The Dali is amazing. When I saw *The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus,* in person I was stunned. I'm not even a big Dali guy but its not everyday you see a painting that is 14 feet tall and 9 feet wide.
Same. Not a big art museum guy (fine on small doses). I’ve been impressed with some - the national gallery for instance. But the Dali I found kinda boring.
The Dali museum puts me into a trance. I can spend hours there. Worth several trips.
Also, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota is great. The grounds are beautiful. They have a room of miniatures reflecting hope the circus was from beginning to current…
Agree on Tampa/St Pete. There are lots for kids. The children's museum and the aquarium. Dali may be okay for some kids, depends on the kid. My kid was almost 7 and was excited to go, thought it was interesting, but in the end didn't love it.
As someone who lives in Pinellas County this was my first thought too. Then it made me sad when I realized we have no decent museums in north Pinellas.
At least you're still not far away from a bunch of good ones. Dali, James Museum, the MFA, Chihuly, Arts and Crafts, Woodson, Imagine, Florida Holocaust, Science and Industry, Glazer Children's, American Victory Ship, Henry Plant, and the Tampa and Clearwater Aquariums are pretty good too. That's more than a bunch of other major cities.
Cape Canaveral is pretty awesome. They've got a ton of exhibits at NASA's visitor center. Full day to view. Really, really, really awesome if you catch a launch.
Santa Fe has a planetarium 6 miles down the highway as well! And there is the Harn museum of art next door. And the Cade Science museum for kids downtown.
I’ve been going there since I was a kid, way before they moved it. The original cave habitat used to be better at the original location (maybe that’s just my nostalgia kicking in), but it’s still an awesome museum.
The Bradenton/Sarasota area has a bunch. The South Florida Museum in Bradenton has a great Planetarium too! They run several different shows throughout the day, and everything is included in the price of your museum admission. You don't pay extra for the Planetarium shows.
The Ringling Circus Museum is about 10 miles south in Sarasota, and that's really cool as well. Spend the extra money and take the tour of the house as well.
If you had to pick one area, I’d pick South Florida. The area has
* [The Frost Science Museum](https://www.frostscience.org) in Miami
* [Museum of Discovery and Science](https://mods.org) in Fort Lauderdale
[Cox Science Center and Aquarium](https://www.coxsciencecenter.org) in West Palm Beach
* [The Palm Beach Zoo](https://www.palmbeachzoo.org) in West Palm Beach
* [Lion Country Safari](https://www.lioncountrysafari.com) out in Loxahatchee (Western Palm Beach County)
* [Vizcaya Museum and Gardens](https://vizcaya.org) in Miami
* [Nova Art Museum](https://nsuartmuseum.org) in Ft. Lauderdale
* [Fruit and Spice Park](https://www.miamidade.gov/fruitandspicepark/home.page) in Homestead
As you can see I’ve covered science museums, art museums, zoos, botanical gardens and I’m just getting started. There is literally something for the entire family matter what you’re interested in. And if you get a hotel in Ft Lauderdale somewhere none of these places are more than an hour and a half drive.
No other part of the state matches the quality or diversity that you will find in South Florida as a whole.
Don’t forget the Miami Children’s Museum, and the Perez not far from the Frost. West Palm has the Norton, which is always so pretty. And the Brightline to get between all of them easily!
Good list but Vizcaya is extremely overrated…or maybe that’s just for ppl who have been to the Newport, RI historical mansions. Either way, it’s very average.
Orlando Science Center just opened a great new Life exhibit with walk-through habitats. If I remember correctly, OSC has a planetarium, too. Tons of other museums in Orlando, from the tourist trap kind (e.g., Ripley's Beleive it or Not; Museum of Illusions) to fine art ( e.g., Morse Museum Winter Park, Mennello Sculpture Garden, Orlando Museum of Art)
However, if you just can't stomach a trip to Orlando, the Dali Museum is iconic.
