I went to an event Pet Pool Party in the Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden at The Mennello…read moreMuseum. 'Pools in the Park' was Free Admission sponsored by Valley National Bank. I did not bring my dogs because it was super hot and I had a few stops in this area. I arrived near the end of the event to see if this was something I could share with my dogs. I saw lots of happy owners and pups (some wet.). They had great raffles and fun tents to experience with your pet. Full disclosure I have been a member of Mennello in the past and attended their folk music events. I really like that they have events that empower patrons to participate in art, music and the community. They have another Pet event in Fall 2025.

Fee: $8. Inside: Time spent, meandering you can clear in 12…read moreminutes. Curation: "Pool Party" - underwhelming. Of my 60 plus museum stops throughout the United States, this place comes in dead last. What is a win? The grounds! Beautifully maintained, on the water. Great place for evening Yoga sesh or picnic lunch. Bringing up this 1 star experience, to a 2!

"A photo does not always have to be technically perfect and a masterpiece. After all, life is not…read moreand yet we find it wonderful. " - Nina Hrusa July 8, 2021 Mesmerized by Snap!'s Exhibit of Martin Stranka. It was a gloomy & rainy day that day, but I was so happy to finally see this artist's and photographer's exhibit after viewing it online. A solo exhibition by award-winning international photographer, Martin Stranka, in collaboration with Forbes Magazine.

The Snap! Gallery is an ever changing art space with three galleries located in the Camden 420 East…read moreChurch building. The gallery is free entry to visitors Monday thru Friday until 6pm. The opening art exhibit are world class and occasionally feature local artists. Snap's emphasis is photography, and the shows are carefully curated by the founders Holly and Patrick Kahn. If in town, stop by and visit this special space.

An Intellectual Playground for Curious Minds Finding a…read moredestination that manages to be both profoundly educational and genuinely captivating for children is rare, yet the Orlando Science Center, featured in image_2.png, achieves this balance with remarkable success. It is an ideal environment to dedicate an entire day to exploration, offering a depth of engagement that holds the attention of young minds while remaining intellectually stimulating. The facility's approach to hands-on exhibits is sophisticated and well-structured, fostering a genuine interest in scientific inquiry. From the intricacies of the planetarium shows to the immersive nature of the giant-screen and 3-D films, every element of the museum is curated to facilitate active learning. It is an impressive example of how to make complex subjects accessible and exciting for a broad audience. For any family seeking an environment where curiosity is not just encouraged but actively facilitated, this center stands out as a highly rewarding experience.

This has to be the best science museums in Florida. I…read morebecame a member of the Orlando science center over Christmas break because we had so much fun on our first visit and now I get emails all the time about fun new events going on at the museum. One of them happened to be the mess fest that was going on this past weekend. So we decided to head out to Orlando and let me tell you it was so much fun!! They transformed one of their rooms into a fun place for the kids to get messy. You were catapulting scrunchie balls covered in paint onto a canvas sheet. There was another area where they were doing little bottle rockets with paint and Alka-Seltzer. That my kids absolutely LOVED. They also had scribble bots, a raffle painting for canvas paintings but that's not all because they had other stuff going on different floors. We got to make our own slime and we even got to go outside and watch them use liquid nitrogen to cause a bubbly explosion that the kids got to play afterwards. This was a 10 out of 10 experience.

My fellow Yelpers (Lorn C. and Mikhail C.) decided to explore the Third Thursday event here as one…read moreof Lorn's friends was displaying her art that night. Lorn and I had been to this venue for the Yelpie awards and decided to return as we were impressed with the artwork the first time we came. Third Thursdays is a free event each month and it displays the works of various artists. Also, if you park at the Plaza parking lot on Court Avenue just a few blocks away, your parking ticket is validated, and you only pay $4. We got there around 6:30pm and the place was already packed. We got a drink at the cafe and a shout out to Miles for being a fun server and a good conversationist. We then proceeded to see all the art displays from photography to paintings to ink drawings. The main floor is much roomier as the second floor was quite crowded and tight given the separate rooms for the displays. But we still enjoyed ourselves and got to see the work of Lorn's friend, Grace Garvey, as well as other artists. The second floor's main room was dedicated to "Black & White" artist renderings and many of the displays were quite intriguing. The main floor had some excellent concert photographs that exuded the energy and passion of the performers as well as the crowds. This is definitely a fun free event to attend in downtown Orlando.

