Explore the Depths of two world-class attractions located in Newport News, VA - The Virginia Living Museum and The Mariners' Museum and Park - are full of family fun and hands-on exhibitions. Located just five minutes from each other off I-64, Exit 258B and only 20 minutes from Williamsburg - these attractions are a must-see when visiting the area!
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The Virginia Living Museum - Virginia's Animal Attraction
View endangered red wolves. Get close to a loggerhead turtle and jellyfish. See fish with no eyes 
and frogs that changecolors. Touch live spider crabs and fossilized dinosaur tracks. Living exhibits depict Virginia’s natural heritage from the mountains to the sea. Experience a steamy cypress swamp and cool mountain cove. Explore the depths of the Chesapeake Bay and the underground realm of a limestone cave. Touch famous Bay creatures. Enjoy hands-on activities. Travel the galaxies in the state-of-the-art planetarium theater. Outdoors, stroll the boardwalk to view coastal birds, beavers, otters and other animals in naturalized habitats. Gardens and landscape plantings display an extensive array of native plants. Learn how to build, garden and live green. Young kids enjoy role play as an animal keeper/vet and exploring the Nature Playground.
Open Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 757.595.1900 or visit thevlm.org for more information.
SPECIAL EXHIBIT:
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors
March 14 – Sept. 7, 2015
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Explore TOAD-ally cool creatures and get eyeball to eyeball with live frogs from around the world! View more than 70 live frogs from across the globe, complete with their noisy croaks, yaps, chirps, whoops, snores and whistles, all housed in detailed habitats with rock ledges, live plants and waterfalls. Interactive games and displays help visitors of all ages have fun while exploring frogs’ biology and natural history, the roles they play in human cultures, their importance to ecosystems and the perils they face in a changing environment. If you’ve never thought of frogs as beautiful, this exhibition will change your mind! For more details about “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors” visit us online.
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The Mariners' Museum and Park - America's National Maritime Museum
The Mariners' Museum is one of the largest maritime museums in the world. The Museum is filled with fascinating stories, captured in the priceless artifacts that celebrate the spirit of the open sea. Explore small craft from around the world in the International Small Craft Center. Discover the USS Monitor Center, home to the Civil War ironclad's iconic gun turret. The incredible story of the USS Monitor's creation, battle, sinking and recovery are told in vivid detail. View maritime art, handcrafted ship models and rare figureheads. Experience a 3D film in the Explorers Theater.
Located within a 550-acre park, visitors can hike the five-mile Noland Trail, picnic at the famous Lions Bridge overlooking the tranquil James River or rent a paddle boat to explore Lake Maury. The Museum is open Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Special event hours may vary; please call 757.596.2222 or visit us online for special event information.
NEW EXHIBITION:
Extreme Deep: Mission to the Abyss
May 16 - September 7, 2015
Bring the ocean floor to the surface and use hands-on technology to explore life at the bottom of the sea! Fly a remotely-operated vehicle over a model of the Titanic's deck. Control a robotic arm by picking up lava rocks and clams from the sea floor while peering through a recreation of Alvin's four-inch view-port window. Extreme Deep introduces visitors to biology, chemistry, geology, history, exploration and the critical role that technology plays in understanding our world and its future. Click here for more info.
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