I recently visited the Virginia Air & Space Science Center in Hampton for the first time. Since I arrived with a group on a field trip, we were permitted to park our vans alongside the building, though the parking locations were not really clear. The museum was clean and well-maintained. The gift shop is conveniently located at the entrance, and the cafe near the IMAX theater offered a good selection of snacks and drinks. The interactive games and exhibits are excellent for young children, and I particularly enjoyed riding the carousel across the lot afterwards. While I found the experience enjoyable, I believe the museum is best suited for families with children rather than adult visitors alone. Overall, I highly recommend the museum for an educational family outing. read more

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Brought my wife and son here. This is the worst $67 I've spent in a long time. Half the exhibits were closed, and many of the open ones didn't even work at all. There's an observation deck on the third floor that has half-century-old binoculars that require quarters to look through. Quarters! 1) Who the heck carries quarters anymore? 2) I PAID $67 TO GET IN HERE AND HALF YOUR STUFF DOESN'T WORK! Save up a little more of your money, friends, and make the trip to D.C. for the air and space museum there. This place in Hampton is absurd. I will never come back here. read more

This is a really interesting and fun place to hang out and learn about the aspects of air and space history. I would encourage anyone who is visiting Hampton to take the time to enjoy the museum. There are a lot of interactive exhibits, especially for people who really enjoy the subject matter. If you are not a history, buff of Erin space it's still a fun place to go for the afternoon. Parking is very accessible and it is not an overly loud space for someone who may have sensory processing disorders. read more

Visitors beware! This business charges full price for entry and half of the exhibits and interactive displays do not work or operate. A Staff member said that their IT department is behind schedule and waiting on parts. We feel that they should let you know in advance that the exhibits are not working before you pay or at least give a discount to patrons while repairs are being completed. Of course this a typical City of Hampton issue. read more

This museum is one of my favorites in the area is very nice and has a lot of interactive activities They happen to have a cool event and my friend and I attended they did a silent disco, which was really cool I love seeing everybody dress up and all the lights and we were able to see that exhibit as well read more

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Really enjoyed ourselves at this museum! Our toddler has been obsessed with airplanes and this place was a dream come true for her. They had a lot of different aircrafts along with interesting facts and history. We loved that they had activities and hands on things. We were glad to see a separate toddler play area that she really liked and found intriguing. Parking is a little walk from the garage so try and find street parking for the closest access. IMAX tickets are included with general admissions price so that's nice. Perfect museum for families of all ages. Our daughter didn't want to leave. read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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My Grubbing Buddy and I decided to check out the IMAX show "Mesmerica" at the Virginia Air & Space Museum located in Hampton, VA this past weekend. I love this museum. I have brought our grandkids here numerous times for the displays and fun, interactive consoles. "Mesmerica" is a 30-minute, 3D IMAX movie that was dazzling and enjoyable and evidently mesmerizing as well. The IMAX theater was booked to the max, (pun intended) and apparently it was very good for those of us who didn't fall asleep and mesmerizing for folks who did. as a result of the relaxing effect of the mesmerizing music and visuals snoring was heard throughout the theater. I am looking forward to the next IMAX show coming up. read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - Introduction. - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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After living here in VA since 2020, I finally had the opportunity to visit the Virginia Air & Space Museum. Before going my son raved about it when he went there on a field trip with his middle school. Parking was in the street about a block away. There are many other options for parking. The ticket pricing is very reasonable, but for more bang for your buck I suggest a membership. The museum gift shop is right when you walk in. They have so many things to check out. Lots of good Christmas gift ideas as well. The entire museum was clean and put together. There were a few things out of order or under construction for improvement. We spent about 2-3 hours here. We also enjoyed one of their films. Don't sleep on this films. They did great work with the one they aired. We opted to have a little lunch there which was good. The demand for food was high, the employees did a good job of handling that demand. Over all this is a great museum. read more

An amazing museum of our aviation history! Our son really enjoyed this museum. Lots of hands-on exhibits with a stone from the moon and from Mars on display. There are play areas for the little ones which they can play when they get tired of the exhibits. Very nice gift shop. Highly recommended! read more

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If I could give zero stars I would, we (my fiance and I) were going to have our wedding here, but in the end changed our minds due to the event coordinator being the RUDEST woman I've ever met or had to speak to. Never doing business here again. Also, they lied to me about my father signing a contract with them to book the venue. She took the money out of his account and everything, and said he can't have the contract nor the caterer list until he paid MORE MONEY. Moral of the story, do not do business with this place as an event place. Visiting to view the museum? Fine. Everything else? DONT DO IT!!! read more

