1. Florida Railroad Museum

    1. Florida Railroad Museum

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    Parrish, FL

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    Florida Railroad Museum

    4.1 (148 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    An activity that was under water- no one was able to do any of the attractions
    Tonya B.

    We had high expectations for the North Pole Express at the Florida Railroad Museum, but unfortunately the experience was very disappointing. The weather was extremely poor, which significantly affected the event, yet it still went on without any real adjustments or consideration for guest comfort. Long waits in the cold and rain, general disorganization, and a lack of clear direction made the evening stressful rather than enjoyable -- especially for families with children. The overall experience did not come close to what was advertised or priced. When we reached out afterward, customer service was slow and unresponsive, and a refund was denied despite the circumstances. The alternative offered was a future-use gift card, which isn't helpful if you're unable to return. To make matters worse, the amount offered didn't even match what we actually paid. Between the event itself and the way concerns were handled afterward, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. We would not recommend this event based on how it was run and how customer issues were addressed.

    Tina S.

    What a gem in the area. It's nice to have a piece of Florida's Gilded Age still around locally. I recently I took my daughter for the Polar Express ride and I cannot say enough good things about it. The railroad museum stop in Wimauma is quite informative and interesting to see. I cannot fathom how life was back then during the time of the operational and travel-centered railroad. Many of the workers are volunteers and it is nice to see a sense of community there. Thanks for everything, Florida Railroad Museum!

    Lots of cheerful Christmas lights at the Polar Express!
    Michelle M.

    I have been wanting to take my boys to the Polar Express experience at the Florida Railroad Museum for years, but the tickets (especially on Friday and Saturday night) sell out so quickly! Tickets for this holiday event go on sale in August, be we didn't want to commit to a date four months beforehand. My husband frequently checked the Florida Railroad Museum's website for cancellations and were able to purchase four tickets for our family a week prior to our train ride. Our tickets were extremely expensive because we decided to ride in first class, but I think it was worth it because the train is air conditioned/heated and our family of four was seated at a comfortable private booth in the train. Guests are advised to show up 45 minutes early to avoid missing their train, but our train departed at least ten minutes late. Traffic is usually awful on Fridays from Tampa so we left two hours early just incase we encountered any major delays. We ended up arriving over an hour before our departure and saw other families having picnics outside their car. There is a Publix nearby if you want to grab a sandwich or snack. I would advise using the bathroom before arriving because only porta potties are available at the train station. The bathroom facilities at the train stop are much nicer and the sinks don't use reclaimed water. Check-in at the ticket counter was a breeze and we quickly found our assigned seats on the train. I was a little bummed that we received paper wristbands instead of Polar Express train tickets. The train cars are festively decorated for Christmas and we had carolers stop by our train car to sing a few carols, but there is no hot chocolate or any references to the Polar Express movie on the train ride. Passengers on our train car were offered a small selection of complimentary water, sodas, and snacks (chips, chex-mix, cookies). My kids had a wonderful time on the train ride, but I do feel like there were some missed opportunities to make the experience a little more magical. Note: take motion sickness medicine prior to boarding the train if you frequently experience motion sickness. The train does shake a lot! We were greeted by Santa and his helpers when we arrived at the "Polar Express". My boys went nuts over this part of the Polar Express ride and in my opinion, made the entire experience a must-do for Santa Believers. The Polar Express stop was festively decorated with Christmas lights and campfires. I would describe the atmosphere as redneck chic and very campy. Definitely do not wear heels and dress for the outdoors. My 7 year old was almost too old/tall for the majority of the Polar Express activities (lighted maze, bounce house, play area, tractor ride) so I would suggest this experience for younger children. He did love drinking hot cocoa, making s'mores over the campfire, and visiting Santa. I would advise making a beeline to Santa first because this line will only get busier as the night goes on. I decided to finally join the line an hour after we arrived and it was about a 30 minute wait, but the experience was absolutely magical and worth the wait! There was unlimited cookies and cocoa at the Polar Express, but my husband mentioned the cocoa was barely lukewarm so we opted to buy food instead. I am not sure if the vendor offerings change seasonally, but I highly recommend the sausage dog with sautéed onions and peppers. Prices weren't awful and were what you would expect to pay at an event. We managed to skip the foam "snow party" while we waited in line for Santa. This is a newish experience that has been added to the Polar Express Experience and I heard a mix of mostly negative comments about the foam party so I was glad to skip the foam. Plan to bring a change of clothes if your kids insist on doing this experience because the foam party takes place about an hour before the train at the end of the experience boards so your child(ren) may have to suffer in their wet/muddy clothes for about 90 minutes until you return to your car. This is probably a one and done experience for me because my oldest son will be too old for most of the Polar Express activities next year, but I am really glad we got to experience it this year!

