VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Everywhere you look at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center there is a chance to touch, push, or in some way interact with the exhibits that can become alive.
It's all part of the $28.9 million renovation that has gone on for years at the South Building of the aquarium.
Now the aquarium boasts a variety of immersive experiences with interactive exhibits, kids’ play areas, touch pools, an observable veterinary care center, an interactive water quality lab, and more.
There are also several new animals there and on the way.
"We are still waiting for our octopus to arrive," said Chris Witherspoon, Vice President of the aquarium's Science Learning program. "But there are a lot of fan favorites and new members we now have, along with all of the new exhibits.
This includes Sheldon and Homer, the aquarium's beloved river otters who have already made themselves at home in their new facility.
There are also dozens of different types of jellyfish in the "Jellies" Collection, including a chance for a few brave people to stroke a jellyfish.
Not to mention, there is a new room dedicated to 'super-powered fish.'
"There you don't just meet the animal, you discover what makes them special," said Witherspoon. "We have cuttlefish and their superpower is their incredible ability to literally change how they look to predators, you can see that up close."
However, one of the biggest changes to come to the aquarium is the outside interactive watershed, where children and their families can play with different water-themed exhibits and learn at the same time.
While some of the exhibits can be weather-dependent, Witherspoon said it can be a chance for children to not only role play but to think critically about the world around them.
"They can pretend they are a sea turtle researcher or a fishery science - so they can take it where they want to go - it's not something where you just push a button and something happens that you see," said Witherspoon.
The aquarium opens to ticketed members on Saturday but will open to the public on Sunday.