Enjoy playing and learning at the Science Museum of Virginia, which is full of interactive activities for all ages!

The Science Museum of Virginia is a wonderful experience for all. We love visiting the museum with grandparents family friends, as a "family field trip," or on inclement weather days when we need an indoor activity! However, before your visit, you must purchase tickets online. Adult tickets are pricey, so if you plan to visit several times in a year, consider purchasing a membership to save and take advantage of special member nights and activities.

The museum has several floors of fun to enjoy! We typically walk through the first floor right after check-in. This exhibit, "Speed", has lots of ways for your children to learn, including playing air hockey versus a robot, "racing" animals and even Olympian Usain Bolt! There is also a United States rover to climb inside!

If you continue out the back of the "Speed" exhibit and follow the stairs, you will be at the "Boost" exhibit. This large area has tons of ways to learn how to stay healthy, mentally and physically. There is a clock race to build a healthy, well-balanced meal, electric instruments to "play," a dance floor, stationary bikes, and more! This area tires my children pretty quickly.

After this exhibit, we head outside to see two old train cars. Before becoming the Science Museum of Virginia, this was actually Richmond's train station, so there are many train artifacts and relics throughout the museum. You cannot climb on the train cars, but simply looking at them is enough to make my train enthusiast's day!

In front of the trains, back inside is "Light Place," an area specifically for children five and under. My children love to play here! There are science-related books, a large "lite brite" wall, a climbing area, a light table, bean bags for comfy seating. Additionally, the small area for children two and under has a sensory wall.

We finish our outing by visiting the 3rd floor. Be sure to take the elevators as you can see the gears and machinery working inside them! The third floor has both an animal lab and an art lab! The animal lab has snakes, turtles, fish and insects. The art lab has several examples of guided drawings for children to try. There is also ample blank paper and crayons and colored pencils! There is a MakerSpace on this floor as well, The Forge. You must register for any class at The Forge, and the classes are included with admission.

Not included in admission is movie tickets at "The Dome", the museum's giant screen theater. Check the schedule before your visit to see if your family would enjoy one of the movies.

Parking at the museum is easy, as there are a few spaces in front, and an additional parking garage. Restrooms can be found on every floor. There are two family restrooms on the third floor. Vending machines are on the first floor in a small room, where you can enjoy snacks from home as well. On a nice day, it is fun to sit outside and enjoy snacks at the table out front. If your crew still has energy, head to nearby Bon Secours Washington Football Team Training Center and run through the obstacle course designed for pro football players!