After the beach, escape to the underwater world of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Be among the first to experience the new $25 million Restless Planet gallery, featuring 12,000-sq.-ft. of spectacular new exhibit space. Home to 6,000 new animals and 367 new species – including Komodo dragons, exotic cobras, hedgehogs, and so much more!
Restless Planet
Opening the summer of 2009, Restless Planet features four habitats from around the world that existed in Virginia millions of years ago. Visitors will explore immersive live-animal exhibits and engage in 36 new hands-on activities designed to demonstrate the processes that shaped Virginia’s current landscape. Guests will slog through the muck and humidity of a Malaysian peat swamp and come face-to-face with tomistomas, the world’s most endangered crocodile. Shuffle through North African desert sands where cobras and scorpions reside. Explore a 40-ft. tunnel in the Red Sea while eagle rays with 6-ft. wingspans and hundreds of colorful reef fishes swim overhead. Then hike across an Indonesian volcanic island in search of Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizards.
Journey of Water
In addition to Restless Planet, the Virginia Aquarium is also opening a new Journey of Water gallery, which follows the descending path of Virginia’s watershed from a gentle waterfall in the Upland River Gallery to the near-shore depths of the Chesapeake Bay. A giant holographic globe will show how Virginia and the continent changed over millions of years along with the plants, animals, and fish of today. Children of all ages will enjoy a newly-renovated touch pool with horseshoe crabs and other ocean critters.
Bay & Ocean Pavilion
This area hosts the 300,000-gallon Norfolk Canyon Aquarium that includes sand-tiger, nurse and brown sharks, as well as stingrays and other large ocean dwellers. You’ll also find the 70,000-gallon sea turtle aquarium, sea turtle hatchling laboratory, hands-on ocean exploration exhibits, jellyfish aquariums, and even a life-sized model of a humpback whale.
3D IMAX® Theater
Experience life on a larger scale in the Aquarium’s own 3D IMAX® Theater. The film experience doesn’t get any better than this! Images jump out into the seats off a screen that’s big enough to show a life-sized whale. And our state-of-the-art sound system is so realistic, you’ll be crouching in your seat for cover. The Aquarium’s 3D IMAX® Theater is open daily and showcases a variety of films ranging from educational pictures to the latest Harry Potter movie. Please call 757-385-FISH or go to www.VirginiaAquarium.com for the latest showtimes and information.
Marsh Pavilion
Located at the southern end of the Aquarium’s one-third mile nature trial, this pavilion is a tribute to life in the Owls Creek Salt Marsh. Exhibits include dozens of aquariums and terrariums, such as the river otters with an underwater viewing window, crabs and snapping turtles. A macro-marsh displays plants and animals magnified ten times their normal size, and the outdoor aviary features over thirty local bird species such as egrets, pelicans, royal terns, ducks, turkey vultures and great blue herons.
Virginia Aquarium Dolphin Watching Boat Trips
Unlike any other cruises, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center boat trips offer adventures that are both fun and educational. Educators guide these trips and give you a hands-on experience with marine mammal artifacts. This is a wonderful opportunity to see bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat and learn about the Aquarium’s research and work with our local dolphin population. These 90-minute trips are perfect for the entire family. Call 757-385-FISH for reservations and information.
Behind the Scenes Tours
For a unique visit to the Virginia Aquarium, guests can select from three types of behind the scenes tours. The Harbor Seal Splash and Seals Behind the Scenes tours are only available in the summer. Both offer a close encounter with our resident harbor seals: one is in the water and the other is a “dry” experience! Either way guests learn how the staff cares for these marine mammals and how we can help conserve them. The Sea Turtles Behind the Scenes tour is available year-round. Observe a sea turtle feeding above their aquarium instead of in front of it! Call guest services at 757-385-0300 for information and reservations.
A visit to the newly renovated Virginia Aquarium will educate, engage, and inspire visitors with the world they inhabit while generating awareness of the conservation challenges we face.
717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451 (just south of the resort area over Rudee Inlet Bridge)
Open daily at 9am. 757-385-FISH (3474) www.VirginiaAquarium.com |
