We were in the area and wanted to check this place out. We were outside exploring and then came to the museum to cool off. For Florida residents, the tickets were $16/per person rather than $20. My kiddos loved the various stations this museum had to offer. I would absolutely go again, especially to cool off from the Florida heat. read more

My cousin in Florida recommended this place. She had been wanting to take my nephew, so we took our kids and made it a family day. The museum itself is very interactive which is great for kids of all ages! There's a big outdoor playground enclosed by a cool, large, yellow alligator structure. Inside there is a huge dragon hanging from the ceiling made out of random trinkets. Outside is a MASSIVE beautiful park with a small man made lake/pond. Very beautiful place to visit. We enjoyed it very much. Adjacent to the main building is a food court as well and there's plenty of parking (free). read more

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Fun place to visit with children in Lakeland! We enjoyed the museum (both inside and outside play areas), our kids never wanted to leave they were having so much fun. There was a perfect spot next door to grab lunch and a huge open field to run around in nearby as well. This was our 2nd visit and definitely will be returning again soon! read more

Florida Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

We took our little guy to the Florida Children's Museum in Lakeland and it's 100% worth the hour drive from Orlando! This 2-story museum is full of interactive play areas for toddlers & children of all ages. Even though my son was not walking quite yet, they had a nice calm area for crawlers with soft play items and plenty room to explore. He had a blast! The space overall felt clean and well-maintained. There's a lot more that he'll be able to enjoy once he gets a bit older, including the fabulous alligator playground outside. It was an extremely hot day, so not too many kids were out there to enjoy it. The museum hotspot is definitely the Publix mock-grocery store play area upstairs. It's fully stocked with cardboard products & fake produce, shopping carts, cash registers with real computers for checkout... it's super cute and you can tell that the kids are obsessed! I'm assuming that Publix is a big sponsor of the museum considering their HQ is in Lakeland. The museum itself is located at Bonnet Springs Park which is a beautiful, massive nature park to explore and enjoy while you're there. They also have a cafe on property which was perfect for a lunch break in between. This museum isn't super large and doesn't even compare in size to the Orlando Science Center, but it was definitely less busy and a nice change of scenery. There is also free parking onsite and admission was $16 pp for Florida Residents and kids under 2 are free. read more

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This interactive museum was very cool, it's a hands on play museum that also has a playground and a park. It's a nice place for a picnic and a great place for the kids to interact with other children. I really enjoyed the park and the walking trails, it's a great place to get the family outside and get some good exercise while enjoying the scenery. read more

Florida Children's Museum - Where imagination runs wild and little feet never stop moving! Tucked right off the highway in Lakeland and attached to the gorgeous Bonnet Springs Park is one of the best-kept family secrets in Central Florida: the Florida Children's Museum -- and wow, what a hidden gem this place is! Before you even walk in, the fun begins with Blinky the Alligator, a giant yellow playground structure with a slide that's as Florida as it gets. Tip: on a sunny day, bring a boogie board or towel for sliding--those gator scales heat up fast! Inside, the experience takes off with DOT the Dragon, a massive, magical creature filled with toys right in the front lobby. Talk about setting the tone! The front desk staff were super friendly and welcoming, and tickets are super reasonable -- $20 general admission, $16 for Florida residents, and even better: $2 off for military and first responders (huge respect and thank you ). Membership Pro Tip: It's $150 for a family (2 parents), and it pays for itself in just 5 visits after your little one turns 2. Definitely something to consider if you're within driving distance -- and for us, it's worth the hour drive every time. First floor = paradise for toddlers and babies. There's a gorgeous watermelon-themed garden for kids under 6, infant play zones, a pipe-and-ball game, air table, giant Lite-Brite wall, and creative building areas that could entertain even the grown-ups. Second floor = next level awesome. This is where the magic really happens. A sound and music zone with drums, pots and pans, bells, and other noise-makers lets kids get loud in the best way. But the show-stealer? A full miniature town setup: * Grocery store with shopping carts and checkout lanes * Pet hospital with vet tools * Police station with uniforms * Food truck for dramatic play * A weather station to become the next kid meteorologist! It's immersive, educational, and fun without feeling crowded or overwhelming. Even on a weekend, the vibe was relaxed and explorative, not chaotic. Our 6-month-old enjoyed the infant space, and our friends' toddler had an absolute blast running from zone to zone. Whether you're raising a crawler, a climber, or a curious little builder, there's something here for every age and stage. Honestly, I didn't even know this area existed until we visited, and now it's going to be one of our top destinations for family fun in Florida. Stay tuned -- I'll be writing separate reviews for the on-site café and the breathtaking Bonnet Springs Park itself (yes, this is just part of a bigger day trip). Let the kids play. Let their imaginations soar. And do yourself a favor: bring a change of clothes and some snacks because they're not going to want to leave. Florida Children's Museum -- You've made learning, laughter, and exploration the ultimate family day out. read more

