TourTruth score 7.1 out of 10
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Newport News Museum Admission
TourTruth score 6.0 out of 10
Average
38 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Norfolk
- Updated November 2, 2026
Explore aquariums, wildlife habitats, gardens, and hands-on exhibits at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.
About this tour
Explore Virginia’s ecosystems at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, where a museum, zoo, aquarium, garden, and planetarium come together for a hands-on day out. Start indoors with touch pools and a 32,000-gallon aquarium, then see a cypress swamp inhabited by live alligators.
Head outside along a ¾-mile boardwalk trail to spot river otters and endangered red wolves, and encounter 16 lifelike dinosaurs. Interactive dig pits, butterfly gardens, a Conservation Garden, and a Green House offer more ways to explore. You can also visit the Wild Care Center and Conservation Command Center, home to a seahorse nursery. Planetarium shows are available onsite for an additional fee, while behind-the-scenes tours and the lobby photo booth also cost extra. Saté Café offers breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
With admission to the Virginia Living Museum included, Newport News visitors can explore at their own pace. Plan a day among the region’s wildlife, habitats, and interactive exhibits.
Highlights
- Explore indoor touch pools and a 32,000-gallon aquarium
- Walk a boardwalk past river otters, red wolves, and lifelike dinosaurs
- Discover hands-on exhibits, butterfly gardens, and a seahorse nursery
- Visit a cypress swamp with live alligators
- Add a planetarium show onsite for an additional fee
What's included
Included
- Admission ticket to Virginia Living Museum
Not included
- Behind-the-scenes tours available for an additional fee
- Planetarium shows available onsite for additional fees
- Food and drinks at Saté Café
- Photo booth available in the lobby for an additional fee
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
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View on ViatorViator
4.47 / 5 · 38 reviews
Important information
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Wheelchair accessible
- A limited number of wheelchairs and strollers are available at no extra fee
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.47 from 38 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
How the score works and rating distribution in Norfolk
- Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
- Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
- Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
- The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 6.0.
Provider rating distribution in Norfolk
How many tours in Norfolk have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.
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- GetYourGuide
- Viator
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TourTruth score 7.1 out of 10
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