Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center is a place to explore, learn, and have a blast! Offering over 800,000 gallons of aquariums full of marine life displaying over 12,000 animals, and representing over 700 different species makes it one of the best aquariums and live animal habitats in the country. Some of wildlife you can expect to see includes horseshoe crabs, marsh dwellers, loggerhead and green sea turtles, harbor seals, great horned owls, sea river otters, seahorses, snakes, sharks, stingrays, 55 different species of native birds, Komodo Dragons, rare Tomistoma Crocodiles and approx 6,000 new animals added since 2009. There is also two touch pools for your enjoyment, where you can feel a stingray or horseshoe crab. Be sure to try one of the 300 interactive exhibits about the Marshes, Bay and Atlantic Ocean areas, or enjoy a seasonal boat trip while you are there too.
The Aquarium and Marine Science Center has many other exciting choices to entertain its visitors. Start with one of the hundred of hands on exhibits, enjoy an outdoor aviary, or visit a nature trail complete with 30 ft observation tower, and enjoy the viewing of the marshlands. A 3 hour tour called “Spirits, Myths, and Mysteries” to discover part of this regions history is another option. Be sure not to miss the Aquarium’s newest addition, which arrived in June during a rescue, a baby otter! The little guys is doing well and has been a popular attraction for recent guest. Or, if you are planning on taking an extended vacation the Aquarium offers summer day camps, which take place each year on Saturdays, beginning July 7, and run through September 1st 2012. If relaxing inside is in the cards, come in for a movie in the 3D- IMAX theater with a 6 story tall and 8 stories wide screen! What a great way to enjoy the newest edition of the Batman movies “The Dark Knight Rises”, which starts playing at the IMAX on July 20th, 2012.
The Aquarium and Marine Science Center is working on many exciting new projects as well, including Conservation Research, Oil-Spill Response,and Green Activities. The Aquarium, as always is a center for animal rescue on an as need basis, with their Marine Animal Stranding Response Team as well. The center has rescued thousands of mammals such as sea otters, sea turtles, and dolphins in the past 17 years since the team was created.
If you are visiting the Aquarium and Marine Science Center is a must visit for all ages. It’s splendor is like none other!