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This is a nice Museum for kids , mostly for kids under 12 preferably under 10. There is not a whole lot to do but enough to keep the kids inside under air conditioning for a bit. The inside of the building is pretty interesting, at the ticket counter they have a giant dragon hanging off the ceiling with old school toys stuck to it. Getting in and out of the building is very easy and the ticket counter moves pretty fast with friendly staff. Most of the kid's activities are located on the second floor and if you don't want to take the stairs they have an elevator available. Good places to keep kids busy while you rest from the sun and relax, the prices are fair and if you have EBT it's even cheaper. Highly recommend checking this place out and Bonnet springs. read more

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The kids loved this place. I took my niece and nephews ages 5, 3 and 1 and it was appropriate for all 3 of them. It's in the area of the Publix headquarters so there was a few Publix themed parts. There was a farm, a vet clinic, a grocery store, emergency services such as fire fighter and police, interactive green screen videos, a Lego station, a sound proof music room and many more. We had to rush thru because I didn't check the hours prior to showing up so we only had one hour. They hated me for this lol. The kids favorite was the shopping. They had mini shopping carts and aisles with various grocery items then a play cashier area where they swiped the items across the pad and it actually beeps. They also really loved the music room. Loud noises and toddlers are a perfect pair. Of course something like this is a sespool for bacteria since we all know toddlers love sticking things in their mouths but towards the end, they started collecting them to prepare for sanitizing. Towards the end, none of the kids wanted to stop playing so they have this genius idea to bring out bells and ribbon for the kids to participate in a parade where they sing and dance their way out of the museum. Genius! Another very special thing about this museum is that they offer discounts of $3 per person for guests who receive EBT so they've made it affordable for all. read more

The reason why I gave it three stars is because of the price. For two adults and one child it was $48. Initially, we are very interested in the art class that they're supposed to have with a class called splat. When we went in there, unfortunately it was just a sensory activity of using shaving cream on a tray. We really wish that there would've been other options available such as cutting and gluing images or maybe some painting, but there was not. Each exhibit was also very adolescent and I would recommend this place for kids for and under. Older kids can come, but it's still very much where they're playing grocery store and putting balls and tubes and things like that. Our kid is about to turn five and I feel as if he was too big for this place. We should've checked the pricing beforehand but we didn't realize the cost of it. For us three to have some lunch after it was over $40.Dollars. A positive is that they do have a big open field and a slide. There is a playground on the property as well, but you need to drive separately over there. We came on a Tuesday and it was packed, probably because it's winter break. read more

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Visited for the 1st time and I have to say for both my 2&7 year old they had a blast!!!! So much to do inside the 2 story museum even with a fun outside area. The first floor was fun for my youngest but once we got to the 2nd floor we all were having fun. From being a fire fighter to shopping at Publix to harvesting oranges and playing house we definitely stayed busy. The outside is Soo cool the kids get to play in a huge alligator and surprisingly it's not hot to touch. We will definitely be checking back in soon! read more