    train magazine
    Sinead F.

    I love the Florida Railroad Museum! It's run by volunteers who put their heart into their work, and they made everything so special for us. They were so knowledgeable about the old trains and they made the ride entertaining. I booked an event train for Valentine's Day. We enjoyed a 30 minute train ride, a three course dinner, and live music. They host several events throughout the year. I'm looking forward to bringing more of my family back to the train.

    Foam party at the North Pole

    We visited the Florida Railroad Museum for the Polar Express ride to the North Pole, and it was nothing short of amazing! Booking our tickets for the North Pole Express was an easy process, but you have to make sure you try and book the day the tickets are available because they sell out quickly. The night we went was due for a rainstorm (good old Florida weather for ya), but we dodged it while st the 'North Pole' and only experienced getting rain on the way back, which the nice employee told us we could move to the cart ahead of us, which was inside. We will be repeat customers!

    Something different a lot of fun and relaxing. The actors were very interactive and friendly!

    Deb W.

    Share an original experience on a vintage train with your friend and family both young to old. The Train robbery and ride was so much fun. The volunteers were beyond friendly and kind to everyone. Looking forward to taking my family to the Polar Express event next Christmas.

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    4 months ago

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    2 months ago

    We had a great time on the train rid. An affordable, fun, and unique experience. Very family friendl.

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    5 months ago

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    6 months ago

    It was a great experience we did the hobo cookout train ride. The crew was great it's a great experience

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    5 months ago

    Nice train ride and interesting exhibits. Model railroad is nice as well. Worth a visit.

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    7 months ago

    We went on the north pole express last night. Had a great time! Staff was really warm and friendly! Would definitely recommend.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Florida Railroad Museum

    Review Highlights - Florida Railroad Museum

    If you haven't had a chance to go for a ride outside of the Polar Express, make a nice afternoon out of it.

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    The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature - The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

    The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

    4.4(66 reviews)
    11.1 mi

    A very cute a fun museum!…read more My group and I came here mostly to see the manatees but enjoyed the rest of the museum as well. We went through the exhibits on the two floors relatively quickly but they were interesting to look at. I liked the emphasis on Florida specific history. The planetarium was interesting and the seats were very comfortable. The manatees were obviously the highlight. We were able to see two babies, Sorbet and Juneau, right at feeding time. The top view of the water had a superior view. Overall, while I'm not from here so I'm not sure when I'd be back if I went, I really enjoyed my time here.

    Sad to admit this was our first visit here, and literally on the last day of the Clyde Butcher…read morephotography exhibit. Jade who worked up front was friendly and helpful. Manageable sized museum where we spent about 90 minutes and had to leave before viewing everything. The Butcher exhibit was very good, I wish there was more. Truly incredible work. There is a manatee rehab area, although no manatees currently as the ones they had were thankfully released back into the wild. Emma who works in this area answered several of my husband's questions and was quite knowledgeable and informative. Some great historical artifacts, especially for local history. Excellent museum gift shop as well, with a large variety of items and another friendly and engaging employee, Anne. Looking forward to the upcoming baseball exhibit, and will allow more time.