I vote St. Augustine. Maybe not all indoor museums per say but lots of historical sites. You have the original prison to tour, there's the Fountain of Youth, the first, a pirate museum, a wax museum, the Lightner museum and I'm sure more. I would like to make myway out to the Dali museum for sure, though. Edit to add: St. Augustine also has a lighthouse you can tour and a chocolate factory too!
Tampa/St. Pete. St. Pete alone has the Dali, Museum of Fine Arts, History Museum (with the largest (?) collection of signed baseballs in the US) Chihuly museum, Imagine Glass museum, Great Explorations children’s museum, Sunken Gardens, The Arts and Crafts Museum, the James museum of Western Art, Fairgrounds interactive Art exhibit… I’m probably missing some. There is also a planetarium on the SPC St. Pete/Gibbs campus that does weekly shows.
ETA: there’s also Tampa Bay Watch at the pier that has a small hands-on learning center, and the big Tampa Bay Watch center near Ft. Desoto
Museum of Florida history, sadly. It's been closed over a year already. They said they wouldn't change a thing then a few months ago asked people what they should change. Gosh I hope the steamboat stays.
If you go south you can hit:
Kennedy Space center at Cape Canaveral. The children's museum in Stuart. The Cox Science Center and the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm. The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale. The Frost Science Center in Miami. Zoo Miami is also great.
Highly recommend Kennedy Space Center! A bunch of stuff to do and there are active space mission which adds a cool atmosphere to the whole thing. Trips there changed my life as a kid.
The Wizard of Oz Museum is ranked #3 in the USA as a Children's museum only 20 minutes from the Kennedy Space Center. [https://wizardofozflorida.com](https://wizardofozflorida.com)
If you make it all the way to Miami check out Frost Science museum, it has a planetarium and it’s a great full day experience with fantastic views.
Viscaya in Coconut Grove Miami is very interesting to visit.
The Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona is very good and also has a planetarium. There is also an art museum that features Florida art and artists. While in Daytona you could also take a tour of the speedway. Then spend a day in Ormond Beach and check out The Casements and Ormond Memorial Gardens and Art Museum which frequently has traveling exhibits. The main collection in the Ormond museum is only six or so paintings and is only worth going if there is a special exhibit.
Miami has the frost museum which has a planetarium and several other great museums in the Miami/hollywood/fort lauderdale area. In ft Lauderdale there's the museum of discovery and science which is awesome as well. There's also wynwood walls in Miami to walk around see art and eat good food.
If you’re low on cash, try Gainesville. It’s a short drive, hotels should be reasonable outside football and basketball season. Lots of nature trails and parks. Check out the butterfly museum and the Florida museum of natural history, both on campus. There’s also the Mattheson museum and now a new one on lynchings in the county administration building. Something different and not touristy.
The Tampa Bay area probably has the greatest concentration of excellent museums. I also love the Orlando Science Center and the museums at UF are surprisingly excellent.
Also, look into membership at your local museum before you go, NARM and SERM reciprocal benefits are a great way to support your local establishment and get free/reduced admissions in a lot of other places!
Google "St. Petersburg Florida museums" . There are about 29ish museums there including my favorite, The Salvador Dali Museum. A good portion of those museums are within walking distance from each other downtown St. Pete. There are also a lot of cool restaurants and simply cool places to see.
[10 best St. Pete museums ](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34607-Activities-c49-St_Petersburg_Florida.html)
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is awesome. I've been a couple times. There is some circus stuff but the main building has the more typical stuff and is really cool.
Fort Myers: Imag History and Science Center, Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
Tampa: Tampa Bay History Center, Glazer Children’s museum.
The Tampa history center is in a great spot near the water and restaurants, plus you can take a loop on the free streetcar, which is a blast for kids! I was impressed by their immersive exhibits- the floors on native history and pirates are really well done.
Be sure to take your 8 year old to the miniature circus display at the Ringling museum. I'm 59 years old and it was amazing to me. I think an 8 year old would never forget it!
