On your next visit to Virginia Beach, plan to take a tour of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. This is one of the best aquariums in the United States. It features live animal habitats as well as sea creature displays and 3D IMAX movies. There are outdoors as well as indoor areas to explore at the Virginia Aquarium and special events and exhibits are regularly hosted here, as well.
The Bay & Ocean Pavilion at the Virginia Aquarium includes displays of sea animals and plants that are native to Virginia’s various water habitats. Chesapeake Bay fish, turtles, crabs and other aquatic wildlife are all on display in recreations of their natural environments in the Chesapeake Light Tower Aquarium. You can also see sharks and stingrays at the beautiful Norfolk Canyon Aquarium. There are several hands-on exhibits at the Bay & Ocean Pavilion, including a Chesapeake Bay touch pool.
The Marsh Pavilion at the Virginia Aquarium is where you will see marsh dwelling animals and sea creatures. Marsh dwelling river otters as well as snakes are displayed here, and you can also view seahorses and a wide variety of marsh plant life. An outdoors viewing deck provides visitors with a unique opportunity to see more than 55 species of birds native to Virginia in a half-acre Aviary.
There is also a Nature Trail outdoors at the Virginia Aquarium. This 1/3 mile long trail traverses the salt marsh and woodland preserve area located between the two pavilions. There is a tall Observation Tower, and educational displays and demonstrations are held along the trail seasonally. In addition to the Aquarium’s two touch pools, you can examine interesting artifacts related to Virginia’s water areas in Curiosity Carts along the Nature Trail.
Fans of IMAX Theater presentations will enjoy the state-of-the-art facilities at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. A variety of educational films as well as major Hollywood films are shown here daily. Films on Dinosaurs, Sea Monsters and Dolphins and Whales are currently being featured at the Aquarium’s IMAX Theater.
You can spend an entire day exploring the hundreds of exhibits at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. Visitors can have lunch at the Osprey Cafe in the Bay & Ocean Pavilion and dine indoors or outside on sandwiches, salads, desserts and snacks. At the Marsh Pavilion, the Otter Snack Bar is open summers for cold drinks and quick snack options. There is also a snack stand at the IMAX Theater.
Shopping is also a fun attraction at the Virginia Aquarium. There are two Gift Shops where you can purchase souvenirs as well as fun and educational toys and games, jewelry, and unique artwork created by the Aquarium’s Harbor Seals.
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