    Photos
    The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature - Discovering the hunt

    Discovering the hunt

    The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature - Mastodon

    Mastodon

    The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature

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    Solomon's Castle - Solomon' s Castle

    Solomon's Castle

    4.1(106 reviews)
    31.2 mi

    Let me tell you about the time my wife casually turned a normal "drop our daughter off at college"…read moretrip into what felt like a deleted scene from a survival movie... destination: Solomon's Castle in the absolute middle of nowhere. And when I say nowhere, I mean NOWHERE. I'm driving waiting for streetlights... nothing. Gas stations? Nope. People? Questionable. Cows? Plenty. Motorcycles flying by like we accidentally entered a post-apocalyptic biker convention? Oh yeah. At this point, I'm looking at my wife like, Babé are we visiting a castle or auditioning for The Walking Dead: Florida Edition?" Then suddenly... BOOM. Out of nowhere... like a mirage built by a very creative pirate appears this shiny, aluminum-covered CASTLE. Now I'm confused. Because one minute I'm dodging cows... and the next minute I'm like: Did we just teleport to medieval times sponsored by Home Depot? But here's the thing this place is AMAZING. Inside? Pure genius. Art everywhere. Sculptures made out of stuff you probably threw away last week. It's like if creativity, humor, and a junkyard had a baby and that baby became a castle. And then there's the restaurant. Yes. A restaurant. Inside a boat. Inside a castle. In the middle of nowhere. At this point, I've stopped asking questions and just accepted that I'm in someone else's dream. If you want the backstory, go ahead and Google it because it's wild. But honestly, just go. Don't overthink it. Would I have ever planned this stop? Absolutely not. Did my wife once again prove she's the CEO of random but incredible detours? 100%. Final verdict: Unexpected Slightly suspicious drive in Completely worth it If you're ever near Ona, Florida--or even if you're not take the detour. Just make sure your gas tank is full... and maybe say a quick prayer once the streetlights disappear

    On our drive from St Augustine to Tampa, we made reservations to see Solomon's Castle in the middle…read moreof nowhere on beautiful land here in Florida. This castle was built by Howard Solomon, a high school dropout, with his bare hands and his own designs with whatever scraps of metal he could find or that were donated to him by others. He had friends and neighbors who helped him build. He built vertically because his land was more narrow than wide. So there are stairs to climb. Everything including his unusual artwork inside the Castle was donated or built by Solomon. He also had a 1930s collection of cars and trucks that are displayed at the Castle. His personal story is very interesting which will be told during the tour. Visitors are not allowed to photograph the auto collection nor anything inside the Castle. There is no cell service/wifi there on the property. They do not use computers so everything is paid by cash: the tickets (we paid about $40 in cash for the castle tour and the classic car tour), the food, and souvenirs. They are dog-on-leash friendly, which is nice. The staff is very welcoming and fun to interact with! The tour is very interesting with funny jokes thrown in. Food is served on the boat and reviewers have been favorable about the meals offered. Remember, it is cash only. Parking is free and at the entrance before you get to the Castle. Wear comfortable shoes. I was happy that we got to do the tour. I don't know that I would go back because it is so out of the way but it was worth the trip.

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    Solomon's Castle
    Solomon's Castle
    Solomon's Castle - The beauty that is Solomons castle

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    The beauty that is Solomons castle

    Gamble Plantation

    Gamble Plantation

    4.1(30 reviews)
    7.9 mi

    There aren't a lot of 19th century history in Florida (air conditioners for the win) so this is a…read morelittle treasure for history lovers. We did go on a Friday, but the tour guide for the 1 pm said no one had been by all day, which is a shame. I hope it's more busy on weekends/not summer time. There is a small exhibit at the visitor center which is worth checking out, but it can be done before or after. Most of the tour was about the original owner Robert Gamble, the follow up owners the Pattens and just a little about Judah P. Benjamin's brief stay. A lot of the furnishings are original or time period accurate, and our tour guide was great at answering questions about the house and the people who lived here. I'm glad this house was preserved and is open to the public today since there isn't a lot of old history in the area that still remains. Hopefully one day, the other house on the property is restored enough to be open for tours. Only complaint about the site is the gift shop is practically non-existent. It would have been nice to get a postcard or some small memento, but they must not have enough visitors to justify the upfront cost. Luckily this site is owned and operated by the Florida Park Services so it will continue to be available as a cultural relic and hopefully people people keep visiting.

