It opens at 10 AM daily June 1 through Labor Day with no set closing hours. Hours are variable in the off-season. This is one of the most-visited museums in Virginia, and in 1996 it completed a major expansion that tripled its size. Since its expansion the museum began welcoming as many as 700,000 visitors a year. Crowds can get overwhelming in summer so watch out for rainy days and go early in the day when possible.
Locals prefer to visit in spring, fall and winter when the tourists have gone home.
Children especially like the touch-tank where they can get their hands on crabs, turtles and starfish with the help of museum docents. The museum frequently features a decoy carver and other demonstrations. Outside, a boardwalk takes you on a peaceful walk through the Owls Creek salt marsh. You can enjoy a six-minute stroll to the new building or hop on a tram for a swift ride. In the peak summer months red tourist trolleys transport visitors between buildings via the main road outside.