THE OREGON COAST AQUARIUM

Due to the fog, and low visibility, we put on hold our plans to drive south to the viewpoint at Cape Perpetua.  We'll check that out on a better weather day.

Whenever we're in the Newport, OR area, one of the "must do" things, is to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium.  That's exactly what we did yesterday, checking out all of the sea critters, especially the 3 sea otters.  We happened to be there during feeding time for the sea otters, which was an added treat.  

If I remember correctly, two of these cute little guys came from CA, and one from Alaska.  In some way or another, all had been orphaned, and would not have made it, had they not been rescued.  Sea Otters have voracious appetites, eating as much as 25% of their body weight, each and every day.  These guys devoured  several buckets of squid, clams, and other seafood, in a very short period of time.

This aquarium is similar to the one we recently visited in Seward, Alaska, but this one covers more area, and the outdoor exhibits are much larger.  They even have large aviary's, one with seabirds, and one with other birds, like the turkey vulture pictured.
 

 This Turkey Vulture was part of the large bird habitat.

These birds are ofter mistaken for CA Condors at the Grand Canyon, but  their wing span is several feet smaller than the Condors.   We spent an hour or two at the aquarium, before heading over to South Beach, where we had lunch for the second day at South Beach Grocery/Restaurant/Fish Market.  More seafood (crab cocktail & Halibut fish/chips) for this burger guy.  Where's In N Out when you need one?

 The Newport bridge of the Yaquina River is impressive.  This is what we call a "Nick" bridge.

Great halibut & chips, clam chowder, and a fresh seafood market.