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The Best Children's Museum is located about an hour from Orlando and most definitely worth the drive. The Florida Children's Museum is in Lakeland, FL, and this 2-story building is filled with SIX super fun and interactive kids exhibits. With nearly the whole second floor featuring a kid-sized community, your kids will get to role-play everything from shopping at @publix , to working a food truck, to becoming a firefighter. This place is SPECTACULAR. I also love that kids of all ages are welcome including crawling babies. read more

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We just moved into the area and I was absolutely blown away with this museum and park. Truly blown away with how friendly and helpful the staff were. The museum itself was a great way to spend a few hours, the hands on exhibits were perfect for the kids. Highly recommend spending a day there. Rolling hills, well manicured throughout and a huge variety of playgrounds sprinkled around the sprawling property. They even have a tiny stream running through that the kids loved exploring. read more

This is a nice day trip for Orlando and perfect for toddlers. There's a small area for crawlers but my 2 year old had a great time. It's only 2 floors and although full of fun areas there is space that is still waiting to be developed. The city area is fun and my kid had fun with the shopping cart. We went on a community free day so it felt busy. Not sure how it is on a normal day. It is 15$ a person so a little expensive for only being 2 floors. Fun regardless and wouldn't mind making the drive from Orlando. read more

Florida Children's Museum - Outside area - Children's Museums Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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I really want to like this place. We were excited to have a place like this closer to home, and so we immediately became members. I just don't feel like it's worth it. They charge very similarly to the Orlando Science Center or Glazer Children's Museum, but this museum isn't as good as either in our family's opinion. The alligator play area outside is really neat but there is no shade and it's been closed 1/2 the times we've come. It's only about a year old but already showing many signs of wear. Check out the green carpet at the green screen. It's a really large building, but there seems to be a lot of dead space that isn't being used for anything. One of my biggest issues is that I thought this would be a place where my husband and I or the grandparents could bring the little one to watch him play, but there is very little seating! My kid loves the grocery area and oranges area but there is no where to sit in this area. There is a low table that my mother sat at while she watched my son play and an employee yelled at her. She was extremely rude and disrespectful. She did not offer my elderly mother assistance. When mom asked her for alternative seating she gestured at metal stools halfway down the building. So the little seating provided is very uncomfortable and not intended for the elderly, nor is it inclusive for the larger bodied. It's a good alternative to spending a hot day outdoors, but if you can make the drive to Tampa or Orlando the options are way nicer. read more

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I truly love this museum. It's a no-brainer if you have kids. While it is in Lakeland, it's honestly worth the drive. Lakeland is a great day trip so you're not losing out. This museum is located within Bonnet Springs Park, which is worth a visit all in itself. There are countless play/educational areas spread out over two spacious floors. I love the attention to detail and the care put into making areas available to even the youngest of kids. We came here when my kid was just crawling and yes, there's an enclosed area for them. There are bathrooms, changing rooms and even a nursing room. You can truly spend hours here. And at $15 for adults, it's a really great price. You really can't go wrong with a visit here. read more

Florida Children's Museum - Under 6 play area - Children's Museums Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

This place has a great outdoor playground with sand pit area. The alligator playground is awesome and the kids love it. Unfortunately they have a mold problem inside. In the watermelon seeds play area on the first floor they have what looks like a lot of mold growth on the hvac ducts overhead. My children and I are mold sensitive and within 5 minutes of being in that area I noticed the head pain and brain fog that I get when exposed to certain toxic molds. I immediately looked around and right away I could see lots of mold growth on the air vents and what may have been stains from condensation dripping down the sides of the ducts. It looked like the duct might have been pierced by something as well. I got my kids out of there immediately and I looked at other air vents on my way out and noticed many of them seemed to have microbial growth on them. They need to have this system cleaned and kept clean! Florida is very humid and the HVAC system is a big problem area if not maintained. There seems to be a lot of really great things to do there but you will probably start feeling bad if you spend much time in there unfortunately. read more

They need to maintain all of the areas better. There is at least one thing broken or diminished in each area. And when they close the alligator outside they don't let anyone know in advance. read more