    The Gamble Mansion. You will see signs for it and it will make you curious. It has nothing to do…read morewith Gambling or Casinos it was just the name of the slave owners of this property. Very unique piece of property and history that survived old Florida from being burned down or taken over. Cheap tour was $6. And $4 per child under 12. That is what it cost to see the inside. You can walk around the outside grounds for free. Worth the tour and history lesson. Very well kept property it almost seems like it was built a few years ago and not actually 1872. Florida history is something else

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    Gamble Plantation - Front of mansion

    Front of mansion

    Gamble Plantation
    Gamble Plantation

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    The Ringling - Art museum

    The Ringling

    4.5(674 reviews)
    16.6 mi

    We booked the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour ($40 per person) before flying to Florida. The tour…read morelasts about 60-70 minutes and includes the main rooms on the first floor, a peek into the Tap Room with stories about indulgence and Prohibition during the 1920s, as well as select spaces on the second, third, and fourth floors of the Ringlings' magnificent waterfront mansion. I'm so glad I booked this tour! it was the highlight of our Florida trip. Our tour guide, Susan, was professional, knowledgeable, and full of humor. She made the entire experience both informative and relaxing. Ca' d'Zan is simply breathtaking. This stunning Mediterranean Revival mansion sits on the shores of Sarasota Bay and was built in the mid-1920s as the winter retreat of American circus magnate, entrepreneur, and art collector John Ringling and his wife, Mable Burton Ringling. Although the mansion is over 100 years old, it still radiates the glamour, elegance, and artistic vision of the Ringlings. Every room is filled with exquisite craftsmanship and thoughtful details that reflect their passion for art and architecture. One of my favorite features was the magnificent ceiling paintings by the Hungarian artist Willy Pogany. Each one tells a story from another era, preserving its beauty for generations to admire. Standing on the terrace overlooking Sarasota Bay, I couldn't help but be reminded of the atmosphere from the movie Great Expectations. There was something incredibly romantic, mysterious, and timeless about the view. To me, Ca' d'Zan feels alive. If you slow down and listen carefully, the mansion tells its own story. There is glamour. There is longing. There is sadness. There is hope. And somehow, there is a place for you within it. I absolutely fell in love with this place. Without a doubt, this was the best attraction we visited during our trip to Sarasota. I would highly recommend the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour to anyone visiting the area, and I will definitely return to explore the Museum of Art next time.

    This was an amazing and incredibly surprising visit. I am a native of Ohio but have lived in…read moreFlorida over 30 years and this was our 1st visit to The Ringling. It is a little pricy but worth if you love art, the circus and beautiful places. We went to the house first and this is an amazing home. Beautiful use of color, marble and impressive architecture. Loved the window shapes, the floors and the attention to detail throughout the home. The view from the patio was amazing. The circus museum was informative. It was quite incredible the number of people it took to bring the circus to life. So spectacular . ..the shows, the animals and the presentation. The grill restaurant had delicious food with very pleasant staff. The gift shop was also amazing with unique toys and a nice selections of books about the Ringlung family. Lastly the art museum was breath taking with such beautiful Italian art. The courtyard also amazing. Loved this visit! We spent the entire day there with more to see. We plan to return to enjoy the new items under construction. We recommend a visit.

    Photos
    The Ringling - Do it  Do it right  Do it right now 
           -Spencer W. Kimball

    Do it Do it right Do it right now -Spencer W. Kimball

    The Ringling - "It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delectable, it's delirious, it's de-lovely"    -Cole Porter

    "It's delightful, it's delicious, it's delectable, it's delirious, it's de-lovely" -Cole Porter

    The Ringling - Even through your hardest days, remember we are all made of stardust.
   -Carl Sagan

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    Even through your hardest days, remember we are all made of stardust. -Carl Sagan

    Florida Railroad Museum - museums - Updated July 2026

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