Oregon Coast Aquarium Sleepover: Sleep with the fishes behind the scenes!

About a year ago, I found out about the Oregon Coast Aquarium sleepover. Ever since then, I counted down the days until Edie’s 6^th birthday, when she’d be old enough to do the overnight stay at the aquarium. Hoo boy, all that waiting was worth it!

Nearly every day in the weeks leading up to our overnight sleepover at the aquarium in Newport, she’d ask me how many sleeps until we got to do our behind the scenes stay. Our excitement built until earlier this summer, when we drove to Newport for our aquarium sleepover.

Edie was beyond thrilled with her birthday gift. Before our overnight sleepover was even finished, she asked me, “Can we do this every week?”

We won’t be sleeping with the fishes at the Oregon Coast Aquarium every week, though I will continue to say “sleep with the fishes” until someone makes me stop.

And speaking of things I can’t stop talking about: I gush about our Oregon Coast Aquarium sleepover to anyone who will listen, so it’s past time I wrote about it here! Below, you’ll find our Newport aquarium sleepover review, what’s included in the overnight stay, logistics for the overnight sleepover, tips to make the aquarium sleepover go smoothly, and my bottom line takeaway.

If you’ve ever gone to an aquarium and wondered what happens after the crowds leave, you’ll definitely want to read on.

Oregon Coast Aquarium sleepover review

Newport aquarium sleepover: What to expect on Day 1

Edie and I arrived at the Oregon Coast Aquarium just before 6pm, when the aquarium closes. We saw the final stragglers leaving the aquarium—just as we were getting ready to explore it!

We met up with the rest of the group staying overnight in the aquarium classroom, south of the main entrance. We were 24 adults and kids, plus three aquarium staff. The room felt all buzzy, as if we were waiting for a celebrity to join us. #FishFanGirl

After a quick orientation talk that went over our schedule and the safety rules, we took our overnight gear to the Passages of the Deep. This is my favorite area in the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where you walk along a tunnel surrounded by tanks where fish, rays, eels and sharks swim freely.

After dropping off our things, we went to the aquarium café for dinner, which included pizza, salad and orange slices.. Edie and I had already eaten so we played in the lobby, where a pretend submarine stands. I pretended to be a hungry shark and Edie was a mermaid, naturally; I think the other parents thought I was somewhat nuts.

They’re not that far off.

After dinner, we got to what we were all there for: exploring the aquarium after-hours! The 24 of us had the entire Oregon Coast Aquarium to ourselves. Edie and I spent most of our time by the Touch Pool, where you can touch urchins, starfish, sea cucumbers, anemones and more sea creatures. Edie and the other kids (as well as the adults) giggled in delight as the urchins and anemones “hugged” their fingers with their spines and tentacles. I couldn’t stop laughing when an abalone thought my finger was dinner: The critter pulled my finger halfway into its shiny shell before I was able to (gently) wiggle my hand free.

The aquarium staff also brought out interactive scavenger hunt games to play in the aquarium. (Personally, I prefer my own aquarium scavenger hunt, which is more accessible to pre-readers and kids just learning to read.) Edie soon lost interest in it, leaving us free to explore the exhibits without an agenda.

I’m thrilled that we didn’t spend all our time trying to match the scavenger hunt clues to animals in the tanks because that meant more time for the aquarium’s new exhibit, Seapunk. This addition to the aquarium, which opened May 2019, had Edie flitting from one spot to the next. She was so excited by the strange, industrial, curiosity-sparking features that I could hardly keep track of her as she explored on fast forward!

After about an hour of hanging out in the aquarium, the staff rounded us up to return to the Passages of the Deep. It was time to get ready to sleep with the fishes!

(There I go again. Nope, I’m not over it yet.)

Before we set up for the sleepover, an aquarium security guard led us through a safety routine. The fire marshal requires it so overnight visitors know what to do in case of emergency.

Finally, it was time to get ready for bed. We picked up our sleepover gear and chose which of the three tanks to sleep in—Orford Reef, Halibut Flats or Open Sea. Edie and I picked Orford Reef instead of the shark-filled Open Sea for a few reasons: We wanted to be in the tank where the fish constantly hung out where we could see them, and also there were a few girls who said they were going to have a midnight dance party. Edie and I were both too tired to even entertain the possibility of late-night shenanigans.

