OCEANS'12 MTS/IEEE HAMPTON ROADS

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

There are tons of other great activities that can be enjoyed around the area of Hampton Roads, VA.

	Virginia Beach has unwrapped your favorite summer activities and opened up a whole boardwalk of coastal cheer in celebration of Winter’s welcomed return to the beach life. Not only is this the season of sharing awesome vacation memories with friends and family, but it’s also a great time to take advantage of some really cool events, adventures, cuisine, and accommodations that call our year-round beach destination home. So don’t pack those sandals in the attic just yet, there’s plenty of beach life to explore in Virginia Beach. Visit the website

	Nauticus is an exciting interactive science and technology center that explores the naval, economic, and nautical power of the sea. Berthed at Nauticus, the Battleship Wisconsin is one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. Explore its deck through a self-guided or audio tour that will take you back in time to experience this majestic ship that earned five battle stars during WW II. Visit the website
	Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Museum From the rivers to the Chesapeake Bay and finally, into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, this journey of water through Virginia introduces you to the many aquatic animals and plants that are native to the state Visit the website

	Norfolk has an unexpectedly vibrant arts scene best exemplified by the Chrysler Museum, one of the best fine arts museums in Virginia. The permanent collections range from Egyptian artifacts to modern photography to French classics like Renoir, Gauguin, Degas and Delacroix to a fantastic contemporary gallery that includes work by Rothko, Lichtenstein, Matisse,O’Keeffe and Calder. Visit the website

	From the plains of Africa to your own backyard, the Virginia Zoo has a world of discovery for you. Open year round, the Virginia Zoo offers family fun, education and excitement for everyone. The Virginia Zoo is home to 400 animals, on 53 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Visit the website

	A visit to the MacArthur Memorial provides a unique glimpse into the 20th century and can renew your faith in those American values of Duty-Honor-Country, values which motivated Douglas MacArthur as he served our nation through some of its greatest crises and finest hours. Visit the website

	The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is owned and operated by the United States Navy and located on level two of Nauticus. The museum houses a rich collection of authentic uniforms, weaponry, underwater artifacts, detailed ship models and artwork. Visit the website

	The Mariners’ Museum: Tour the permanent galleries and learn about the Chesapeake Bay, the Age of Exploration, the International Small Craft Center and much more. Experience all the wonder of the USS Monitor Center, one of the premier Civil War attractions in the country. The Mariners' Museum 550-acre park is the largest privately maintained park in the United States. Visit the website

The Garden has grown from humble beginnings as a WPA project to an 155-acre garden filled with thousands of plants. More than forty themed gardens are spread across site. Some gardens focus on a single plant (camellias, hydrangeas, roses), others look at a plant from a specific region (Japan, Virginia), while others provide homeowners with great ideas and or new plants to use in their own garden. Visit the website