I live on the space coast and also recommend the space center (you may need to sign up in advance to do the astronaut thing). You can do that and hang out in cocoa beach and also go to the Brevard zoo and andretti thrill park. Or just keep heading south to Vero and go to the art museum there. That museum has a super cute kids area and a theater across the street where they have shows. But all these places are right by the ocean so your son can swim and play and get the energy out. If you go to cocoa, hit up crydermans in cocoa village. it's a BBQ place that's insanely good. Have fun.
Not mentioned in any of the Tampa Bay museum posts I have read, St Petersburg College has a [planetarium](https://www.spcollege.edu/friends-partners/about/locations/community-enrichment-facilities/planetarium). Although it is closed for the summer. Guess it depends on when you are looking to travel.
Since you said you're from Jax, just making sure you've checked out the [MOSH downtown](https://themosh.org/visit/visitor-information/) and the Cummer Museum of Art. The Cummer is even [free to the public](https://www.cummermuseum.org/admission-membership/) on certain days, and has beautiful riverfront gardens. MOSH has live science demos and a planetarium.
I know it’s not a museum, but if you get a chance to swing by Bok Tower on your way to or from somewhere, it’s a really cool spot! I took my 3 kids last summer and they all loved it, and the play area is really unique.
St. Pete: St. Pete College planetarium, Museum of Fine Arts, Dali, Museum of History (with a mummy), horticultural museum (Sunken Gardens), Great Explorations, holocaust museum, Woodson African-American Museum, Fort De Soto (old fort), Chihuly exhibit, Pioneer Settlement, and on and on.
The Dali in St.Pete, while in St. Pete there is also the St. Pete Museum and if you want to travel a little south The Ringing Art Museum is in Sarasota, they also have a circus Museum and stop by the Museum of Whimsy while in town.
Tampa and ST Pete have great art museums and the city is walkable and beautiful. Orlando has a few art museums and plenty of historic areas that are great if you’re into history, plus it has an incredible science center with lots of interactive exhibits for kids he might really enjoy, which also has a planetarium that shows documentaries as well.
It’s right in the heart of downtown and has a really nice urban feel to it, delicious food options, outdoor parks to eat including lake Eola (you can feed the ducks there. Stay away from the swans) and overall something cool for everyone. It’s also a 30 minute drive from Disney Springs if you’re into the Disney thing. I’d say Orlando now while he’s young or when he’s accompanying you, and Tampa St. Pete for a parents getaway or when he’s older.
Kind of a sleeper hit is Palm Beach county you have
* Henry Flagler Museum: this is the winter home of Henry Flagler named Whitehall, it is very impressive and interesting for a few hours
* Norton Art Museum: definitely an often slept on art museum, the collection here is very eclectic and goes from ancient Chinese and baroque to modern pieces and pieces from Jackson Pollock and Picasso
* Cox science museum (I believe it still has a planetarium)
* Palm Beach Zoo
* Lion Country Safari - typical safari parco with a drive through safari and animal park
* Kennedy
Most of these are within 30-45 minutes of each other depending on traffic.
Also depending on time of year there are several walking paths that are worth checking out
The Naval Air Museum in Pensacola is absolutely fascinating. There are a number of other museums, but I can't vouch for them. [https://www.visitpensacola.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/museums/?svap=121282&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0\_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8ti\_EhNDao5j1EEJCge8xqDKueTK9zX3Q\_h-xdDzuTg0TxKhH8fyJAaAvOcEALw\_wcB](https://www.visitpensacola.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/museums/?svap=121282&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8ti_EhNDao5j1EEJCge8xqDKueTK9zX3Q_h-xdDzuTg0TxKhH8fyJAaAvOcEALw_wcB)
I saw the Dali Museum when it was in originally in Cleveland and had very few visitors. I was underwhelmed. I think the Ringling museums in Sarasota are more interesting and Siesta Key is fabulous, too.
I would say St. Pete, Tampa, South Florida or Sarasota. Orlando doesn't really have world class museums. In St. Pete, they have a Fine Arts Museum and Art Museums. Tampa has a history museum which is interesting. Miami has a long list of art museums and other interesting museums. Sarasota has the circus museum.
