Explore the Ocean World Oceanarium

Fantastic experience: Great guides. Would recommend. Learned a lot about fishermen. Love the crabs and their claws. (I didn't get pinched)

Fantastic experience: A must do for anyone with kids or and interest in local marine life! This affordable activity is so personalized and hands on my 6&8 year old could’ve stayed all day! The tour lasts about 45 minutes (though people can come and go at their own pace) where the staff guide you through the tanks and exhibits they have. There are many opportunities to touch the sea creatures which my kids LOVED. It looks small but there is so much to look at and learn about. We had more fun here than at the Boston Aquarium

Fantastic experience: I came into this touch tank aquarium expecting something more like a traditional aquarium, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Instead of just walking around looking at tanks, it turned out to be an interactive, guided experience focused on local sea life from the nearby beach. The staff member leading the tour was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly—she answered all of our questions and made the whole visit engaging and fun. My son had an absolute blast, and that alone made it worth it. Highly recommend this spot for families looking for a hands-on, educational experience!

Fantastic experience: This place is amazing we learned alot it was so much fun definitely would recommend checking it out its well worth it. Also don't forget to ask about the scavenger hunt for the beach and you could stop in just to get a scavenger hunt paper if you are headed to the beach.

Fantastic experience: Hidden Gem! An absolute must see for kids interested in biology and our natural world. Ellen is a treasure trove of information and amazing at what she does. It may seem like a small space at first, but there is hours of information here waiting to be discovered.

Fantastic experience: To be clear, this is not a big fancy science museum. It is a few simple tanks in a small room, but the people who run it are very knowledgeable and it is one of the best hands-on experiences your kids will get with some sea creatures that they may otherwise never get a chance to encounter in their life. We were just trying to kill some time on a road trip, but are very glad we stopped in here. The kids had a great time and it was well worth the visit.

Fantastic experience: A fun and interactive experience with the local marine life guided by friendly and very knowledgeable marine biologists. This was the exact kind of experience I love for my kid to have.

Fantastic experience: We went with our 12 year old who wants to be a marine biologist and it was amazing! Ellen, Olivia and Maia were so welcoming and such a wealth of knowledge. The touch tanks made my son's day. Highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: A very educational place I would recommend everyone of all ages to visit. Not just for the young. You will get to touch things from the ocean you may never touch or see again. Definitely get there an hour before they close to get your money's worth. I learned a lot and am thankful this oceanarium is here.

Fantastic experience: Better than any aquarium. Hands down. This was so hands on and educational. Great activity for anyone, but especially those with kids that love to learn

Fantastic experience: This was one of the best parts of our entire 10 day vacation. Ellen does an amazing job creating a fun and unique experience for everyone. We were traveling with a group of people ages 5 to over 65, and everyone had a great time. The kids especially enjoyed having ample time to touch and hold multiple different sea creatures. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: This place is a must, especially with children. You get to learn so much! We not only got to see a live Blue Lobster but we got to touch it too! Oh and we even saw and touched a Calico Lobster! We all learned so much, parents too! Even my teenage son loved it. We held live crabs, huge hermit crabs, star fish, horseshoe crabs, and lobsters. We got to touch a live spiked crab, we held whale ribs, baleen plates (multiple different kinds), a sword fish sword, and so much more. All while being guided by a wonderful Marine Biologist who clearly loves what she does.

Fantastic experience: Such a great place for kids! The guided tour is great. Small groups and lots of opportunity for kids to hold the animals and ask questions. Very hands on learning. The staff are super knowledgeable and very passionate. I just asked our 7 year old what we should write in this review and she said “Amazing and super fun!”

Fantastic experience: I stopped in here with my partner Vern, we were a little late it seemed but Ellen invited us in anyways and allowed us to enjoy the remaining bit of the lesson she has perfected. After it was over, we were ready to leave, however she invited us to stay a bit longer so we could finish every treat she had in store! It was such a delight and she was so lovely, definitely recommend stopping in and we plan on visiting again! Thank you again for the wonderful, informative experience! Pictured is one of my favorites, a fossilized whale rib.

Fantastic experience: Such a fantastic find for kids and adults. Ellen and her team provide so much great information! She's truly dedicated to the ocean and teaching others. She's loves questions and letting everyone touch and feel and explore. Thanks so much for a truly amazing experience. My son would be here daily if they were open year round. And he wants to be a marine biologist now!!

