Marine biologists, in charting earth's last uncharted frontier, often deal with outlaw otters and saloon brawls between pool sharks. Enter a tamer teeming of life with today's Groupon, which gets you tickets to Oregon Coast Aquarium, located in Newport. Choose between two options:

• For $15, you get two adult tickets (up to a $31.90 value).
• For $25, you get two adult and two child or young adult tickets (up to a $59.80 value).

Snuggled up next to the gorgeous Yaquina Bay, Oregon Coast Aquarium showcases the intricate sea life found on the Pacific Coast. Visitors can peer into the personal lives of outgoing ocean dwellers in the Passages of the Deep, which guides guests through the underwater ecosystems of the state's coast. Disciples of the sea can chat about the Wall Street Journal ’s recent article about the ink market with the giant Pacific octopus or watch public feedings of the largest sea otter community in the state—featuring the antics of the cheeky charmer northern otter Mojo. Merry mariners can swap shanties with the sleek and vocal sea lions or harbor seals, and touchy tourists can acquaint themselves with tide-pool residents in the Rocky Shores touch pool.

Reviews

Yahoo! Travelers and Google Mappers give Oregon Coast Aquarium an average of 4.5 stars, and more than 50 Yelpers give it a four-star average, TripAdvisors give it an average of four owl eyes, and more than 580 Facebookers like it.

• The Oregon Coast aquarium provides hours and hours of indoors and outdoors fun with its informative exhibits, hands on areas, and gravel paths and play area for the kids to explore. – Heather T., Google Maps
• As far as aquariums go this place is one of the best I've seen. – PeePee B., Yelp, 12/21/10