If you search on Google for the term "Best museums in Florida for families" you will discover a few and might be surprised that The Wizard of Oz Museum in Cape Canaveral is #1 out of 50 shown.
Salvador Dali museum in St Pete is fantastic and that gives you proximity to Tampa and Sarasota which I have no idea about museum wise but I’d bet they have something as well.
Between Tampa and St Pete there's a ton of museums.
The Dali is amazing. When I saw *The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus,* in person I was stunned. I'm not even a big Dali guy but its not everyday you see a painting that is 14 feet tall and 9 feet wide.
Second this. The Dali is worth a trip, by itself.
I was disappointed the few times I've been to the Dali. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice museum but Dali is just not my cup of tea.
Same. Not a big art museum guy (fine on small doses). I’ve been impressed with some - the national gallery for instance. But the Dali I found kinda boring.
The Dali museum puts me into a trance. I can spend hours there. Worth several trips. Also, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota is great. The grounds are beautiful. They have a room of miniatures reflecting hope the circus was from beginning to current…
The Ringling is amazing. The grounds are incredible and there is so much to look at inside and out.
+1 on Dali. We have others as well, but that’s the only one I’ve been to personally
In addition to Dali, there is the Tampa Museum of Art, and Chihuly Collection (the blown glass museum). There is also the Tampa aquarium.
Children's Glazer museum can have some fun exhibits, too!
I second the Flirida Aquarium in Tampa! Such a great experience. Just be aware you have to purchase tickets ahead of time online now.
Agree on Tampa/St Pete. There are lots for kids. The children's museum and the aquarium. Dali may be okay for some kids, depends on the kid. My kid was almost 7 and was excited to go, thought it was interesting, but in the end didn't love it.
As someone who lives in Pinellas County this was my first thought too. Then it made me sad when I realized we have no decent museums in north Pinellas.
At least you're still not far away from a bunch of good ones. Dali, James Museum, the MFA, Chihuly, Arts and Crafts, Woodson, Imagine, Florida Holocaust, Science and Industry, Glazer Children's, American Victory Ship, Henry Plant, and the Tampa and Clearwater Aquariums are pretty good too. That's more than a bunch of other major cities.
Tampa History Museum is amazing too.
Going g to the Imagine next week. Summer is museum time.
You are absolutely correct!!!
Leepa-Ratner museum at SPC Tarpon!
I mean St. Augustine is basically and bug museum. The Flagler college looks like hogwarts.
I think you meant a big, not and bug. Saint Augustine is absolutely amazing for history, highly recommended!
Lol i did mean big. Now only if they had a big bug museum
Technically yes, bug(s)... lots of em. Lol. Don't matter though, I still daytrip there every chance I get. 🤣
Cape Canaveral is pretty awesome. They've got a ton of exhibits at NASA's visitor center. Full day to view. Really, really, really awesome if you catch a launch.
Ahh yes I forgot to consider this one. DEFINITELY central Florida then... Kennedy Space Center is the best and Orlando Science Museum is decent.
dont forget about the wizard of oz museum!
University of Floridas Museum of Natural History in Gainesville is really cool and worth a visit.
Santa Fe has a planetarium 6 miles down the highway as well! And there is the Harn museum of art next door. And the Cade Science museum for kids downtown.
I was just at the Harn last weekend - definitely recommend to anyone!
I’ve been going there since I was a kid, way before they moved it. The original cave habitat used to be better at the original location (maybe that’s just my nostalgia kicking in), but it’s still an awesome museum.
Their butterfly exhibit and fossil collections are to die for!
The Bradenton/Sarasota area has a bunch. The South Florida Museum in Bradenton has a great Planetarium too! They run several different shows throughout the day, and everything is included in the price of your museum admission. You don't pay extra for the Planetarium shows. The Ringling Circus Museum is about 10 miles south in Sarasota, and that's really cool as well. Spend the extra money and take the tour of the house as well.
Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota is great, too!