Fantastic experience: Oh my gosh we had the best time here, absolutely make the time for a visit, be sure to bring cash for entry which we did but this was such a fun experience for my kids to learn and have hands on and I learned so much and just totally enjoyed ourselves, everyone was incredibly kind and it was just a really neat place to come and learn and experience some ocean life! Plan to go to the beach right after because it's got access to a lovely beach right across the street!

Fantastic experience: Small (one room) but amazing staff and really fun - we learned a lot and the kids loved the touch tanks!

Fantastic experience: A hidden gem!! Really wonderful place to learn about what's hidden under the sea. The touch tanks are amazing to be able to handle the sea creatures with guidance from the knowledgeable staff. Great time to ask questions and get answers from people who have studied in the field and are incredibly friendly!

Fantastic experience: Definitely worthwhile. We spent about 90 minutes listening, learning, and holding the different animals they had on-hand. Great knowledge of local species. Love the fact that the oceanarium works with local fishermen. It was a great family activity!

Fantastic experience: This place is amazing for all ages even adults .they teach you sooo much ..an show you alot .

Positive experience: It’s a small little business but jam packed with fossils, pictures, sea critters and more. Ellen was one of a kind and you can tell she truly loves what she does. Great with my toddlers and despite the young ages, she made it fun for them!

Fantastic experience: My Ole man and I stopped in. I know it's an educational spot for kids to interact and learn about all the critters, however we felt like big kids going in. We had so much fun, And learned some very cool facts about the oceans wildlife. Ellen was awesome we had another group that had some children with them their reactions are priceless. I would love to bring my kids. I may in the future. We was here for work so unfortunately they weren't with us.

Fantastic experience: I just left there and it was great! It was wonderful to be able to hold on to the animals! Everyone was so knowledgeable and I felt comfortable asking questions.

Fantastic experience: This place is a great stop for the kids

Fantastic experience: Very nice they worked past their hours by a lot and the infos were accurate and fun even for children 10/10!

Fantastic experience: A place to visit, the biologist Eileen is a real passionate, the kinds and me learn a lot.

Positive experience: The lady who runs it is a marine biologist and the whole experience is very fun and informative. Small but fun for the kiddos

Fantastic experience: Do not be fooled by the size, this place is AMAZING! My girlfriend and I happened upon this place by accident but we were immediately taken in by Ellen and given what felt like a private lesson on oceanography! It is an interactive tour with hands on handling of creatures both alive and extinct that you may never have had the opportunity to see up close! The admission fee is only a mere $10 which is an absolute bargain for this wonderful experience! The owner, Ellen, is a delight in every way and she is both passionate and knowledgeable! We also had the pleasure of getting part of our tour by her intern, Simon, who is also extremely knowledgeable and kind! If you're at Hampton Beach, do not miss out on this place!

Fantastic experience: Despite the size this place packs a punch! Ellen is a fantastic educator and great at engaging children and adults alike. Great information provided. My 2.5 year old LOVED the touch tanks even if she was a bit too little for the guided talk. There is so much to look at for a relatively small space. Don’t expect the pomp and circumstance of a huge aquarium but the personal experience Ellen provides can’t be beat.

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful experience there today. My four children (8-12) all were very captivated by Ellen and the animals. We were able to touch animals that are traditionally not available in touch tanks while learning interesting facts about them. The adults had an excellent time too. I would highly recommend this location. We then completed their scavenger hunt across the street at that beach. We had perfect timing and hit the beach about an hour before low tide.

Fantastic experience: A must do stop for families during your beach vacation! It was wonderful to learn about local ecosystems and the proper way to hold local wildlife. They also have a scavenger hunt for kids to do on the local beach.

Fantastic experience: This was the best thing we did on vacation this summer. We went in early September and had a one on one with Ellen. She was fabulous and so so so knowledgeable. My partner and I were so incredibly impressed with all the up close animal interactions, conservation information, and great patience from Ellen who explained everything and followed my then 3 year old around diligently. Working with young children, sensory experiences are so important. This is a must do! Thank you to everyone who makes this program possible.

Fantastic experience: We had so much fun & got to hold live horseshoe crab, lobster, various crabs, sea urchin, different starfishes, fossil of a megalodon tooth & more. There were so many interesting items. The lady is a marine biologist & was very interesting. Even my 12 year old daughter had a great time. It was only $8 per person, cash only. Definitely go.

Fantastic experience: A really fun experience! Ellen guided us through the different sea creatures and information about them with passion and care. After the tour, I spoke with her about what it's like finding work after graduating with a Biology degree. It was clear she was happy to help out a youngster in the field!

Fantastic experience: What an informative visit! Grandkids especially loved being able to touch and hold all kinds of sea creatures. The best way to learn. Definitely take the time to stop in.

