more of a once-in-a-while destination. On the other hand, this aquarium is a repeat visit for us—a few times a year.

That said, parking remains a hassle, and Google Maps tends to struggle with directions in Cincinnati. I highly recommend buying tickets in advance, especially if you’re visiting from out of town or planning your trip during peak times like weekends, school breaks, or holidays. Unfortunately, discount tickets from platforms like Groupon have become rare, and the introduction of dynamic pricing, which i hate and is a turn off for visiting because it feels like a cash grab. We paid a premium rate today (1/2/25), only to find the aquarium almost empty. The pricing strategy is a bit disappointing.

Cincinnati itself makes for a great weekend getaway. We often stay at a hotel with a pool—sometimes Great Wolf Lodge, though we’ve kind of outgrown that. Other must-see attractions include the Cincinnati Zoo (fantastic), the American Sign Museum (kids under 12 get in free), Jungle Jim’s, IKEA, and the Museum Center complex, which is incredible. Been coming here about 10 years. It's a really nice experience for the kiddos. Was just there over the weekend. There's a portion that is under constructions and BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE! I always find parking in the area is a challenge so my advise is to just save yourself time and aggravation and valet park. It's a bit pricey to me but I remind myself this type of place is very expensive to maintain. We spend generally an hour to 1.5 hrs. It can be crowded and a bit difficult for the shorter kiddos to see things and people will stand infront of a display forever, taking pics of each fish, please keep things moving people. Overall, it is definitely worth a trip to Cincinnati to visit. We like to come down for a weekend. Vist the aquarium, IKEA, jungle Jim's and the recently renovated museum complex or the zoo. It makes for a nice...

A Captivating Underwater Journey at Newport Aquarium

As a seasoned traveler and experience critic, I’m rarely caught off guard—but the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky managed to do just that. This attraction is a true gem for families, couples, and solo adventurers alike.

The layout is expansive yet intuitively designed, making it easy to navigate through the various exhibits without feeling overwhelmed. From the moment you enter, you're immersed in a vibrant, underwater world teeming with life.

The staff were impressively knowledgeable, enhancing the visit with interesting facts and guiding guests through interactive areas with care and enthusiasm. The touch pools were a particular highlight—offering opportunities to gently touch stingrays and even the fins of certain shark species, making for a tactile and unforgettable moment, especially for younger visitors.

One of the most innovative features was the climb-through and crawl-under exhibits, which allow guests to step inside the habitat—literally. It's a rare and thrilling experience to stand surrounded by aquatic life, gaining a perspective that's as close to being under the sea as you can get without diving in.

The tunnel walk-throughs were mesmerizing: sharks gliding above, fish darting beneath your feet—an awe-inspiring experience from every angle. The Shark Bridge, suspended over the massive shark tank, was equally thrilling and offered breathtaking views.

Particular praise must be given to the seahorse and jellyfish exhibits. The seahorses were beautifully displayed in serene environments, while the various stages of jellyfish development were presented with such artistry and clarity, it felt like walking through a living science museum.

In short, the Newport Aquarium delivers an engaging, educational, and visually stunning experience. Whether you're a marine life enthusiast or just looking for an unforgettable family outing, this aquarium should be at the top of your list when visiting the Newport/Cincinnati...

What a cool place! We got through it quicker than expected but we had littles that weren't interested in reading all the great info they had for each tank. We went during the Mermaid exhibit. How cool! I felt like a little kid again! The ladies were super friendly and engaging to kids and adults alike. They even had a sit down photo opportunity with one of them. As well as one mermaid swimming in the sting ray touch pool where you could directly interact with a mermaid, in the water and they'd let the kiddos touch their tail (the sting rays were temporarily unavailable and not in the tank during this time). There was even a 3' tall tunnel in the tank so the kids could get the feeling of swimming underwater with them. In one of the coral reef walk through tunnels you could walk directly under a swimming mermaid. Definitely a unique experience. The highlight for the kids was the shark touch pool. Just make sure to wear short sleeves, the sharks are DEEP in the touch pool and the shark and the sea creature pools are FREEZING cold. Be aware though for tickets, the price fluctuate depending on the day you visit. Some days have longer hours than others and parking isn't free but it's a covered parking garage. The aquarium is in an outdoor shopping mall of sorts so be prepared to walk OUTSIDE from the parking garage to the aquarium even though the parking garage is covered. The aquarium had a cafe inside with surprisingly delicious, hot "fresh" food. I had the Nashville Hot Chicken and it was delicious, even the personal pizza's crust had flavor. The prices were typical for a cafe in an aquarium. It's not cheap. If you don't want to eat there, just outside the entrance to the aquarium there are multiple food options and an ice cream shop, candy shop, etc. And brace yourself for the extensive gift shop that you have to walk through to exit. Definitely worth the stop, just be prepared for...