So I need to start by saying that my youngest child loves this place and if she sees this review my well being may be in jeopardy. So there are some cool pieces in the museum. The planes, the space capsule and the interactive exhibits (well the ones that work). The issue is that so much of the activities and displays are not functioning or they are not manned(and are closed because of that). This admission is not cheap and there isn't much to see or that is fully working. I truly hope they get a massive donation and can do a big overhaul and repair. This place, if fully functional, would be 5 stars all day. In response to the comment, there were several displays that were not working properly. It wasn't one display. read more

I can't believe all these years I've never been to the Virginia Air and Space Science Center. I came upon Mesmerica and purchased tickets to see this IMAX cinematic relaxation experience. It's showtime was after hours, so hubby and I came early, purchased admission tickets for us and our son, and basically had the museum all to ourselves. We paid $62 for the three of us, for basically 1 hour of time. A little more than I expected but worth it. They had wonderful exhibits of planes, space shuttles and rockets. They also had a model airplane where you could sit in the cockpit. My hubby and son stayed here for quite a while but did not have to worry about a line building up. On another note: I was very impressed with Mesmerica. I do believe better orgznization is needed for check in and forming the lines. It became a bit confusing when there was a line for regular tickets and another for VIP. Other than that, it was great! read more

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Five hundred Five stars for this place! The minute we walked in, it was big smiles from ear to ear for everyone. Just amazing, enormous, educational, beautiful, and just plain awesome. I didn't want to leave. Very well done. What we saw: Planes Jets planes dangling from the ceiling Planets hanging from the ceiling Astronaut floating in the air An full-on airplane to sit in the cockpit Play area for kids IMAX theatre Fantastic gift shop Snack bar popcorn for the movie So clean, spacious and just plain fun. Awesome staff. We loved it so much we are thinking of becoming members. Beautiful waterfront location. Go!Support this important museum. read more

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Small but impressive selection of spaceships and aircraft that can't be found in the Smithsonian, including several command modules and Cold War favorites like the F-104 Starfighter and F-106 Delta Dart. That said, most of the interactive and video-game style exhibits were either partially broken or not functioning at all, which left the kids disappointed. For the price of admission, they really need to fix these or discount the tickets accordingly. read more

This has become my son's new favorite place. He is currently obsessed with all things planets, and he loves to go and explore the second floor where there are facts about each planet. He also enjoys getting in the model airplane and pretend to be a pilot. Along with the exhibits upstairs, the downstairs area is home to the IMAX theater and the kids play area. The play area has things for both toddlers and older kids. It's definitely an experience that I recommend for anyone in the Hampton Roads area. The food in the concession area is a little pricey, but convenient. Just outside building the historic carousel which only takes cash. Across the street from the museum, our a couple restaurants and even a coffee shop. This area Hampton is one of my favorites.? read more

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The Virginia Air and Space Center is a fantastic, kid-friendly destination! With interactive exhibits and hands-on activities, it's a great place for children to learn about aviation and space in a fun way. read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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I haven't been here since I was younger and I wanted to bring my son here. It has changed so much! For the better of course. There's a nice kids' area with lots of fun activities to do. There's an imax theatre, my three year old didn't make the entire show. He ended up being ready to leave with 5 mins left . The upstairs part of it is a lot of reading (not for the younger kids), but there's def things to do at every section of the museum. Parking is free and easy to find in the surrounding area. read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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After the Virginia Beach Air Museum was a dud, we needed a make-up. The Virginia Air & Space center is only 2-exits after the Hampton Roads tunnel. PROS: Free entrance to center Snack area was nice Very clean Gift shop Staff, extra nice and friendly CONS: Dinosaur IMAX, it was more about the scientists. Recommend choosing a different show. There are other IMAX shows you can watch. Thank you for an amazing visit. Please let me know if you have any questions. read more

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100% yes!!! Things for all ages to Keep the family entertained for at least two days. Took A 4 and 5 year old. Bought the family season pass and did two imax movies and ran around the rest of the museum. And apparently the family pass is good at over 300 locations globally. If you like to travel, this pass is worth it!!! read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - IMAX theater - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

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Amazing. One of the best aviation museums in the world. Must see. Free except for parking.

Bought a Groupon and went on a Tuesday. There were plenty of parking right across the street. I enjoyed my visit since I pretty much had the entire museum to myself. One great addition is that with your admission ticket you get to choose one of their IMAX movies to watch. If you're interested in aviation, you'll love this place. It's a nice museum with fun activities/exhibits for kids of all ages. See attached pictures. read more

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Lots to explore, hands on activities to do for children. Got the Imax too. We really enjoyed ourselves and it was indeed a great opportunity to learn for all ages. I wish they had some more exhibits. read more