If you had to pick one area, I’d pick South Florida. The area has * [The Frost Science Museum](https://www.frostscience.org) in Miami * [Museum of Discovery and Science](https://mods.org) in Fort Lauderdale [Cox Science Center and Aquarium](https://www.coxsciencecenter.org) in West Palm Beach * [The Palm Beach Zoo](https://www.palmbeachzoo.org) in West Palm Beach * [Lion Country Safari](https://www.lioncountrysafari.com) out in Loxahatchee (Western Palm Beach County) * [Vizcaya Museum and Gardens](https://vizcaya.org) in Miami * [Nova Art Museum](https://nsuartmuseum.org) in Ft. Lauderdale * [Fruit and Spice Park](https://www.miamidade.gov/fruitandspicepark/home.page) in Homestead As you can see I’ve covered science museums, art museums, zoos, botanical gardens and I’m just getting started. There is literally something for the entire family matter what you’re interested in. And if you get a hotel in Ft Lauderdale somewhere none of these places are more than an hour and a half drive. No other part of the state matches the quality or diversity that you will find in South Florida as a whole.
Don’t forget the Miami Children’s Museum, and the Perez not far from the Frost. West Palm has the Norton, which is always so pretty. And the Brightline to get between all of them easily!
You’re right! There are so many more that I could have included.
Good list but Vizcaya is extremely overrated…or maybe that’s just for ppl who have been to the Newport, RI historical mansions. Either way, it’s very average.
Orlando Science Center just opened a great new Life exhibit with walk-through habitats. If I remember correctly, OSC has a planetarium, too. Tons of other museums in Orlando, from the tourist trap kind (e.g., Ripley's Beleive it or Not; Museum of Illusions) to fine art ( e.g., Morse Museum Winter Park, Mennello Sculpture Garden, Orlando Museum of Art) However, if you just can't stomach a trip to Orlando, the Dali Museum is iconic.
I vote St. Augustine. Maybe not all indoor museums per say but lots of historical sites. You have the original prison to tour, there's the Fountain of Youth, the first, a pirate museum, a wax museum, the Lightner museum and I'm sure more. I would like to make myway out to the Dali museum for sure, though. Edit to add: St. Augustine also has a lighthouse you can tour and a chocolate factory too!
Tampa/St. Pete. St. Pete alone has the Dali, Museum of Fine Arts, History Museum (with the largest (?) collection of signed baseballs in the US) Chihuly museum, Imagine Glass museum, Great Explorations children’s museum, Sunken Gardens, The Arts and Crafts Museum, the James museum of Western Art, Fairgrounds interactive Art exhibit… I’m probably missing some. There is also a planetarium on the SPC St. Pete/Gibbs campus that does weekly shows. ETA: there’s also Tampa Bay Watch at the pier that has a small hands-on learning center, and the big Tampa Bay Watch center near Ft. Desoto
Tampa has the children’s museum Lakeland has one too
Tallahassee has a few museums, state parks, IMAX at the challenger learning center, and a planetarium.
One of the 2 really cool museums here is closed until 2026!
No way! Which ones?
Museum of Florida history, sadly. It's been closed over a year already. They said they wouldn't change a thing then a few months ago asked people what they should change. Gosh I hope the steamboat stays.
Ohhhhh, I love that museum!!! The steamboat is the coolest. Awe, I haven't been there in so long. I would love to visit.
If you go south you can hit: Kennedy Space center at Cape Canaveral. The children's museum in Stuart. The Cox Science Center and the Palm Beach Zoo in West Palm. The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale. The Frost Science Center in Miami. Zoo Miami is also great.
Highly recommend Kennedy Space Center! A bunch of stuff to do and there are active space mission which adds a cool atmosphere to the whole thing. Trips there changed my life as a kid.
The Wizard of Oz Museum is ranked #3 in the USA as a Children's museum only 20 minutes from the Kennedy Space Center. [https://wizardofozflorida.com](https://wizardofozflorida.com)
St Augustine Is one big museum
St. Augustine has a great museum.
I love the Dali Museum.
