Planetarium Show at the Children's Museum of Virginia

Last Thursday, we went back to the Children's Museum in Portsmouth -- this time with some friends in tow! We had a fabulous time seeing some of the things we missed on our first visit (which was a lot -- don't be a hero and try to do everything in one day, this is my advice to you) But I think our favorite part of the visit and the most memorable by far was catching a show in the museum's planetarium theatre.

The show consisted of a short movie called Zula Patrol: Down to Earth, a cartoon that followed space explorers through time from the creation of the earth to the present day. The themes focused on recycling and caring for the planet, which honestly went right over Anouk's head but she enjoyed herself all the same, mostly because the experience of seeing a movie projected onto the high, domed planetarium ceiling was so new and novel in itself. It was a little incredible, watching a movie in surround view, even I have to admit. As our friend Miss Brenda said, it would have been nice if the seats reclined for a better look at what was going on overhead, but even with this small flaw, I have a feeling A's first movie theatre experience is going to be a hard one to top.

The movie was only about 25 minutes long -- the perfect time frame to hold a toddler's attention. And after all of the other exhibits, which are so interactive, it was nice to have a quiet break to reset and revive ourselves for the next one.

Tickets to the planetarium show are free with museum admission (you just have to request them at the admission desk). Zula Patrol runs twice a day, at 11 AM and 3 PM, Thursday through Saturday. In between times (at 2 PM), there's a show for slightly older kids, called Dynamic Earth, which uses real-life satellite data and images to explore the planet's changing weather. The next time we visit the museum, I might put J. on baby duty and catch that one myself. Because I'm a dork like that.

Photos weren't allowed in the planetarium, so the ones for this post were taken elsewhere in the museum. See this pic of the kids all together on the big purple chair? About a second after it was snapped Anouk tumbled right to the floor, got up without shedding a tear, and took off running toward the bubble room. "Bubbuhhhhhs!" Of course.

I'm thinking we'll have to pay a visit to the Chesapeake Planetarium soon. Have you been? What did you think?

Happy weekend, everybody!