What a wonderful art museum! We started out at city arts Café next-door, waiting for it to open…read more When it finally did, we were met by a wonderful woman that told us about the different displays in the building. We were then able to go on our own and visit the displays. Pictures were allowed, which was wonderful because I didn't want to forget some of them and they were great inspiration. They had a great selection of art, including art by teens and it is FREE so what a great value. We've decided we'd like to go every so often to keep up with the displays.

The Leu House Museum is located within the beautiful Harry P. Leu Gardens. A guided tour of the…read morehome is included with garden admission. Since tour times may vary, it's always best to check online before your visit. Originally built in the late 19th century, the home was expanded over the years by several owners, most notably Harry P. Leu and his wife, Mary Jane, who purchased the property in the 1930s. The Leus were passionate travelers and collectors, and their influence can be seen throughout the home in the furnishings and décor. The house reflects a mix of architectural styles and offers a glimpse into Florida living from the 1880s through the mid-1900s. Tours begin promptly at their scheduled times, so be sure to arrive on time. If you miss your tour, you'll need to wait about 30 minutes for the next one. The home is filled with rich history and truly is a hidden gem. Be sure to use the restroom beforehand, as re-entry into the house is not permitted once the tour begins. The tour guide was very informative and kind, making the experience even more enjoyable.

A very nice tour of an historic house. The Leu House and…read moreGardens in Orlando, Florida is a charming historic home and gardens that offer visitors a glimpse into the city's past and a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of modern life. You can google the directions but basically it is on the south end of Lake Rowena. There is a parking lot in front of the entrance house. This is not where the house museum is located. Visitors need to pass through this house and follow the various paths to the center of the park. The house is a two story affair that offers tours throughout the day to park visitors. Walking through the lush gardens surrounding the Leu House, visitors are transported to another time and place, with the scent of blooming flowers filling the air and the sound of trickling fountains providing a calming ambiance. The gardens are beautifully landscaped with a wide variety of flora, including camellias, azaleas, and orchids, making it a paradise for nature lovers and gardening enthusiasts. Inside the historic Leu House, visitors are greeted with period furniture and décor, providing an insight into what life was like for the home's previous occupants. The tour guides are knowledgeable and passionate, providing engaging insights into the history of the house and its former residents. Overall, a visit to the Leu House and Gardens is a delightful experience that offers a glimpse into Orlando's past and a chance to connect with nature. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or simply seeking a peaceful retreat from the city, this hidden gem is definitely worth a visit.

As a random, spur of the moment activity a friend and I decided to pop in to see what they have on…read moredisplay. We had actually arrived about 15 minutes prior to opening time but was able to hang out in the cool lobby while the workers finished their opening protocols. Standard admission is currently $10 and the building has 4 floors, with displays on floors 2-4. The main floor has a small gift shop. It was recommended that we start on floor 4 and work our way down. There was a mix of very interesting displays on Florida history including ranches, orange groves, the native people including some early interactions with those that escaped slavery, black history, a court room. Disney and NASA. There was even a tribute to Florida's 150th birthday. Quite the selection of history snippets for the limited space. It was an ok way to spend $10 and about 1.5 hours of time in Downtown Orlando. Worth visiting at least once.

Great museum in the heart of downtown. They used to have…read morefree Thursdays on the 3rd Thursday but they no longer do it. I did have a senior discount for $8. Three floors. We learned a lot about Florida I've been here before and some of the stuff is the same. Talks about the oranges and the cattle and the Indians and then it goes into Disney. They took one of the rooms and made it into a great place for the kids to play and draw and take photos of themselves very cute. They usually have some kind of unique display but they didn't have that this time. Great little spot to spend 2 hours. If you park in the library garage they will give you free parking for 2 hours. Hopefully they bring back some more displays one time they did a whole section on old toys from my childhood I really like that one.!

