Virginia Aquarium Will Soon Be Opening its New 12,000-square-foot Restless Planet Exhibit

By Joan Barns

Virginia Beach, VA - After nearly a decade of planning and three years of construction, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center opens its new 12,000-square-foot Restless Planet exhibit to the public on Saturday, November 21st at 9 a.m.

Restless Planet Opening festivities include:

· 9 a.m. “unleashing” of Restless Planet by state and local dignitaries

· Free samples of Starbucks® Komodo Dragon coffee from 9 a.m. to noon

· Radio Disney’s Road Crew on hand all morning to judge an animal costume contest and give away prizes

· Appearances by Sandy the Sea Turtle throughout the day

· Live remote from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. by 95.7 R&B-FM

· Live remote from 2 to 5 p.m. by 101.3 2WD-FM

Restless Planet features four habitats from around the world that existed in Virginia millions of years ago. Visitors will explore immersive live animal exhibits and engage in 36 new hands-on activities designed to demonstrate the processes that shaped Virginia’s current landscape. Restless Planet includes a Malaysian Peat Swamp, a Coastal Sahara Desert, the Red Sea, and Indonesia’s Flores Island – the same environments and landscapes that Virginia experienced millions of years ago. The habitats will recreate the look, feel and sounds of those environments, as well as showcase many of the animals that adapted to those environments.

The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums whose mission is conservation through education. The Aquarium is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, just south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach. For more information on exhibits, movies, boat rides and special events call (757) 385-FISH (3474), (TDD 385-4305) or visit www.VirginiaAquarium.com.

To view Virginia Aquarium's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-136-Virginia_Aquarium_and_Marine_Science_Center