We started off in Newport at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. We saw lots of sea life, as well as freshwater animals in the "Swampland" exhibit. The girls loved touching the starfish and sea anemones, but Camryn wasn't too impressed with the octopus exhibit. She appeared disgusted the entire time the polite teenage volunteer explained to her about suction cups, beaks, and ink.
At the end of the exhibits, there is a climbing area for kids. This may have been one of the top contenders for the girls' favorite attraction...
After a picnic lunch, tailgate style, we went out for ice cream, and then hit the beach for several sunny, but windy, hours in the sand. I swear the girls could have played there for days, if we had more food and a closer restroom. They were content to dig, search for treasures, and fling sand into the wind for hours and hours. It was the most cooperative they've been in weeks. No joke. Camryn even made me a "birthday cake," complete with beach-find decorations. :) Contrary to the visual imagery below, Aubrey was not actually eating sand, she just had it stuck to her entire body. My little neat freak was so content being dirtier and grimier than she's ever been before. By the time we left, she had quite the little sand-goatee and mustache going on. :)
We ended our day with chowder at Mo's, and a long ride home. We were all exhausted, but glad we had such a fun-filled day.