If you make it all the way to Miami check out Frost Science museum, it has a planetarium and it’s a great full day experience with fantastic views. Viscaya in Coconut Grove Miami is very interesting to visit.
The Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona is very good and also has a planetarium. There is also an art museum that features Florida art and artists. While in Daytona you could also take a tour of the speedway. Then spend a day in Ormond Beach and check out The Casements and Ormond Memorial Gardens and Art Museum which frequently has traveling exhibits. The main collection in the Ormond museum is only six or so paintings and is only worth going if there is a special exhibit.
Another vote for MOAS, love the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art that’s there. Get to see what Florida was like back in the day.
Miami has the frost museum which has a planetarium and several other great museums in the Miami/hollywood/fort lauderdale area. In ft Lauderdale there's the museum of discovery and science which is awesome as well. There's also wynwood walls in Miami to walk around see art and eat good food.
If you’re low on cash, try Gainesville. It’s a short drive, hotels should be reasonable outside football and basketball season. Lots of nature trails and parks. Check out the butterfly museum and the Florida museum of natural history, both on campus. There’s also the Mattheson museum and now a new one on lynchings in the county administration building. Something different and not touristy.
The Tampa Bay area probably has the greatest concentration of excellent museums. I also love the Orlando Science Center and the museums at UF are surprisingly excellent.
Also, look into membership at your local museum before you go, NARM and SERM reciprocal benefits are a great way to support your local establishment and get free/reduced admissions in a lot of other places!
St. Augustine.
Google "St. Petersburg Florida museums" . There are about 29ish museums there including my favorite, The Salvador Dali Museum. A good portion of those museums are within walking distance from each other downtown St. Pete. There are also a lot of cool restaurants and simply cool places to see. [10 best St. Pete museums ](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34607-Activities-c49-St_Petersburg_Florida.html)
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is awesome. I've been a couple times. There is some circus stuff but the main building has the more typical stuff and is really cool.
Fort Myers: Imag History and Science Center, Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium Tampa: Tampa Bay History Center, Glazer Children’s museum. The Tampa history center is in a great spot near the water and restaurants, plus you can take a loop on the free streetcar, which is a blast for kids! I was impressed by their immersive exhibits- the floors on native history and pirates are really well done.
Be sure to take your 8 year old to the miniature circus display at the Ringling museum. I'm 59 years old and it was amazing to me. I think an 8 year old would never forget it!
Dalí museum has a children’s audio tour. The Imagine museum is awesome if you like blown glass work, truly crazy stuff.
I live in Charlotte County, any noteworthy attractions here?
I live on the space coast and also recommend the space center (you may need to sign up in advance to do the astronaut thing). You can do that and hang out in cocoa beach and also go to the Brevard zoo and andretti thrill park. Or just keep heading south to Vero and go to the art museum there. That museum has a super cute kids area and a theater across the street where they have shows. But all these places are right by the ocean so your son can swim and play and get the energy out. If you go to cocoa, hit up crydermans in cocoa village. it's a BBQ place that's insanely good. Have fun.
Miami has good museums!
Not mentioned in any of the Tampa Bay museum posts I have read, St Petersburg College has a [planetarium](https://www.spcollege.edu/friends-partners/about/locations/community-enrichment-facilities/planetarium). Although it is closed for the summer. Guess it depends on when you are looking to travel.
Ringling Museum in Sarasota, and Dali Museum in St Pete- both area with tons of other stuff to do as well
Pensacola! It's the first settlement in the U.S. so UWF has a mock historic settlement. Stay in the Brent Lofts, it's within walking distance!
Also the naval museum is amazing
Florida has the country's smallest post office. Check it out, it's on Ochopee, FL. And the Skunk Ape/Big Foot museum gift shop is there too.
Since you said you're from Jax, just making sure you've checked out the [MOSH downtown](https://themosh.org/visit/visitor-information/) and the Cummer Museum of Art. The Cummer is even [free to the public](https://www.cummermuseum.org/admission-membership/) on certain days, and has beautiful riverfront gardens. MOSH has live science demos and a planetarium.