The Virginia Air & Space Center is also the visitor center of the NASA Langley Research Center. The museum has many planes on display several which highlighted advancements in aviation owing to the research carried out at Langley. Among the artifacts on display is the Apollo 12 command module. Many hands-on displays are provided to acquaint inquisitive minds with how the principles of aviation affect flight. For kids of all ages, you can create your own paper airplane and test its ability to reach one of several targets. If you're fan of aviation or have an interest in the evolution of aviation technology, the Virginia Air & Space Center is a place you'll enjoy. read more

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We came on a whim because my toddler loves airplanes. With the Udvar-Hazy Center closed due to Covid, this was a good substitute to keep my toddler entertained. Our price of admission included an IMAX Asteroid experience so it did not feel like it hurt the pockets as bad. The Mars rover was the highlight for me. read more

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We were in town for a short, Thanksgiving weekend visit with our son, and it was pouring rain so we wanted an indoor activity. We love all things NASA so this was a no-brainer. It was tricky to figure out where to park - we ended up on a side street, we never did find a parking lot designated for the museum. But at least the street parking was free! The museum has a lot of things geared more for children, but we loved seeing the space capsule and all the full sized airplanes that are hanging from the ceiling. The museum has several levels, so if you visit each level you can get a more eye-level view of each of the planes, as opposed to just seeing their bottoms from the main floor. There were a few things you could go into, and one airplane cockpit which was really interesting to sit in! But the one thing that we all loved the most was up on the third level you can go outside to an observation area. There was the most incredible views from up there! We loved it and spent a lot of time taking in the views from every angle. Don't miss that while visiting the museum! We enjoyed our visit, but it really isn't the kind of museum that you would return to repeatedly so I doubt we'd go back. read more

This museum was great! I have to say it is kinda geared to the kiddies but it is very educational. So much to see and do. There is alot for the non kiddies to do and see as well. Upon arrival we went straight to the gift shop. Very cute which on that particular day. It was MLK Holiday and they had a sale going on for 40%off in the gift shop. Nice gadgets cool suits and gifts. So upon arrival to the Museum we purchased the tour of the exhibits and the 3D I max movie on Robots and humans. Again cute, entertaining, and educational. The restrooms was so cool and clean. It took me a minute to figure out that the water handle and dryer was the same thing . I was looking all over the place for a dryer and it was right in front of me lol. I love the handles in the restroom. Too cute! I think we must have paid about $ 28.00 for the movie and entry fee per person. We definitely enjoyed our visit. So many things to do and see. Lot's of pictures to take. They also have where you can go inside of a actual real plane. Sit and take pictures. Pretend you're the pilot. Don't forget the observation level on the third floor if it's open you can go outside and see some beautiful views of the water and boats. I took plenty of pictures. The museum has 3 levels. It's very big and if you bring the kiddies they have a section for them so trust me they won't get bored. Heck we didn't get bored and it was just us. I got some really good pictures and l'm so glad we stopped there. It was worth the detour when we was traveling home from Virginia Beach. If you purchase the movie ticket don't forget the popcorn. Enjoy the perks of the museum and the snack bar right next to the theater. :) read more

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We arrived shortly after opening on a Saturday. As others noted, the smell of fish was nearly the only thing we could think of as we descended upon the Center. Upon entering, we found a very quiet environment and even a few hours later, it was only nominally busier. The Center receives 4 stars from us for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is one of the few places we have been in the region that both my son and I enjoyed nearly equally. Lots of planes, different simulations (OK so I landed on the grass, but did manage to park it on the tarmac!). A great IMAX that is nearly as grand as the largest I've seen, with a equally outstanding sound system. Outside the theater was a little food stand. Although there is nothing that stands out about it from a quality standpoint, it most certainly was the cheapest place I've ever seen in a museum, science center, etc. In fact, the single reason for rewarding it with only gets 4 stars is because a portion of the Center was closed for the installation of a new traveling exhibit. Certainly the Richmond centers, museums could learn a thing or two about creating an open, entertaining and for the most part, well designed environment for one and all. read more

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A hot summer day and the air and space museum go hand in hand. 1. I was amazed at how well they are handling the covid situation. There was hand sanitizer everywhere, especially near high touch zones. I saw employees regularly cleaning high touch zones. It was quiet and limited capacity in the showings. 2. The exhibits themselves were amazing. The sky line view was closed and that was disappointing, however, it didn't take away from the over all experience. read more

Great experience. Elevator was out of order. Ladies bathroom door was missing. Kids play could have more things to do.

