3 Reasons to Visit the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks - MetroFamily Magazine
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3 Reasons to Visit the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks

by Brooke Barnett

Reading Time: 2 minutes 

Finding fun activities when it's cold outside can be challenging. My family has three or four favorite places in Norman that we go to play when it's too cold to be outside….but sometimes, a change to scenery can be nice when the kids start saying "Really? We're going there AGAIN???"  I love taking my kids to explore new places and we recently took a field trip up the Turner Turnpike to the Oklahoma Aquarium (300 Aquarium Dr) in Jenks.

Where to Go:

The drive from the OKC metro to Jenks is all turnpike, so it makes for an easy drive. It took us just under two hours, including potty stops. (Be sure to take some money for the tolls—it's $4 if you don't have a Pike Pass.) Ample free parking is available at the Aquarium, and there is even a hotel nearby if you'd like to make it a weekend getaway. And with so much to explore, you could easily spend a full day just having fun in the Aquarium.

What to Do:

Divided into different exhibit galleries, the Oklahoma Aquarium features hundreds of aquatic animals and fish. Highlights for my family were the jellyfish displays (you just have to see them to truly appreciate how cool they are!), the walk-through shark tunnel in the Shark Adventure area (including the largest bull sharks in captivity) and the opportunities to touch sting rays. The river otters and sea turtles are also pretty incredible.

But the thing my kids talked about on the drive home? Seeing two divers feeding the fish in the Coral Reef in the Oceans room!  Every day at 3:30pm, Aquarium staff put on a show of their own as they feed the fish in the display.  The two divers we saw did everything from turning somersaults to posing for photos—and my kids thought it was a hoot to see a human in with all the fish! For other interactive opportunities like this, see the Aquarium's weekly feeding schedule.

The Aquarium is open every day, year-round (except Christmas Day) from 10am-6pm, and until 9pm on Tuesdays.

Find upcoming special events at the Aquarium here.

How to Save:

General Admission tickets are $15.95, $13.95 for seniors and military, $11.95 for children 3-12 and free for children 2 and under. Use MetroFamily's Kids Pass to receive $2 off general admission for up to four people.

Happy exploring!

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