Virginia Living Museum: Zoo, Aquarium & Planetarium Combined

Live animals, hands-on dig pits, and a full-dome planetarium show under one roof

Virginia Living Museum in Newport News combines a zoo, aquarium, garden, and planetarium with admission to all exhibits and outdoor trails. You move between indoor touch pools and a 32,000-gallon tank, walk an elevated boardwalk past river otters and endangered red wolves, explore a real cypress swamp with live alligators, dig for fossils on the Dinosaur Discovery Trail with 16 life-size models, and cap the day with a cosmic show at the Abbitt Planetarium. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with outdoor areas closing at 4:30 p.m., and stays wheelchair accessible with limited equipment available at no extra charge.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Virginia Living Museum exhibits

• Take natural history tour
• Stroll elevated boardwalk
• View coastal birds and animals
• Explore Dinosaur Discovery Trail
• Participate in interactive paleo camp
• Role play in Wild and Well Clinic
• Visit cafe and museum store
• Watch full-dome show at planetarium

The experience

Start indoors at the touch pools and the 32,000-gallon aquarium, then move outside onto the ¾-mile elevated boardwalk where you spot river otters, beavers, bobcats, bald eagles, and red wolves in naturalized habitats. The boardwalk itself is the route. You walk it at your own pace and stop where the animals hold your attention. A real cypress swamp sits within the grounds, complete with live alligators, so you're not watching a diorama. You're standing in front of the actual ecosystem Virginia's coast contains.

The Dinosaur Discovery Trail runs through the outdoor section with 16 life-size dinosaur sculptures, interactive paleo camp, and dig pits where you can excavate replicas of dinosaur and ice age fossils. The Wild Care Center and Conservation Command Center (which includes a seahorse nursery) offer hands-on learning stations, and the Conservation Garden and Green House show how sustainable living works in practice. All of this is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and certified as a Virginia Green attraction, so the animals and habitats meet professional standards.

The day ends at the Abbitt Planetarium with a full-dome show that connects everything you've seen: how the animals, plants, and ecosystems link together in one living system. A café and museum store are on-site if you need a break or want to grab lunch. Plan for anywhere from two to six hours depending on how long you linger at each section. Outdoor areas close at 4:30 p.m., so the planetarium show is typically the final stop.

What’s included

• Admission to all indoor and outdoor exhibits including the 32,000-gallon aquarium, cypress swamp, elevated boardwalk, Dinosaur Discovery Trail with dig pits, Wild Care Center, Conservation Command Center with seahorse nursery, Conservation Garden, and Green House.
• access to the ¾-mile boardwalk trail and interactive paleo camp.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessible

Operated by Virginia Living Museum

Is this one for you?This is a self-guided museum visit where you set your own pace through indoor and outdoor sections, so it works well for families with children of different ages, multigenerational groups, or anyone who wants to linger at favorite exhibits without a schedule. The combination of live animals, hands-on activities, and a planetarium show means there's something for younger kids, older kids, and adults in a single admission.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What animals will I actually see at Virginia Living Museum?

River otters, red wolves, beavers, bobcats, and bald eagles live in naturalized outdoor habitats along the boardwalk. The cypress swamp holds live alligators. The museum also keeps coastal birds and other species in both indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Can I dig for fossils, or is that just a display?

The Dinosaur Discovery Trail includes interactive dig pits where you excavate replicas of dinosaur and ice age fossils yourself. The trail also has 16 life-size dinosaur sculptures and a paleo camp with hands-on activities.

Is the planetarium show included in admission, or do I pay extra?

Planetarium shows are available onsite but offered for an additional fee beyond your admission ticket.

How long should I plan to spend at the museum?

Most visitors spend two to six hours depending on how long they stay at each exhibit. Outdoor areas close at 4:30 p.m., so plan your planetarium show for later in the day if you want to see it.

Is Virginia Living Museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the museum is wheelchair accessible. A limited number of wheelchairs and strollers are available at no extra charge.