Virginia Living Museum

Don't let the word "museum"​ fool you. The Virginia Living Museum is very ALIVE and interactive. Experience Virginia's rich natural heritage. Located just 20 minutes from Williamsburg, the VLM is part zoo, nature park, aquarium, botanical garden, planetarium and science center. Visitors can view over 250 native plant and animal species including the red wolf, bobcat, otter and bald eagle. Discover native Virginia animals in naturalized habitats including a limestone cave, mountain cove and cypress swamp. Explore the underwater world of the Chesapeake Bay with sandbar sharks and touch a horseshoe crab. Enter an aviary of coastal birds. See spectacular views of the sun from the observatory and voyage across the galaxies in the state-of-the-art planetarium theater. Learn how to build, live and garden "green."​ Young kids particularly enjoy the Nature Playground and the "Wild & Well"​ exhibit where kids can role play to be a vet and zoo keeper. Explore the permanent outdoor Dinosaur Discovery Trail with 16 life-like dinosaurs, paleo camp and dig pit. Explore Virginia's natural world while creating lifetime memories with your family!