Space Weekend
Make your visit to the NASA Open House a space-themed weekend in Virginia! 2019 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing, and visitors from all over the world are encouraged to visit the Commonwealth’s space-related exhibits, programs, and events to see why Virginia is for Space Lovers.
Virginia played an important role in the research and development of technology for the Apollo moon missions and is playing an important role in research and development for the upcoming Artemis moon mission slated for 2024.
With its dark sky sites, science museums, and eco-tourism opportunities visitors can attend a variety of space-related attractions in Virginia, including astronomy programs, full moon kayak tours, movie screenings, stargazing, and more “out of this world” activities.
Visit virginia.org for a complete list of space-related attractions.
Suggested Itinerary
Friday, October 20
Start your trip with a visit to the NASA Wallops Visitor Center, which is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Tucked away on Virginia's Eastern Shore, NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility plays an incredibly important role in our understanding of earth and space science. Since its beginnings, Wallops has launched more than 16,000 rockets carrying science experiments, technology, and satellites.
Established in 1945, Wallops Flight Facility is NASA’s premier location for conducting research using aircraft, scientific balloons and sounding rockets-known as “suborbital vehicles”. A partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) allows for the launch of orbital vehicles.
The public is invited to explore the history and future of Wallops and NASA at the Visitor Center through a variety of exhibits, videos, events, programs and tours. All Visitor Center offerings are free of charge.
Note: Please be advised that the facility is not open on Sundays, so this suggested itinerary cannot be reversed. https://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-wallops-visitor-center-2
Following your visit, check in to your Chincoteague hotel and visit the Chincoteague LOVEworks, or get a head start on Saturday’s activities by heading towards Hampton. The drive is just under three hours. If you’d like to break the drive into two parts, we suggest stopping in Cape Charles on the lower end of the Eastern Shore to spend the night, which is just over an hour’s drive. Make sure to stop by the iconic Cape Charles LOVEwork.
- https://www.virginia.org/places-to-stay/hotels-and-motels/?view=grid&sort=qualityScore&bounds=false&filter_regions%5B0%5D=2&filter_cities%5B0%5D=Chincoteague%20Island
- https://www.virginia.org/listing/lovework-in-chincoteague/15062/
- https://www.virginia.org/places-to-visit/regions/eastern-shore/cape-charles/
- https://www.virginia.org/listing/lovework-in-cape-charles/15178/
Saturday, October 21
Enjoy he NASA Langley Open House from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visit Peninsula Town Center for dinner and shopping before heading to your Hampton hotel.
- https://peninsulatowncenter.com/
- https://www.virginia.org/places-to-stay/?view=grid&sort=qualityScore&bounds=false&filter_regions%5B0%5D=1&filter_cities%5B0%5D=Hampton
Enjoy evening activities in Hampton and check out the trendy neighborhood guide for additional suggestions.
Sunday, October 22
Start off with breakfast at a Hampton landmark, Tommy’s Restaurant, or stop by Mango Mangeaux, which was featured on Shark Tank. Reservations are suggested for Mango Mangeaux. Another option is the Guilty Pleasure Coffee Shop.
- https://www.facebook.com/people/Tommys-Restaurant/100044694885472/
- https://www.mangomangeaux.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/people/Guilty-Pleasure-Coffee-Shop/100071210581545/
Next up is a visit to Air Power Park and enjoy the displays of jets, missiles, and rockets. Air Power Park is located at 413 West Mercury Boulevard, Hampton, VA and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no cost associated with Air Power Park.
Next stop is the Virginia Air and Space Center at 600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, VA. This world-class facility is the official visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center and features the Adventures in Flight and Space Quest galleries and more than 100 "hands-on" exhibits that tell the story of air and space exploration. See the Apollo 12 Command Module, a Mars meteorite and a three-billion year-old moon rock! Make a crater, travel to Mars, and fly an airplane. Admission prices vary based on age but include a free IMAX film during your visit. Active military/NASA employees receive a reduced price. Hours of operation are noon. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.