Safaris

Explore the wonders of nature near and far on a safari with the Virginia Living Museum! Join our staff naturalists and travel with us to discover the enchantment and beauty of our natural world. Please note minimum age requirements and that all return times are tentative. Travel is in the museum's buses.

Reservations are confirmed on a first come, first paid basis. Payment must be made within three working days of the reservation. You may cancel or change a reservation up to seven days before the safari unless otherwise stated and receive a refund less a $10 handling fee. After that time no refunds can be made. If the museum cancels, a full refund will be issued.

For more information, or to make a reservation, call the Reservations Coordinator, at 757-595-9135, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m, or you can use our online Safari Request form: Click Here to Request a Safari

Rockhounding

Ancient volcanic action has made Virginia's Piedmont region famous for its mineral collecting sites. We will be traveling to a pegmatite vein where you will be able to find such beautiful minerals as amazonite, garnet, galena, topaz and beryl. Learn the proper and safe techniques of mineral collecting, how minerals form and how to identify them. A great trip for those who are collectors at heart.

Activity Level: 2

Minimum age: 7 years; 14 years without an adult.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Cost: $59 VLM members, $69 non-members.

Click here to become a member

Wine tasting room

Join the Virginia Living Museum as we travel to Virginia wine country. We'll spend a day in the Charlottesville area exploring three different vineyards and discovering how soil, climate and grapes all affect the look and taste of some of our favorite wines. We'll also learn how to pair wine with chocolate for a delicious taste sensation. This trip will delight your eyes, as well as your taste buds, as we explore wine country during the beautiful spring season. Lunch will be provided.

Activity Level: 2
Minimum age: must be at least 21.
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $120 VLM members, $140 non-members.

Click here to become a member

Dinosaur dig in Colorado

Westward ho in summer 2008 to dig for dinosaurs and tour Colorado canyons. You might make the next big dinosaur find!

Join us Sunday Feb. 24 or March 9 at 1 p.m. for a special presentation about the trip: "A Paleontologist Journey to Discover Dinosaur Bones." Call 757-595-9135 to register for the presentation.

Dig for dinosaur bones

Features of the trip include:

• Tour the deep canyons at Colorado National Monument.
• Visit the site where the first Brachiosaurus was discovered in 1900.
• Walk like a dinosaur in an ancient creek bed on dinosaur footprints.
• Dig with professional paleontologists at the Mygatt-Moore quarry near Fruita. Since 1984, more than 3,000 fossil bones have been removed from this former dinosaur watering hole.
• See Native American cliff paintings and walk through a replica Uranium Mine at the Museum of the West in Grand Junction.
• Raft the Colorado River from Loma, Colorado, to Westwater, Utah, passing through canyons that contain several eagle nests.
• Watch bull riding, steer roping and more at a local rodeo.
• Visit a local farmer's market.

Raft and float the Colorado River

Fee includes:

• Round trip ground transport from VLM to Norfolk.
• Round trip air fare.
• Lodging all nights
• All breakfasts, four field lunches, final night's dinner.
• Entrance fees.
• Services of professional paleontologist and VLM staff.

Activity Level: 3-4

Minimum age: Adults and youth 10 years and over with a guardian. Minimum 10 participants, maximum 18.

Costs: (Based on double occupancy) $2125* per person museum members; $2155* non-members. (Airfare prices are subject to change.) Single supplement (if available) is an additional cost. A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required per person at the time reservations are made with full payment due by 70 days prior to the expedition start date. A full refund, less the 20% non-redundable deposit, is available upon written notification at least 50 days prior to the expedition start date. Cancellations occurring 49-35 days prior to the expedition start date will receive a 50% refund.
*After April 9 costs will increase $150 per person. Airfare prices are subject to change.

Click here to become a member

Please call 757-595-9135 or email reservations for more information or to make a reservation.

Activity Level 1

Unless otherwise stated, all activities require a minimum physical ability of participants to be able to move around on their own, be of good health, and easily get on and off our 15 passenger Activity Buses. 

Activity Level 2 
In addition to Level 1 criteria, participants must be able to climb a few flights of stairs and walk up to two miles over uneven surfaces.

Activity Level 3 
In addition to Level 1-2 criteria, participants must be able to participate in three to five hours of physical activity per day, and walk three to five miles over uneven ground.

Activity Level 4 
In addition to Level 1-3 criteria, participants must be in excellent health, extremely mobile, and used to an active lifestyle. Program activities may require up to six hours of moderate- to fast-paced activity per day, equivalent to hiking six miles over varied terrain.

Activity Level 5 
In addition to Level 1-4 criteria, participants must have a high level of physical fitness, minimum levels of expertise in the program activities, and expect full days of fast-paced challenges.