Add the Lightner Museum as a stop when visiting St. Augustine! The museum is located in the heart…read moreof the city in what use to be the Alcazar Hotel, a Gilded Age Resort. The building architecture and the gardens are beautiful. There were many collections to peruse, which were housed on 3 levels. It took us about two hours to make our way through, but you could easily spend 3 if you take your time and read everything. The floors all have a front and rear. The best suggestion we were given is to start on the 3rd floor an make our way down. The staff on hand were friendly and readily available to answer any of your questions. You can make a reservation for lunch at the Cafe, which is located on the lower level of what was once a pool.

What a fascinating stop. The exhibits are interesting but just the chance to tour the building is…read moreworth the stop. Fans of the Gilded Age will appreciate the history and the grandeur of the old hotel. We hopped in on the "Swimming Pool" talk and it was very good. Lots of tidbits about the hotels history and usage through the year. Definitely worth the stop!

Beautiful place - two buildings full of Fun, Art, activities for kids.... We went to the…read moreplanetarium- Great presentation- on the ceiling makes you feel like you're in space! The two train coaches- with the scene set up to show you life on a luxurious train from decade ago. The race cars and luxury cars- light blue Lincoln Continental was awesome

I visited MOAS for a first date, and the value was absolutely on point. For everything included, I…read moreleft feeling impressed and genuinely satisfied. The woman at the entrance was kind and helpful, though she spoke so softly my ADHD brain had to lean in like a detective--but her directions were spot on. Inside the main building, the art from Cuba was the star for me--bold, vibrant, full of life. Some of my absolute favorites were in the Cuban art section--each piece felt like it was humming with its own frequency. The geometric painting (the one drenched in deep reds, burnt oranges, and that sharp black hourglass shape) hit me first. It's bold, mathematical, yet somehow spiritual--like a coded message meant for anyone perceptive enough to catch it. Very "guardian-spirit-meets-mid-century-modern." I stood there longer than I expected. The giant ancient sloth? Unreal. I wish they'd place a modern-day sloth beside it, just so my brain could process the scale without glitching. The bug/kids section was unexpectedly adorable. The kids were living their best lives, and honestly, I was right there with them--zero shame. I did drive over to the second building for the "It's a Ship Show" exhibit, and okay... I see what they did with the title. At first glance I read it as "It's a Sht* Show," and for a split second I thought MOAS got sassy. The artwork leaned heavily into still life, and to me it felt more like pieces you'd find in an upscale lounge, a refined boutique hotel, or a polished restaurant--visually pleasing but not as emotionally stirring as the main gallery. Just my personal taste. I could've spent more time wandering around, but I was on a first date with someone who kept making me laugh. I felt like the loud kid in class trying to stay quiet in a museum. Overall, great value, memorable art, and a surprisingly fun atmosphere. I'd definitely go again--preferably when I'm not giggling through every exhibit.

This is a huge establishment for the preservation of old Florida, including a beautiful Timucuan…read morevillage replica you can walk through. Not too many people know about this place but it is just west of Ormond Beach and worth the short drive. There is an old schoolhouse, general store, farm, turpentine mill, church, and a blacksmith's shop, among other buildings. The property is huge and the farm animals will keep kids entertained at least for a little while! They also have several special events throughout the year, including a Pow Wow in November. The daily entrance fee is $3 for adults, $2 ages 6 -12, and free for ages 5 and under.

I always love coming here. Today was the Fall Jamboree and its a great place to take the kids and…read moreenjoy the demonstrations, arts, and crafts of old Florida-the pioneer days. We enjoyed home made ice cream, local honey and bake sale goodies. We walked around to see all of the home made arts and crafts as well as a few tents where my niece was able to make a craft of her own. She painted a clay jellyfish! The history and culture is so rich and inspiring. It makes you realize how spoiled we are as a society, today. Being a Native Floridian, Ive always appreciated learning about my roots. I'll always be back, for many years to come!

Absolutely love this place! The yearly membership is such a deal if you need an air conditioned…read moreweekend activity for your kiddos. The programming is phenomenal. We are so lucky to have this place in Gville.

This museum for creativity and invention established in 2018 and located in a corner of Depot Park…read morein Gainesville inspires future inventors, entrepreneurs and visionaries. Open four days a week Thursday to Sunday 10am to 4pm. Admission $15 for adults, 5-17 $10, college students snd seniors $12.50 and under 5 is free. Established and named after Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade, reflects his view of combining science and art in a manner of purposeful creativity. There are exhibits on inventions and technology that came from University of Florida. The museum caters to people of all ages and young children. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) workshops are available where attendants can meet living inventors. A little gift shop located at the front lobby. Parking is free.

While visiting Gainesville today we stopped by the Harn Museum of Art. This is a FREE admission…read moremuseum which we love. This place is great and they have so many great pieces. Didn't take many photos because I was involved in the moment with my wife and friends and amazed at all the nice art work they have. We stopped and asked the security officer a few questions. One was how long do these art pieces stay out for viewing and also do they transfer them to other museums around the country. He said they rotate out art work about every few years so it keeps things fresh and no they don't transfer pieces. All pieces stay in house. If you are ever in the area you must stop by the Harn Museum of Art! Also next the year Florida Museum of Natural History will reopen after a full renovation and you also must see that!!! Definitely recommend you visit this!