Fantastic experience: Super interesting talk through amazing animals and hands on understanding from enthusiastic marine biologists. Thank you!

Fantastic experience: Had a great visit to the Oceanarium, Ellen was very knowledgable and passionate about sharing that knowledge. Lots of opportunity to see sea life up close, with plenty of artefacts along the walls to explore!

Fantastic experience: Possibly my favorite non beach experience in the area. Learned and had fun as an adult but perfect for school age children as well. You will learn all about the local sea life, not to mention hold and touch much of it! Lead by the friendliest and most passionate biologist you will ever meet.

Fantastic experience: Hidden Gem along the strip at Hampton Beach, it was a great experience for my kids. Very small but the value is in learning a lot about local ocean wildlife from a Marine Biologist and being able to touch and hold a wide variety of creatures, as well as several artifacts as well. As you can see from the look on my kids’ faces, they were in heaven.

Fantastic experience: We really enjoyed the presentation and being able to hold the crabs, lobsters and sea stars. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: Such a fun time! Ellen was so helpful, and such an expert on all the marine life on display. Would definitely recommend!

Fantastic experience: Nice exibit of living and fossils specimens. Very devoted/knowledgeable staff and owner! I learned many things during my visit. Thank you! :)

Fantastic experience: Thank you! This was so much fun and the kids especially my son loved this. He now says it's his favorite place and wants to work there when he grows up LoL. It's hands on and interactive and love that it's also educational. I myself learned things about the very cool sea creatures they have. We definitely will visit again!

Fantastic experience: Stopped here on our way up the coast. I think it is the hidden gem in Hampton Beach!!! This place will turn adults into five year olds. This was a priceless experience that is worth so much more than the $8 it cost for each of us.

Fantastic experience: Ellen was wonderful and very patient with our group's 5 kids (ranging from 3-7 1/2). You can tell she loves what she does. Definitely recommend.

Fantastic experience: My 2 and 3 year olds had a wonderful time. The owner amd her staff were very knowledgeable and great with the kids. I highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Ellen was informative, intelligent, and personable. Never mind my daughter, I had a great time! Thank you for owning a business such as this, truly a gem.

Fantastic experience: We loved the hands on experience! Small facility packed with great educational things for the kids and adults alike!

Negative experience: Cash only, which should be stated on the website

Fantastic experience: My kids are 18 and 21, but they absolutely loved their time here. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and made for a good experience. Having a Marine Biologist leading discussion was perfect. We all learned that day!

Negative experience: Wish it was handicap accessible

Fantastic experience: After reading Ellen's article on moon shells, I had to meet her and see the museum...holding a live horse shoe crab and blue lobster was pretty amazing as is Ellen and her knowledge...take the kids and grands!

Fantastic experience: Great experience! Ellen, the Marine Biologist was outstanding! Our kids loved it and learned a ton. The touch tanks were their favorite as well as the Scavenger Hunt. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful knowledge and passion!

Fantastic experience: I would give this place a 10 out of 5. I have been coming to Hampton for many years and I am sorry that I didn’t come here sooner! Great little museum that teaches so much to the kids. My son got over his fear of holding ocean life. He learned what was local and enjoyed finding them at the beach. The blue lobsters are incredible. Gift shop is very affordable with cute options.

Fantastic experience: What a truly fantastic experience! I’d have paid twice as much, the admission price was very reasonable. We learned so much and it was so cool to learn so much from a marine biologist so well versed in the subject. We interacted with so many invertebrate animals and you can tell that they’re really passionate about teaching. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll experience! Highly recommend.

Negative experience: Nice place but felt that the admission fee could be a bit adjusted.

Fantastic experience: We had a wonderful experience at the Oceanarium! It made our trip to Hampton Beach so much better. We spent about 1.5 or 2 hours inside; our 3.75 and 1.75 yr old had a really good time, and could have easily stayed longer. Ellen is very knowledgeable and is great with getting kids (and adults!) excited about marine biology. The variety of specimens to handle kept us all intrigued. And the shell print was the perfect way to end the visit.

Negative experience: after doing research on the orca whales, Sea World has proudly kidnapped from their families and thrown into a tiny pool where they suffer. I will NOT ever support Sea World or any of their staff. This company claims to care about sea life but, do they really?

Fantastic experience: I was there again this summer and I actually learn something new about Horse shoe crabs And I’m a beach kid. I still give them 5 stars!!!

Fantastic experience: Very nice place. Great opportunity for kids to both learn about and put their hands on some critters they wouldn't normally find. Ellen is a very kind, knowledgeable and patient woman.

