Step into Santa’s Nature Reserve in Newport News! Follow Santa’s boardwalk trail into the woods amongst the beauty and wonder of sparkling nature. Soft lights along the wooded trail lead you to StoryBook Village and a family Dinosaur Tale. Sip hot chocolate and munch a festive cookie you decorated yourself in the Reindeer Cookie Workshop. Take a family picture and share your holiday thoughts with Santa in the Goodson Living Green House. Celestial programs in the Abbitt Planetarium and shopping at the Wild Things Museum Store are additional opportunities. Start the season with a healthy dose of cheer in a beautiful natural setting that’s perfect for the whole family!
Timed tickets for Santa’s Nature Reserve are now on sale at a cost of $10 for VLM members and $13 non-members. Limited tickets are available for the following 2022 dates: December 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23.
Tickets for the walk and the planetarium/laser show are available at the front desk or online at: https://thevlm.org/events/museum-events/
The Museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, November 24, Christmas Eve, December 24, Christmas Day, December 25, and New Years Day, January 1, 2023.
The Virginia Living Museum is a leader in natural living exhibits! Native Virginia mammals, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, birds, plants and planets are presented in natural ecosystems and honored for their ability to connect people to nature through educational experiences that promote conservation.
Accredited by both the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (living exhibits) and the American Alliance of Museums (non-live collections), the Museum’s high standards are its hallmark, as only fourteen institutions share this designation in the country. Community volunteers outnumber staff by approximately 5:1 for incredible mission delivery. The Museum is a certified Virginia Green attraction dedicated to environmentally friendly practices and education.
Created by the Warwick Rotary Club and Junior League of Hampton Roads in 1966, the Museum is an independent 501c3 organization, a successful public/private partnership with the City of Newport News and all guests.
Located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News (I-64, exit 258-A), hours are 9 to 5 daily. Learn more at thevlm.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or call 757-595-1900.
Built by the community, beloved by the community, sustained by the community.