This is new to the area to host more children, education & exercise. Part funding is thru United Way, along with entrance fees, admission fee and are helped raised funding. There is an outdoor movie tonight with food trucks, they also host concerts, educational areas. The one downtown called V was left there to have that facility and this one is much larger very new but offers so much more to the community. Very impressive life skills developmental skills. Ck out the story on blinky the (1) eyed 3 legged gator. The Big yellow gator at the front entrance is a replica if the story & at night the (1) eye gator blinks. read more

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Such a beautiful museum with lots to do for kids, spend a few hours at the park after the museum which is free. Kids loved the gator playground, was really cool!! Worth it read more

Smaller than expected but it was a great time. My daughter's had a blast going through all the activity rooms. We think there should be someone frequently tidying the Publix and dress up sections because it was a mess when we got there so I had to reset everything for my kids to enjoy. The food place next door should have better and healthier selections. It was mostly toxic junk food and sugar loaded items. read more

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This is a fun half day trip from Tampa or Orlando, and a great way to spend a few hours if you are already in Polk County. We went to check out the newly remodeled Florida Children's Museum (previously called Great Explorations V). The space is now so bright and airy, and the new exhibits are wonderful! My kids loved being able to touch everything, and I think they might have learned a few things about physics in the meantime. Their favorite part was the large area (similar to that at the Glazer Children's Museum in Tampa) where kids can pretend to work in a grocery store or food truck or vet clinic and can dress up as first responders. Older kids might appreciate the music area or the multiple areas that allow them to explore and play with green screens (both a classic green screen but also the weather forecaster display). The museum is part of a huge municipal park that includes a playground, botanical garden, and outdoor green space. There is a lot of free parking. The park is absolutely a crowning glory of Lakeland. I'm sure the kids will ask for us to return so they can play/learn here again. read more

Took our 7 yr old grandson who thoroughly enjoyed it, the Publix shopping experience which boys and girls were experiencing it taking their little shopping cart and grocery shopping and going through the checkout, the food truck where the made pretend pizza and hamburgers shouting out orders and with aprons and hats, the farm experience with the animals etc, the little police car , fire engine and the hospital, all which were fun for all the little ones, lots to do we seen about 5 hours in there. read more

Super cute museum that was not super impressive upon entry. It's small and has a feeling of emptiness. But then it's not. My son enjoyed pretending to shop at the grocery store. He had so much fun walking the aisles, filling his cart with the foods his parents never let him buy, then checking out and going home to unload his groceries in the make believe house. This space is perfect for 2-4 year olds. read more

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I really loved this place for a day out with the kids. The staff at the front were very nice and welcoming! We started off in the design play area. I think the concept of that area was pretty cool, however it seems like all of the pieces were missing. We then went to the side for smaller children which I loved since they had a little play ground and area for babies. After playing on the first floor, we went to the second floor into the Splat room. The splat room was really fun but wish there was paint offered instead of markers. Mr.Zach was sweet and helpful! He offered to assist with any art needs you may have. The City was probably my favorite! All the different things they had like Publix, Fire station & News reporter. My son really enjoyed it! The outdoor playground is in a shape of a gator , which was super cool! We definitely enjoyed that part. The slide was great it actually makes sure you slide down. I really wanted to take my son to the book fair so I was a little bummed they close earlier than the actual museum. After having a day at the museum, you can step outside to a nice trail full of land, play ground and a cafe. I would say the food at the cafe is pretty pricey! I paid $18 for a burger,fries & water bottle. I was happy I had brought some snacks for the kids. You can enjoy your own snacks outside :) read more

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What a great children's museum! We had a 1 year old, 1/2 year old, and 2 year old with us and there was something to keep them all busy on all floors. The "basement" has great option for all ages, including a slide. The 1st level is where we spent a lot of time; a grocery market, a play area for children under 4, an amazing lite brite (for real you need to check it out, and so much more. I wasn't able to get to the 2nd floor, but the 3rd floor has a little putt-putt golf area and a "dinosaur bone digging area". The staff was very friendly and helpful upon arriving. They have a few different discounts for people in the military, teachers, and AAA (you do need to have an ID). They have stairs and an elevator. The diaper changing area is on the 1st floor and the 1st floor also has a kids bathroom in the "super market" especially for small children. All children 1 and under are free. 2+ $10 each! If you're looking for something to do when it's storming or hot out check out the museum FOR SURE! read more

