Virginia Museums: Virginia Living Museum
Grr..Hiss...Ooohh...Aahhh!

Virginia Living Museum and the huge turtle shell

The Virginia Living Museum is one of the wonderful Virginia museums that focuses on all of the different habitats in Virginia and the animals that live there. It is like more like a zoo than a museum.The main exhibit explores the Chesapeake Bay and all of the amazing wildlife from turtles to birds that live in and around the Bay. There is a 30,000 gallon Aquarium that lets you take a look under the Chesapeake Bay without getting wet.

The other exhibits you can see are:

Appalachian Cove & Cypress Swamp
This is a two-story, glass-covered walk-through habitats featuring a waterfall, a swift-running mountain stream and lake filled with mountain fish, plus free-flying.
Virginia�s World of Darkness Gallery
Watch nocturnal animals play during the day in this darkened exhibit.
Discovery Centers
four hands on discovery centers for learning with your hands.
Outdoor Aviary
A 5,500-square foot Coastal Plain Aviary filled with Virginia Native birds and plants.
Outdoor Boardwalk
A 3/4 mile elevated boardwalk winds through the homes and natural habitats of beavers, river otters, bald eagles, bobcat, deer, wild turkeys, skunk, opossum, gray fox, red fox, coyotes,red wolves,turtles and bullfrogs.
The Butterfly Garden
Abbitt Observatory
a dome that revolves 360 degrees and a university-grade, 16-inch, Meade telescope that visitors can use to view the heavens.
Changing Exhibits Gallery
This special gallery features new interactive and highly informative natural history exhibits throughout the year.
An additional fee may be required
Check here for the schedule:

Food and Gifts
When you have children two of the most important thing about a destination is "Where's the food?" and "Is there a gift shop?"Have no fear,both of these important components are at the Virginia Living Museum.
They have a one of the better gift shops of the Virginia Museums I have been to recently with a large selection of interesting and educational toys and gifts.
The Restaurant is called the Wild Side Caf�.
Their slogan is "not great fast food but great food fast!"
The Wild Side Caf� is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday through Saturday and Noon to 3 on Sunday.
They offer breakfast,lunch and snack items.
If a picnic is more your speed there is a picnic area just outside the front entrance that you can use.

My children love the boardwalk area at the Virginia Living Museum and trying to spot the animals but, since the animals live in natural habitat spaces sometimes it is hard to see them. If the weather is extra hot or extra cold they are usually hidden under bushes and in shelters.
If you are having trouble spotting them and want to see additional animals you can venture across the street to the Newport News SPCA.
They have a fun petting zoo. There are otters, panthers, tigers , other exotic cats and a kangaroo to look at and lots of goats,sheep,deer,and chickens to feed and pet.
There is a small entrance fee that they use to take care of the rescued exotic animals. It is worth it!

Don't miss one of the best Virginia museums for kids. It will teach as well as entertain and your family will not be disappointed!
As my girls would say:
"It's Funzucational!"
Want to find other great Virginia museums?
Click here.

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Virginia Museums: Virginia Living Museum Grr..Hiss...Ooohh...Aahhh!

Food and Gifts

Virginia Museums: Virginia Living Museum
Grr..Hiss...Ooohh...Aahhh!