Bottlenose dolphins and Virginia Beach visitors appear to have one thing in common: they return to this coastal resort city every summer for some fun in the sun. Lured by the food-rich waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, the marine mammals can be viewed up-close in their natural habitat on Virginia Marine Science Museum dolphin watching boat trips June 21 - Sept. 5. Museum staff serve as interpretative guides and educators to the thousands of wildlife enthusiasts on these popular two-hour trips.

Leaping from their ocean habitats in acrobatic displays, nothing compares to observing bottlenose dolphins in their natural environment. As the most common marine mammal in Virginia, these fascinating creatures represent the mid-Atlantic’s largest population of bottlenose dolphins. Annually, dolphin migration begins early each spring when they return to the area from the warmer waters of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. These charismatic mammals can consume up to 15-30 pounds of seafood daily.

As one of the top most-visited aquariums and marine science facilities in the country, the Virginia Marine Science Museum offers visitors the opportunity to learn more about dolphins with interactive exhibits. The museum’s Atlantic Ocean Pavilion features dozens of aquariums and interpretative exhibits focusing on dolphins, whales, sharks and other marine creatures that inhabit the ocean. As the state’s largest aquarium, the facility focuses on Virginia’s marine life with over 800,000 gallons of aquariums and live animal habitats and more than 300 hands-on exhibits.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until June 15, when the facility will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The museum is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard in Virginia Beach.

For more information on dolphin watching boat trips, call (757) 437-BOAT (2628). Reservations are required. Admission rates include adults $12 and children (11 years and under) $10. Call (757)425-FISH (3474) for additional information about the museum. Or visit their website at the URL: http://vabeach.com/va-marine-science-museum/index.html

Insider’s Tip: Because of the popularity of these boat trips museum officials encourage mid-week reservations to insure availability. Dolphin sightings are not guaranteed.