Everyone laid out their sleeping bags, changed into pajamas in the bathrooms and set up for bed. Edie was exhausted—by this time, it was after 10pm and way past her usual bedtime. We whispered, smiling at each other from inside our sleeping bags, until lights out at 10:30pm.

With the lights off, I could barely see silhouettes of the rock fish floating all around us. A steady hum from the tank pumps sounded like the white noise machine Edie uses at home. Both of us fell asleep within minutes.

Newport aquarium sleepover: What to expect on Day 2

The morning of our aquarium sleepover, I woke up around 6am. Everyone else was still snoozing, including my beyond adorable daughter. I couldn’t help but marvel at how big she has gotten. Just six years ago, she was basically a tadpole floating inside me. Now look at her:

I watched the fish swim around us as the tanks gradually lightened. At 6:45, the aquarium staff woke up the adults. We grown-ups used the bathroom and changed before all the kids woke up at 7am.

I expected Edie to be tired and groggy, having gone to bed so late and having slept on the floor. But she woke up as excited as she went to sleep. Mere minutes after she opened her eyes, she spotted an enormous wolf eel swim past her head!

After everyone got dressed and packed up their sleeping gear, we went back to the aquarium café for breakfast. Breakfast included a blueberry muffin cake, hard boiled eggs, cereal and oatmeal. All the adults went straight for the brewed coffee, while I poured hot water over some much-needed black tea. I only wish I’d remembered to bring my own tea, as I don’t love the generic teas the aquarium had on hand.

Once everyone had refueled, we followed the aquarium employees through a staff-only door. We walked up a set of stairs to the level above the Passages of the Deep tanks. We saw a trio of volunteer scuba divers slip into the tanks for routine cleaning and maintenance.

While we were above the tanks—or “behind the scenes,” as Edie kept repeating in an excited whisper—we learned about how the aquarium takes care of the many, many animals there. I got to add a ton of info to the animal trivia file inside my brain. (You should see how stuffed it is. Seriously. And if you ever want to get me to talk a lot, ask me about random animal facts!)

Next, we walked downstairs and went into the aviary. One of the bird experts met us there, where she told us about the puffins, auklets and oystercatchers that live at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Lastly, during the final minutes of having the aquarium all to ourselves, we got to see the octopus and sea mammals. The octopus must have gotten up on the right side of the (sea)bed—it seemed as though it were giving us a special show!

The sea lions and seals were incredibly active, too. They zipped and looped in the tank right before our eyes. I swear I could see their joy. They moved as if they were simply delighted to be alive on such a beautiful, sunny morning. To be honest, I knew exactly how they felt.

The sea lions were my favorite animal sighting at the aquarium sleepover—until I saw the sea otters. Typically at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, it’s nearly impossible to see these charismatic critters because a crowd always gathers around their tank. This morning, though, we were the only ones there! So Edie and I had an unimpeded view of the otters as they groomed themselves, spun somersaults in the water and nipped at each other, beginning the day’s very important play.

Finally, we were ushered into the Oregon Coast Aquarium gift shop. I understood the need to wrap up and get us out of the aquarium—after all, staff needed to get the grounds ready for the day’s visitors—and I respect that sales at the gift shop support the aquarium. But having our last stop be the gift shop put us parents in a very tight spot. All the kids wanted to buy stuffed sharks and jelly fish hats and octopus key chains.

I counted myself lucky to escape having bought only a handful of post cards and a few Melissa & Doug mermaid sticker books.

Aquarium sleepover logistics

The Oregon Coast Aquarium runs sleepover nights on select Fridays and Saturdays all year long, though more often during the summer. The Sleep in the Deep starts at 6pm and ends around 9:15 am the following day. Click on their sleepover schedule page to see if available dates work with your family vacation plans.

Cost of Oregon Coast Aquarium sleepover

The sleepover costs $80 per person, or $75 if you’re a member. This price includes all activities, dinner and breakfast.

Who can do an overnight stay at the aquarium?