For a while I've been wanting to check out some NASA research centers so when I was in the area for a visit I finally got to go to the Virginia Air and Space Center. Even though I lived in the 757 for 12 years I had actually never been. I was really excited about it and it did not disappoint! General admission was $15 for students. I really love museums and have always had an affinity for space science (I wanted to work for NASA when I was a kid) so I thought the price was worth it. Admission includes a free IMAX film which is nice. We went on a weekday so it wasn't particularly busy. It wasn't overwhelmingly crowded or loud like the the National Air and Space Museum in D.C. either. Nor did it seem outdated or worn like the Smithsonian. In fact, I actually preferred this over the National Air and Space Museum even though it is much smaller and has fewer space/air crafts (and no Hubble telescope or space suits used by the astronauts themselves). I felt like a kid again exploring all the exhibits. There were so many interactive models and simulations that were equally fun and educational. (I completely failed at the bridge building simulation but did quite well with the flight ones!) It would be great to take children here to learn in a hands-on environment. The newest exhibit is the Solarium, which is a room in which you can see and hear the explosions on the surface of the sun. (The millennial in me had to take artsy photos in front of the screen with the light projecting onto the face.) The gift shop has a wide selection of official NASA gear featuring nice minimalistic designs of the classic NASA logo - with nothing cheesey like "future rocket scientist" written on it. They had multiple colors of t-shirts, baseball caps, and even different enamel pin designs. If you like science, museums, or science museums you'll enjoy the Air and Space Center. I think it's a great place to go with your family or even on a date! I actually went on a date here and I had a really great time - given, both of us are science nerds. It was definitely one of my favorite museum experiences I've had. read more

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Came with my 2 and 3 year old. They really enjoyed it. But a few of the exhibits were broken and I noticed a lot of debris on the floor, especially in the areas kids play in. I found plastic shards and a broken pen all over the foam building play area. There were leaves inside of the airplane in the little kids area. The magnets on the seasons board were broken and visibly dirty. I came right after opening and it wasn't a particularly busy day. For the price we paid I would have expected it to be cleaner. We did enjoy looking at what was working and the staff we interacted with were nice. We will probably be back, hopefully it will be tidied up a bit more after the summer is over. read more

Some of the exhibits weren't open, some of the interactive things didn't work. This seems like a very "kid friendly" museum but was disappointing for 4 adults. It was nice that one IMAX showing was included with admission but we would've preferred to see both since the exhibit was only about 3/4 open. read more

I had my son's birthday party there. It was worth it, but some of the exhibits were close. The hostess was just OK in our movie times were not right, but overall a great experience. read more

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Great place to visit. IMAX theater. Friendly staff. Tons of tremendous / interesting things to see

We had a great time. I have a 7 and 9 year old and we spent 4 hours and could have spent more time but we had other things to do. Deffantly educational. read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - Such a great learning adventure!! - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

Been awesome. Very interactive and currently watching two amazing IMAX ... on Hurricanes and National Parks. So worth it! read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

My 4 year old son and I enjoyed a few hours here, though I was far from blown away. They have a nice collection of airframes on display in the main room which is three stories tall. The main attractions are on the first two floors. The third floor has a nice view of the top of the aircraft on display and an outdoor observation deck. I'm not sure what it observes because we were here on a fairly chilly day. Many of the exhibits are interactive. However, they seem to be rehabilitating quite a few of them and need to rehabilitate many more. Quite a few of the screens weren't working. A child a bit older (7-8) may get more out of some of the exhibits. Not very many of them are intuitive enough for pre-kindergarten children to really understand and enjoy. The included IMAX theatre show makes the $15-18/person ticket a bit better. They're currently showing several different 3D IMAX films. We watched "Life in Space" which didn't disappoint, but again, is probably more suited for the 7-10 age range. Overall it was a fun afternoon. We may revisit, but it's a once every couple of years type of place. read more

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We had a great time here. See planes and the Apollo space capsule. There was info to read and hands on exhibits. My only complaint is that some of the hands on things were broken and some of the TV's had the volume so low it was difficult to hear. Your admission comes with a choice of movies at the Omnimax theater. It was a fun and informative day. read more

For starters I had my high school ring dance here. Which was absolutely amazing! This time around I was here for a photography session. It was so refreshing to see this venue still in such great shape. The larger glass windows are what drew the model to this location. We shot majority of our session outside of the building and got just a few shots inside of the venue. This is definitely a great events venue; school dance, ball, even wedding. I'm unsure if the do their own catering but if I recall correctly we were able to hire outside catering. read more

Virginia Air & Space Science Center - Museums Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

I've lived in the Hampton Roads area for 40 years and this was maybe my 2nd time coming to Virginia Air & Space Center. Brought my 9-yr-old daughter to tour the museum and watch Captain America in IMAX theater. The restrooms were being renovated. Several hands-on activities/exhibits were being fixed and others were out of order. The museum was a ghost town. MaxFlight simulator was our most enjoyable experience which was an additional $4. I asked my daughter what she thought of the museum and she replied "Too much reading..." There were four of us in the IMAX theater. Great movie, acoustics, and screen...of course. Overall, I hope to see this museum thrive. History speaks for itself. read more