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Great place to bring kids lots of activities and things to do. From playing in a Publix grocery store comma space shuttle comma and arrow space period there's a magnetic skeleton that you get to putting the right order, a Theater as well as an fire truck paddy wagon. And this is just the first floor. Now anything that made me scratch my head and go You really said that, was the woman at the front desk had me sanitized my hands only the hand or dirty cash. Now that truly does not make otherwise lots of fun! read more

Florida Children's Museum - My grand niece playing with a jumbo light bright. - Children's Museums Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

We love this museum!!! My kids love the Publix grocery store, making movies on the green screens, playing vet, pizza truck, and the numerous special craft activities offered. We do wish that there was more shade and seating around Blinky outside. read more

This was such a cute place to take my son! I was pleased to find out I received half price admission since I'm a teacher (military gets the same discount). Living near Tampa, I'm very familiar with that Children's museum. This location has three different levels. This one offered some of the same experiences like the theater area where children could dress up as characters and put on a show for the parents. Their Florida oranges section was really cute. I think my son spent the majority of his time there. He was able to dress up as an astronaut and 'fly' a space shuttle. Their arts and crafts area was a lot of fun. Another nice thing was we never had to wait to go experience something and we never felt overcrowded. All in all, it was a great way to spend the afternoon with my son learning and playing together. read more

This place is super fun! So many things to do. They also don't require masks. My son loves it.

Kids loved this place !! Highly recommend for toddlers ! They have a coupon on their website that they wouldn't honor so don't bother showing it, apparently it's the costumers fault for them not updating their website. Outside of that we had a good time . Kids really enjoyed the afternoon . read more

We love this little museum. There is so much hands on fun on every floor. The traveling exhibits are always amazing. The best part of the museum is all the programs and classes they offer. There is always something going on! Also I can not say enough about the amazing staff here. We have never had a bad experience with anyone in three years of visits and taking part in the programs. read more

Florida Children's Museum - Newly redone explore store is just gorgeous! - Children's Museums Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Love love LOVE this place! Was a perfect little drive from orlando for a day of indoor play to combat the rainy muggy weather. My daughters 6 and 2.5 had a ball. They loved the stage where they got dressed up and put on shows for all the adults. The playground downstairs with orange farm and juice production kept them busy at least an hour. They absolutely loved everything there! And the price at $9 was soooo worth it! read more

We brought our almost 2 year old and she had the best time. She explored each center carefully and I could see her interest peak. I also loved that the place is very hands on for the kids and you can touch and explore without someone telling you you're breaking the rules. read more

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I came here with 2 toddlers and a 3 year old, bunch of adults, and we had a BLAST. The lady at the front desk...Karen (?) was such a gem, helping us use our groupons. I can't say enough good things about this place! It was truly designed with kids in mind. There are two floors: the 2nd/main floor has a wooden tree fort with a little baby gate, a bunch of different firetrucks/police cars/astronaut stations--all with buttons that make sounds/things light up. The best part for me was the fully.operational.toddler.grocery.store. AMAZING. Not only did they have tons of pretend fruits/veggies, but they had all these recycled containers/boxes all cleaned/taped up, so it looked like the real deal for the kiddos! There were shopping carts, everything was organized and labeled..etc. etc. Even the cash register has a WORKING computerized little screen for older kids and a scanner that beeps and lights up when you slide items across it. PHENOMENAL. i was so impressed with this. In the lower level/basement, there is this amazing indoor playground that's based around the idea of an orange processing factory, so there are all these orange balls that you can stack in trees, send down plastic chutes, "make into juice", etc. Our kids loved this. There are also slides, interactive info centers about recycling and a train table. This place should be the #1 stop for anyone with small kids looking for a rainy day activity in Orlando area. We could've spent all day here. seriously. Bravo! read more