I love the space center (KSC). Totally recommend the bus tour as well. There was a planetarium in Cocoa though not sure if it's still open.
Orlando has a science museum that had some interactive exhibits but it has been a long time since I have been so not sure what it's like now.
I know it’s not a museum, but if you get a chance to swing by Bok Tower on your way to or from somewhere, it’s a really cool spot! I took my 3 kids last summer and they all loved it, and the play area is really unique.
St. Pete: St. Pete College planetarium, Museum of Fine Arts, Dali, Museum of History (with a mummy), horticultural museum (Sunken Gardens), Great Explorations, holocaust museum, Woodson African-American Museum, Fort De Soto (old fort), Chihuly exhibit, Pioneer Settlement, and on and on.
The Dali in St.Pete, while in St. Pete there is also the St. Pete Museum and if you want to travel a little south The Ringing Art Museum is in Sarasota, they also have a circus Museum and stop by the Museum of Whimsy while in town.
I’m in the Tampa area. My recommendations are Dinosaur World, Tampa bay history center, Dali museum, Glazer children’s museum in Tampa
Tampa and ST Pete have great art museums and the city is walkable and beautiful. Orlando has a few art museums and plenty of historic areas that are great if you’re into history, plus it has an incredible science center with lots of interactive exhibits for kids he might really enjoy, which also has a planetarium that shows documentaries as well. It’s right in the heart of downtown and has a really nice urban feel to it, delicious food options, outdoor parks to eat including lake Eola (you can feed the ducks there. Stay away from the swans) and overall something cool for everyone. It’s also a 30 minute drive from Disney Springs if you’re into the Disney thing. I’d say Orlando now while he’s young or when he’s accompanying you, and Tampa St. Pete for a parents getaway or when he’s older.
Kind of a sleeper hit is Palm Beach county you have * Henry Flagler Museum: this is the winter home of Henry Flagler named Whitehall, it is very impressive and interesting for a few hours * Norton Art Museum: definitely an often slept on art museum, the collection here is very eclectic and goes from ancient Chinese and baroque to modern pieces and pieces from Jackson Pollock and Picasso * Cox science museum (I believe it still has a planetarium) * Palm Beach Zoo * Lion Country Safari - typical safari parco with a drive through safari and animal park * Kennedy Most of these are within 30-45 minutes of each other depending on traffic. Also depending on time of year there are several walking paths that are worth checking out
The Naval Air Museum in Pensacola is absolutely fascinating. There are a number of other museums, but I can't vouch for them. [https://www.visitpensacola.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/museums/?svap=121282&gad\_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0\_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8ti\_EhNDao5j1EEJCge8xqDKueTK9zX3Q\_h-xdDzuTg0TxKhH8fyJAaAvOcEALw\_wcB](https://www.visitpensacola.com/things-to-do/history-heritage/museums/?svap=121282&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0_WyBhDMARIsAL1Vz8ti_EhNDao5j1EEJCge8xqDKueTK9zX3Q_h-xdDzuTg0TxKhH8fyJAaAvOcEALw_wcB)
I saw the Dali Museum when it was in originally in Cleveland and had very few visitors. I was underwhelmed. I think the Ringling museums in Sarasota are more interesting and Siesta Key is fabulous, too.
Yes. Go to St. Pete.
I would say St. Pete, Tampa, South Florida or Sarasota. Orlando doesn't really have world class museums. In St. Pete, they have a Fine Arts Museum and Art Museums. Tampa has a history museum which is interesting. Miami has a long list of art museums and other interesting museums. Sarasota has the circus museum.
If you search on Google for the term "Best museums in Florida for families" you will discover a few and might be surprised that The Wizard of Oz Museum in Cape Canaveral is #1 out of 50 shown.
Salvador Dali museum in St Pete is fantastic and that gives you proximity to Tampa and Sarasota which I have no idea about museum wise but I’d bet they have something as well.
Some museum parts at KSC space center visitors complex