Fantastic experience: Wow! I honestly enjoyed this more than the New England Aquarium. The tour is very personal and hands on. It’s small but so much to see, touch and hold. The owner/tour guide provided fascinated info on so many sea creatures I never knew about (despite already having an interest in this). Highly recommend for children and adults alike!

Fantastic experience: Ellen is so passionate about her work and the animals! she is enthusiastic and has the type of education and understanding that can apply to many different age groups. The Oceanarium is packed with cool artifacts and hands on experiences!! LOVED IT!

Fantastic experience: My boys are 8 and 10 they want to give you 10 stars!!! This was such a fun thing. I'm so happy we we did this. Nothing like it anywhere.

Fantastic experience: I was looking for some fun Hampton adventures with my girlfriend and was not disappointed. Ellen gives an amazing 45ish minute class/tour of the sea tanks and artifacts. Ellen is a diamond for Hampton and does an incredible job. So happy I came in for the tour and was able to interact with sealife I never expected to. Thank you so much for your time Ellen and your husband for gathering interesting things he catches.

Fantastic experience: Great place. Ellen is very informative and great with all ages.

Fantastic experience: Small but worth it. Its not busy so you can get a personal experience and spend as much time here as you want touching the animals. If your too nervous to grab them yourself she will get them and hand them over to you. Visiting here before going to the beach was nice, it gave the older kids the courage to go crab hunting at the beach after and let them know how to safely pick them up.

Fantastic experience: Great little place to learn alot! The marine biologist was awesome gave us so much information!

Fantastic experience: Owner operated and very friendly. Geared towards education with a limited amount of running room for active kids. Touch tanks are very cool, even get to see blue and orange lobsters.

Positive experience: The owner was amazing my son has ASD and ADHD she was amazing with him .I was worried about his behavior I kept redirecting him she said he is ok dont worrie. Just an amazing person and an amazing place.

Fantastic experience: We found Ocean World because of a rain day. If you wait for a rain day to go your missing out. Ellen is amazing and is so patient with the kids. She provides everyone who attends a hands on learning experience. You can tell by her interactions the passion she has for what she does.

Fantastic experience: There are tanks with local marine life, and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly about how to handle them and touch them safely. Plus, they were very patient with my curious toddler.

Fantastic experience: My grand daughter loved it. It was worth the admission. The lady here doing the presentation really helped my daughter interact.

Fantastic experience: It was fun and we learned a lot! You should visit it and touch some sea creatures!!

Fantastic experience: Definitely worth the visit, easily expect to spend 1hr. Lot of things to learn and be amazed about the marine animals. Clearly Ellen is passionate and knowledgeable about her work and being a marine biologist; evident by the details and way of presenting about the critters; husband is a marine biologist too and owns fishing boats, and based on the pictures there, the family seem to share a common interest. The critters there are said to have been locally obtained each year and more importantly they will be released back to ocean eventually! Apart from the live animals you get to touch and view under microscope, there are other fantastic exhibits too. All in all, worth the $8 entry ticket. Parking is bit an issue, but plenty seemed to available along the Ocean Blvd ($2/hr)

Fantastic experience: Ellen was so patient with our 3 year old who was so excited to see and learn about all the different sea creatures. I as an adult also learned so much about sea creatures that I didn’t know beforehand.

Fantastic experience: Curator was knowledgeable. Kids loved the hands on

Fantastic experience: Wonderful place to take the kids. Very informative owner

Fantastic experience: We really enjoyed our time learning about all the sea creatures. Ellen is very nice and knowledgeable and we could feel she loves what she does which made us enjoy the experience even more. We are very glad we decided to drop by and hope to visit again the next time we drive up to the beach.

Fantastic experience: I took my 12 year old daughter there yesterday and Ellen was amazing and we learned so much. Thank you for sharing your sea creatures with us.

Fantastic experience: We spent a great august morning at the Ocean World Oceanarium while Ellen explained in detail to us the marine -mammal that call deep ocean their home. We were able to see and touch variety of species and Ellen even explained most fish names and fish parts in French to Eve-Rose my niece. We recommend this greatly for adults and kids.

Fantastic experience: Sometimes you do something with the kids that you come out the other side, and you know you’ve done right. Ace in the hole. This is one of those places. Great time had by every age, a learning experience, and a shared experience as a family that we will not soon forget. Serious bang for our few bucks! Thank you Ellen!!

