Westport Aquarium

The Westport aquarium is one of few remaining family run aquariums in the west.

It’s also Washington state’s oldest, built in 1957! It is non-profit that relies on admission sales and donations. Current projects include updating the tank glass and making a friken FORT inside the whale skeleton so people can GO INSIDE THE WHALE.

(donate HERE)

We drive by the aquarium often, but for whatever reason, had never popped in.

We had met one of the owners last week when we saw a sick sea turtle on the beach. (unfortunately, despite receiving care, the turtle passed), and decided it was time to check it out…ESPECIALLY after reading reviews about being able to FEED THE animals! Anyone who knows me, knows that I used to spend at least 30 bucks every time I went to the Boise zoo JUST feeding the goats. If there is an option to touch and feed a wild animal, son of a bitch I’M IN.

Lucky for me, not only does the Westport Aquarium offer shrimp to feed, they also have a touch tank. Who doesn’t want to touch starfish?!

The aquarium is small, but well worth the $8 per adult we paid for admission. We easily spent an hour feeding fish, sweet talking the muscovy ducks Cuddles and Cinnamon, and talking to the friendly and educational staff. (we talked about conservation issues, sea lion safety, and even local food we love.

I’m a whimsical woman and love to touch everything. There is a grey whale skeleton that runs the length of the aquarium, and much to my delight, the owner encouraged us to touch, and even let us hold a whale inner ear bone. (dope and much more dense and heavy than you’d expect..or maybe you would, whales are fucking huge.)

There is even a small, secret door that I squeezed the ass into to feed the small fish! WHAT? 🖤

The Westport Aquarium is a must visit on the South Beach. We had a great time and will be back! Especially now that I know I could’ve fed shrimps to the ducks too!