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Virginia Beach, Virginia is home to one of the best aquariums and live animal habitats in the country. The Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, boasts over 700,000 gallons of sea creature habitat in two buildings, as well as an outdoor aviary, nature trail and a 6-story tall by 8-story wide 3D IMAX Theater. A trip to the aquarium is an entertaining educational adventure.

The Bay and Ocean Pavilion highlights the Chesapeake Bay area following the rivers that flow into it and continuing out into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Complete with a Chesapeake Bay touch pool, oceanography based hand-on exhibits, and aquariums that house turtles, stingrays, sharks, and more.

The Marsh Pavilion is home to river otter, snakes, and an assortment of marsh residents. It is also the entrance to the half-acre bird aviary with its elevated deck for viewing the 55 species of native birds. The Marsh Pavilion would not be complete without the macro-marsh where the miniature inhabitants are magnifies to ten times their normal size.

The Nature Trail is a ten-minute walk between the Bay and Ocean Pavilion and the Marsh Pavilion where you can stroll through the salt marsh or climb the 30-foot observation tower to view the woodlands surrounding Owls Creek from treetop level. During the summer there are activity carts located along the trail that are manned by educators who are happy to provide information on the various plants and animals that call the area home.

The Aquariums 3D IMAX Theater is a life experience on a truly grand scale. With a screen that is large enough to show a whale in actual size, it creates the illusion of swimming with these sea creatures. The sound system provides realistic sounds that may have you running for cover, or coming back for more. For the current show times and listings call (757)385-FISH(3474).

The Encounter Nature program is a way to get up close and personal with Virginia wildlife. From boat tours in the bay to behind-the-scenes looks into the staff-only areas of the aquarium, or the combination of behind-the-scenes and the country's only place to get into the water for interaction with the harbor seals, there is sure to be an encounter just for you.

The boat tours include: Dolphin Watching, a 90-minute excursion that is offered from April through October; Whale Watching, which includes a variety of sea birds as well and is offered from December through March; Ocean Collections, a 75-minute tour where aquarium staff troll the bottom for sea life to bring on-board for display and discussion before they return the animals to the water: and the Creek Cruise which takes place on a 50-passenger pontoon that spends 35 minutes introducing guests to Owl Creeks ecosystem and some of its inhabitants. Not all tours leave from the Aquarium itself, so call (757)385-FISH to ensure your seat on the cruise of your choice.

Learn more about this author, Wendy Lafond.
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