Florida Children's Museum - Children's Museums Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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We went on a rainy weekday. It was alright. Many things are broken, outdated, or missing pieces. Very frustrating for a four year old. He did like the orange processing and the grocery store. There are a lot of different building blocks and such, but there is not much that is unique. There were no workers/volunteers anywhere but at the front desk. They were very nice though. We were working our way towards the exit when a group of younger school children came in like a herd of crazy buffalo. They were hitting things, rough housing, being extremely loud, and destructive. We could not get out of there fast enough, and we weren't the only ones. Go to the Glazer Childrens museum in Tampa, it is so much better, and worth the money. They really need to update and clean this facility, it has the potential to be very cute if they just show it some love and don't turn it into a daycare. read more

I came here for free admission Saturday through the Smithsonian. It's centrally located we were able to find plenty of on street parking and walked two blocks. Is a very nice park across the street and some coffee shops and restaurants nearby so it made it very easy afternoon. The museum itself is three floors I would say for children under the age of 12, this is great! They do have a working elevator in the building is older so the air conditioning is selective. I am glad I didn't actually pay admission to come here personally. I felt that it was a bit high for what they had to offer most of what you'll find is self-guided independent play stations. There is a small overpriced gift shop which I think is geared for children even younger maybe eight years old to preschool. I've been to a few children's museums am I expectations were probably way too high for Lakeland Florida. In the back of my mind I had images of the Philadelphia's children's museum and another one that we popped into in Atlanta both of which are major cities in comparison. So in all fairness to this town I think they're lucky to have a place where the children can go and play and and learn about science, history and see a few pieces of art. read more

The daily admission is pretty expensive, but an annual family membership is a great bargain. The place is best suited for kids under 10, and my kids can easily spend a couple hours here, sometimes longer. We go pretty often, especially during the summer when it's crazy hot outside--although at times out can be very crowded during the summer because there are dinner camps at Explorations V. Also, check the website for the event calendar, as they often have special events or activities going on that are great for kids to do something different than the regular exhibits. This helps keep the place fresh for kids who have been there many times. read more

This was a great experience for my little girl. She had the best time running around and playing with all the exhibits. The Orange Processing playground downstairs was the highlight as well as the mini Publix on the main floor. My only real negative feedback would be in regards to the needing to take care of or update some of the exhibits and play areas. Some areas had no families at all playing in them and after a short stroll through I could see why. A cool surprise was finding out that they do story time on Monday and we were there just in time. Although it was a cute activity and my little girl seemed to like it as a parent there was a few awkward moments. I mean this as it was very apparent that the regulars seemed to know what do or expect as us first timers were a little lost when it came to some of the songs and activities leading up to story time. Once the Dr. Seuss was pulled out and finally read we had to go as my little ones attention span and energy would not hold long enough. As a first time adventure on a rainy day I'd say it's a pretty good value. Would we upgrade to a season pass? Well maybe if we could justify multiple trips to Lakeland on rainy days yes. read more

Awesome place where kids can enjoy playing on a huge safe place at the same time they can explore new things that will develop their variety of skills areas. read more

Idk maybe I set myself up for failure in this one. I had wanted to take my kids age 2 and 1 here for some time but never wanted to go down to Lakeland. It's cute and it entertained them for awhile but not a very long while. Everyone there is very nice but the place needs to be renovated. All the toys are old and chipped not in great conditions. A lot of it looked le they had just been thrown. This place has three floors the bottom floor is an indoor playground set which I didn't feel was to safe. The floor was concrete around it with very little carpeting or foam. If one fo the kids would fall they would break something. The second floor has a bunch of "educational toys" the kids got bored really quick. They went to the market which was the best part on the second floor. It was well kept and cleaned. The rest of the toys were old and scratched I didn't feel very sterile. Third floor they have offices on one side a party area and about three or four other toys. They have some ikea lights and some very old ikea carpets that are filthy. They have a train table with some old trains and a bunch of buckets scattered around. If in Lakeland and you want to waste an hour or two I guess it's okay. It's $9 per person everyone over 2. I wouldn't come back unless int he area for another event. The children's museum in Orlando is 100000xs better. read more