Sleepover participants must be at least 6 years old. (Maxine was devastated she wasn’t old enough, but Edie kept reminding her we can come back when she turns 6. What a good big sister!)

Some sleepover nights are reserved for particular groups, like Girl Scouts or homeschool families, but others are open to any families who want to join.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend an aquarium overnight for kids who have nightmares often, who don’t sleep through the night, who wet the bed, or who are afraid of the dark.

What to pack for an aquarium sleepover

To stay comfortable during your overnight stay, bring:

• A sleeping bag and pillow
• A sleeping pad (remember, you’ll be sleeping directly on the ground, so you’ll want some cushion beneath you!)
• Your child’s lovey (anything that helps her sleep—Edie brought Lulu, the doll I made for her two summers ago, who goes everywhere with us)
• Long sleeves or layers (the aquarium got a little chilly, even during the summer, toward the end of the night and in the morning)
• Camera
• Phone charger (I somehow forgot mine and was super bummed because my battery was at 3% by the time we headed for our sleeping bags. A friendly dad let me borrow his, thank goodness!)
• Toiletries
• Pajamas
• A change of clothes
• Any foods you need, if you have dietary restrictions
• Anything you need to wake up in the morning (next time I’ll bring some good tea!)
• Sleep aids like ear plugs and a sleep mask, if they’ll help you sleep better

What not to bring to an aquarium sleepover

You’ll want to leave some things at home to make the most of your overnight at the aquarium. Don’t bring:

• Electronics like video games or tablets (you’ll want your kids to focus on the experience, not on a screen)
• Food (you’re not allowed to snack outside the aquarium café)
• Books, magazines, etc (you won’t have down time in between activities)
• Flash lights (you’re not allowed to use a flash light, or even your phone’s light, after 10:30: apparently even a little bit of light can keep the fish awake!)

The bottom line: Should you stay overnight at the aquarium?

If you haven’t already gathered, Edie and I had an amazing time during our overnight stay at the aquarium. When we left, she and I wrote post cards together to our friends and family, sharing the highlights of the trip. Edie dictated to me what she wanted to stay and drew pictures of her favorite parts. She kept talking about how excited she was to go “behind the scenes!”

Edie and I are already looking forward to our next sleepover.

Tips for a smooth sleepover at the Newport aquarium

1. Park in the wolf eel parking lot. This lot is not the usual place where we park for the main aquarium entrance. Instead, as you drive toward the aquarium, turn right. The third lot is the wolf eel lot. From there, you have about 100 feet to walk to the classroom.
2. Pack light. You’re responsible for carrying all your overnight gear to the opposite end of the aquarium. It’s not that far, but it feels like quite a distance if you’re carrying 100 pounds of stuff.
3. Bring a wagon. One super-smart mom brought a foldable wagon to wheel her family’s gear in. I’m definitely copying her next time!
4. Bring special food you’ll need for dinner or breakfast. If you or your kids can’t eat breakfast foods commonly found in a continental spread, or you have dietary restrictions, BYO meals.
5. Charge your phone or camera before you go. Edie and I wanted to take all the pictures!
6. Decide on a gift shop policy ahead of time. Tell your kids you’ll end in the gift shop—and choose what, if anything, they’re allowed to buy. If you leave the decision until that moment, you’ll be too sleepy to put up a fight.
7. Plan on a nap. You and your kids will probably be more tired than usual the next day. Edie was pooped! If your kid’s a napper (unfortunately, Edie hasn’t napped since before her 2^nd birthday), plan on a longer-than-typical snooze the day after your sleepover.

An unforgettable Sleep in the Deep

The Oregon Coast Aquarium Sleep in the Deep experience was one of the most fun things I’ve done with Edie. What’s more, it was even more memorable because it was a mommy-daughter day: a special trip with just the two of us.

My family has been to the Oregon Coast Aquarium many times before—after all, we’re members—but never like this. I wholeheartedly recommend this unique Oregon experience if you’re looking for things to do that are off the beaten path.

Let me know if you plan, or hope, to go. And if you schedule a sleepover for next summer, we might just see you there! I’m staying true to my promise to Edie: We’ll be back every year.

If you want a free printable aquarium scavenger hunt, click on over—it’s one of my most popular posts!