The Harn Museum of Art is one of my favorite places in Gainesville when I want something calming,…read morebeautiful, and grounding. The galleries are thoughtfully curated, the space feels open and inviting, and there's always a good mix of contemporary pieces, cultural exhibits, and rotating collections that keep things interesting. Their Art After Dark events on Thursday nights are such a nice bonus, the museum feels even more alive, and it's a great way to enjoy art in a relaxed, social setting without it feeling overwhelming. Perfect for a solo night, a date, or something different to do after work. I also love the outdoor garden area; it adds to the peaceful vibe and makes the whole experience feel refreshing. I always leave feeling inspired and reset.

The first time I visited this museum was in 2017. It was awe and there's so much to see here and…read morenew things to learn about. This facility also includes a butterfly garden, which is very interesting. I have managed to visit every year. There plenty of parking at this facility, to include a parking garage as well. If you love museums and live in Florida, I highly recommend visiting this museum.

This was better than I was expecting. The highlight is the butterfly exhibit. The museum itself is…read morefree, but if you want to do the butterfly/bird area or the Antarctic Dinosaur area, those two areas are for a charge. Since this was our first time, we paid to do both. We LOVED the butterfly area - so many butterflies flying around, beautiful plants, a nice variety of birds. Very peaceful - benches throughout. We got a bunch of great pictures in this exhibit. My tip for this area: WEAR A HAT. 2 of the 3 of us were pooped on while there - me in my hair and my hubby on his arm. No big deal, but a hat would prevent it in your hair if it happens. Risk is still well worth it! The Dino area - we did it and there was a lot of information and bones to look at, but it was just okay. I'd skip it next time, but glad we at least did it once. The museum also has a great discovery area for kids (and adults also). I also really enjoyed the "boat ride" on the river. You can sit in a room that looks like a boat and you hear a river cruise (it's a glass bottom boat, so you see things at the front and on the bottom). There are several other free areas to explore, many books and sitting areas for younger kids, and there is also a nice little gift shop with a good variety of things to choose from. Overall, worth the visit.

This was a surprisingly fun and nostalgic experience! Bring cash or pay a high surcharge to use a…read morecredit card. Will definitely return, but will try to go on a weekday when its less busy. They do bday parties too in a separate section which is nice. Bathrooms are clean. Owner is a fun guy with character. The place could be a little cooler inside, but there were quite alot of people in there on a Saturday afternoon. People are pretty good about not hogging a machine, but you get a few who you may have to ask. Overall good vibes. Great place to take kids!

This is an amazing video game arcade. They have lots of classic games with some newer games. We…read morespent over an hour playing jaws pinball. If you buy an admission band. You can leave and sight see. Then you can come back all day to play games. Their to order snacks are nice too. Wonderful stop for any family.

This was an excellent trip through the history of the north central Florida mainly told from…read morearcheological, geological and historical perspectives. They had tiny flint points to a towering mammoth skeleton and everything in between. And megladons! I was surprised how heavy the cannonball was and how the soft raccoon fur felt. They also have friendly and very knowledgeable volunteers that made the canoe exhibit come to life. Shout out to Sandy for sharing part of her day and let us have even more fun at the museum. Ok, now get the next angle! We wanted a cool place to beat the heat on a Saturday afternoon and we ended up learning, laughing and enjoying each other's company. FYI if you get stuck guest1 is the answer;)

The museum was very organized and clean, also so interactive for all ages! The staff was very…read morehelpful and friendly. The front desk staff, Nicky, was sweet to us and even ran after me when I left my phone in the gift shop. Embarrassing moment for me but it shows how attentive and caring the staff there is.

This historical tour was fantastic! We did the last tour of the day with Kayla, the owner. She was…read moreextremely knowledgeable and shared so much information on the home and what's happened over the years. I'm going to have to take this tour again just to try to remember it all! Lovely maintained home with so much history. Who visited, who contributed to the building and maintenance of the home, the restoration efforts. It was fascinating. We happened to be there on a day when they received a gift of an original Edison grammaphone with the beeswax songs in paper wrappers! And it actually worked! Amazing. Also loved the Louis Comfort Tiffany windows - just gorgeous!

If you're planning a visit to nearby Blue Springs State Park, the Stetson Mansion is an absolutely…read moremust-visit stop. Yes - Stetson - as in the hats. I was just as surprised to learn that the famed hat-maker once called the small town of DeLand, FL home. I happened to be visiting during peak manatee season and so had the privilege of being able to still enjoy the mansion during its special holiday tour season. During the holiday tour, each room of the mansion has a unique theme to it that you get to learn all about from your helpful docent. Not only do you get to the enjoy the wonderful story of that room's decorations theme but the history of the home and family is wonderfully blended in. I'm told that obviously during the regular historical tour you dive deeper but I left learning waaaaay more about the Stetson family than I ever expected (or knew). The home is privately owned and you the love and passion the new owners have for the historic property is evident in every room. We even had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners (the super sweet and DeLand native, Kayla) I was surprised to learn she had even created many of the decorations herself that adorned the opulent rooms in the mansion. The Stetson Mansion is a great example of one of the many historical gems tucked away in Florida small towns that you can stumble upon when exploring the state. Whether you're doing the regular history tour or holiday tour, you're sure to have a fabulous visit to the Stetson Mansion.