One million gallons of water house marine life at the Newport Aquarium. The aquarium sits just across the Ohio River in Northern Kentucky’s Newport on the Levee. Home to three of the largest turtle species in the world, guests can meet Thunder, the alligator snapping turtle; Denver, the loggerhead sea turtle; and Bravo, the largest Galapagos turtle in the Midwest.
The aquarium offers several hands-on, interactive experiences while featuring one of the most diverse populations of penguins in the region. Behind-the-scenes experiences include interactions with Bravo, the turtle, as well as pictures with the aquarium’s warm species of penguins. In the summer, the aquarium hosts a free penguin parade just outside the aquarium and a penguin mobile float, 15 minutes after the building opens. Don’t forget to meet Mighty Mike, the 14-foot, 800-pound alligator who waits patiently in Gator Alley.
The aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours during the summer. Adult Happy Hour is from 4 to 7 p.m. daily and families can save as one full-price adult ticket gets you two free kid tickets. Families should plan for an afternoon visit to enjoy all of what the aquarium has to offer.