Fantastic experience: Great place to bring the kids, its inexpensive and very educational. I recommend highly!!!! Great rainy day activity

Fantastic experience: We had the best time there today. Ellen was amazing and even my 2 year old was able to pick up deep sea crabs. Ellens infectious excitement about these animals makes the whole experience! Thank you again for all the information. The Perez family.

Fantastic experience: This place was a pleasant surprise to my family and I. It’s important to know this place is not just for kids but adults! I learned so much and truly enjoyed my time with the lovely biologist. She was so great with my stepdad that has dementia too. It was a special experience that was unforgettable!!!!!!!!! If you are thinking about checking this place out it is a must.. you should go!

Fantastic experience: It was smaller than I expected but definitely worth it! There was a lot of information and I learned a lot of new facts. It was fun, interactive, and informative. Great for all ages.

Fantastic experience: Perfect for our group of 6/7 yr olds.Beautiful animals.

Fantastic experience: So interesting to learn about the ocean with your little one! And everything is hands on!!

Fantastic experience: Simply amazing! The collection is extensive and the experience is very personalized and hands-on. It’s a wonderfully unique learning experience with a nice focus on local conservation and sustainability. The only thing that is more impressive than the collection is Ellen. She is extremely knowledgeable about everything in the Oceanarium - and there’s A LOT - and her passion and excitement for what she does is contagious! This place is a must-see!

Fantastic experience: I can't believe anyone to give this place less than 5 stars!! Me and my boyfriend absolutely loved it. The marine Biologist that owns it was knowledgeable and so nice! She gave a great tour and let me hold so many creatures. I also love that the animals she has, get switched out and put back into the ocean, so that no sea creature is taken out of its habitat for the rest of it's life ❤❤

Fantastic experience: Came here on a Sunday in the summer with our 2 families. What an awesome experience! Ellen basically held an impromptu class for the kids on small ocean life and everything was so hands-on! We all got to touch and carry all the ocean life we cared to and the kids (okay, the adults too) learned so much! And all for a very reasonable price. Imagine a touch-tank at a major aquarium. Now multiply it by 5. Now add the individual attention of the proprietor. Now cut the fee in half. That's about what the Oceanarium was.

Fantastic experience: Don’t really right reviews much but Ellen was so awesome I just had to! My daughter (6) and my son (4) enjoyed every minute of this oceanarium. My husband and I learned quite a bit about the sea creatures as well. Ellen was very knowledgeable and engaging with my kids. A great place to stop by for kids who are hands on and want to touch the animals.

Fantastic experience: What a great place to take the kids to!

Positive experience: Small but full of information

Fantastic experience: Ellen teaches you a lot about marine life and there are so many things to touch and explore. We held lobsters, urchins, crabs, starfish, scallops, and other stuff. My 2 kids had the best experience here! We'll definitely be returning!

Fantastic experience: My Fiance and I were in Hampton Beach for the weekend and decided to stop in here with my Niece on Saturday as it was a little overcast for the beach and we were interested in checking out the touch tank. The exhibit is small but interesting and the touch tank is great. My niece Vanessa is just shy of two years old so her attention span is short and her willingness to follow directions is fleeting. While we were a little concerned about my niece destroying the neatly organized educational exhibit and helping to demonstrate a starfish's ability to grow back a broken leg, Ellen and her assistant both reassured us that she was fine and free to touch any of the displayed items. Since we weren't able to take advantage of the full experience Ellen gave us a break on the price which is already reasonable to begin with. Ellen is very knowledgeable and it is obvious she has an incredible passion for what she does. It was also obvious that her and her assistant are incredible with children. I would highly recommend this oceanarium to anyone in the area and hope to bring my niece back again sometime in the future when she is a little older to check out the bigger creatures in the tank (there's a huge starfish). The customer service is second to none. A truly great place with incredible staff! Thank you! ❤️

Fantastic experience: A hidden gem. Really interesting and fun. Ellen was very helpful and knows a lot about marine biology. Definetly worth a family visit If you're in Hampton Beach.

Fantastic experience: This is a great family friendly stop, mostly all hands on and so much fun for everone!!

Fantastic experience: Had a lovely time visiting today. I was lucky enough to have a small crowd so we were able to hold quite a few creatures and learned a lot. The marine biologist was enthusiastic and the lecture was interesting. Highly recommend visiting!

Fantastic experience: This is a wonderful place to visit while in Hampton Beach NH. Ellen is wonderful with the kids and adults. She is very knowledgeable and encourages all to be hands on and touch all the animals! Please support her Oceanarium and spread the word!

Fantastic experience: Explore the Ocean is small, but is filled with a lot of hands on fun! Ellen is wonderful with children and is very knowledgeable! It is well worth the money!