Is there a place to touch or interact with the animals? Like a tide pool type of thing.

Yes, there is a small one with starfish and stuff near the tiger exhibit and then at the end there is a big pool where you can feed and touch stingrays

Stingrays cost extra and they have other encounters that you can schedule but need to schedule before you go.

Yes, the stringrays at the end and a little exhibition at select times