This is a blockbuster exhibit currently taking place in the Orlando Science Center. Admission to…read morethe science center includes this exhibit. An adult ticket is $26 but I was able to attend for free except for the $5 parking garage fee. On the first weekend of every month, Bank of America offers free admission to select museums with their Museums on Us program. I was so excited to see that the Orlando Science Center was participating because it saved me the admission fee. You must purchase the tickets on the museums website with the promo code on the Bank of America website and when you get there show your BOA card and ID. The Pompeii exhibit is a traveling temporary exhibit and January will be the last month you can take advantage of the free admission for Pompeii. This museum is located in Loch Haven Park. If you haven't been here before the entrance is a little confusing. You can't enter the building from the ground floor. The only way in is to enter through a bridge that runs from the upper floors of the parking garage across the street into the museum. The Pompeii exhibit is located on the same floor as admissions. Orlando is only one of 3 states to host the exhibit and it is the last stop in the U.S.. it was brought to Orlando by the Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program. In AD 79 Mount Vesuvius erupted destroying the town of Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum in 24 hours. Nearly two thousand people were killed by heavy ash, building collapse, and pyroclastic flow, a super heated hurricane force wind carrying ash and rock that can destroy anything in its path. The pyroclastic flow was a deadly river of gas, ash, and rock. Many people collapsed and died in place when the superheated poisonous gas and ash hit them. As the ash hardened the void their bodies made were left behind. After the eruption the city remained hidden and largely forgotten until an excavation in the 1740's. In the late 19th century archaeologists developed a method of injecting plaster into the holes in the hardened ash left behind by the bodies. The exhibit starts with a short 360 degree movie that gives you a glimpse into what it might have been like to have been in Pompeii on that day. After the movie you step into different galleries displaying artifacts and models of artifacts that explain what life was like in Pompeii. My favorite items were a delicate pair of gold drop earrings, a gold snake bracelet, and a loaf of bread that remained uneaten. The final room has the plaster cast of two bodies surrounded by the portraits of how people would have looked at that time. It is very poignant. Since I am not going to get to Italy anytime soon I didn't mind the drive to Orlando to see these precious objects. I was a little disappointed to see that some items were replicas but overall I was very impressed with the exhibit. I learned a lot about life in Pompeii and Herculaneum. After my visit to the Pompeii exhibit I was free to explore the rest of the museum. While it is more geared to children it was still nice to check it out. Food can be purchased at the 4Roots Cafe on the ground floor. If you have time to go, the Cornell Museum on the Rollins College Campus currently has a door knocker from Pompeii on display and it is free to visit. Before I left, I visited the gift ship where you can pick up a few souvenirs from the exhibit like postcards and magnets. I ended up purchasing a catalog of the items that were displayed. The exhibit leaves on January 24, so hurry before it is gone. Pompeii in 79 AD was nice city to visit but you didn't want to linger too long.

The biggest let down. A lot of photos on the wall, a few videos and a few statues. Not a lot of…read moreauthentic artifacts which is what we were wanting to see. I have seen far far more about Pompeii in National Geographic for free. There were way too many people and certainly no social distancing in the Pompeii exhibit. This is the third time I have driven all the way to Orlando to see an over rated exhibit which was mainly photos and maps on the wall. If you have children the center is worth the membership. Otherwise a waste of money since so much is online today

A true hidden gem, the Orlando Fire Museum is a great, free (Donations Accepted!) museum located…read morenear the Science Center and Shakespeare Theater in Loch Haven Park. While waiting for a show at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater during Orlando Fringe, a friend and I were exploring the theater grounds when we happened upon the Orlando Fire Museum nestled in the back courtyard. Surprised to see the building, and curious to find out more, we were happy to learn the museum was still open, and went inside to find out more. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by three very friendly firefighters (two retired, one still serving) who were the volunteer workers at the museum. They welcomed us in, explained a bit about the museum, and led us on a free tour of the building. Our tour guide explained everything in great detail from the years and features of the vintage trucks and equipment on display, to the way fires used to be relayed to the team (The museum features a working telegraph machine!) When we finished the downstairs part of the tour, he was gracious enough to take us upstairs and show us even more, including the old living quarters at the station. The tour was incredibly interesting and informative, and pictures were encouraged. Although it's only open on Friday & Saturday, If you get the chance, definitely try to swing by this wonderful facility. The museum is a great place to learn about not only Orlando's history, but the history of firefighting in general.

Checked the website before coming and it said it was open... drove one hour to get there and find…read morethe doors closed, my boy crying dressed up as a fireman full of expectations. As we approached I called... their voice system said nothing about being closed.. Please update the website information :(