The Chocolate Museum is awesome. Dave was the tour guide and took us through the history of how…read morechocolate is made. He was great and so funny. I would highly recommend. I was not a fan of the cafe. The food was not very good to me, but definitely may be my personal taste.

Dave was a fantastic tour guide loved his humor it was amazing chocolate samples were top tier so…read moredifferent and exotic The service was great everyone was kind and attentive The inside of the store is beautiful

**INITIAL REVIEW**…read more Historically, Titusville is often linked to space exploration especially NASA. Ergo, it is understandable why most of the educational locales, especially museums, are dedicated to such. However, Titusville has a rich aviation history, too, such as Arthur Dunn Airpark (the first airport in Titusville and North Brevard) serving as a training facility during World War II. In honor and remembrance of Titusville's rich aviation history, let along aviation history in general, Valiant Air Command, Warbird Museum (which I will shorthand to Warbird for the remainder of this review) has educated and enamored patrons on such for over 45 years. And it seems there are no signs of them slowing down, too. Though an address is provided, Warbird consists of three hangers which can house over 100 different aviation aircraft within the heart of Space Coast Regional Airport. First and foremost, it must be noted that its operating hours are very public-friendly as they are open every day of the week with banker's hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $25 onsite with two dollars off if purchased online. There is an excellent student and military service discount, too. As for the museum itself, it consists of three hangers and a part of the airstrip that can hold up to around 100 aircraft at a time. Without spoiling all the aircraft on site, there are many recognizable aircraft such as a Blue Angel, Red Baron, F-14 Tomcat Fighter Jet, and even the historic World War II airplane, the Tico Belle. Either through a volunteer or a guided tour, patrons can go inside many of the planes. They are also the ones you ask if you want to fly in one of their active cockpit simulators which gives you the exprience of flying without the risk. There are two "general museum" displays, too. The first is in the initial hanger you enter and has a wide range on aviation including gear, parephanalia, and history. The two displays that gave most of my attention were female pilots during World War II and the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black American pilots and support regime in U.S. history. And the second is on the Vietnam War. A couple of final notes, there is a canteen for patrons to rest and enjoy refreshments from vending machines, a couple of restrooms for your convenience, and a gift shop filled with items to help commemorate the visit. Overall, Warbird is a fine museum to go to. There is so much to do and so much to see, and at the price point that is high enough to understand as the planes need constant care, but low enough compared to other venues that it is a steal, I suggest Warbird to anyone who like history, muesuems in general, or wants to try or enjoy something unique to Titusville let alone the Space Coast. Not to mention, you can get everything done in one visit so for my initial review, I am giving Warbird five-out-of-five stars. Not many flaws to think of unless you want to consider the drive, but besides that, definitely worth the visit.

Truly great. My son had seat time in one of several simulators with an instructor. Beautiful clean…read moreamazing place. The veterans who work there are incredible with a wealth of knowledge. I didn't want to leave. We've been here a few times and will be back many more. The gift shop is great.

Adults-Only Science Night Live was a BLAST!…read more This was my husband and my second time at Orlando Science Center and I gotta say we love the adults-only nights. This time, we stayed basically from open to close, and while we definitely didn't manage to do EVERYTHING, there was plenty to keep us entertained the entire evening. Parking was a little confusing based on the event information, but we arrived about 15 minutes before opening and found a spot pretty easily. We waited maybe 10 minutes to get inside, so overall entry was very smooth. HOT TIP: If you're sensitive to loud noises, earplugs are a good call. There was a dedicated DJ music area in the dinosaur exhibit, but other places were maybe a bit too loud, too, but still so fun! The Optical Illusions exhibit was probably one of my favorite parts-- There were so many fun photo opportunities, and even the house of mirrors was a blast -- coming from someone who is absolutely not usually a house-of-mirrors person. We also stopped in one of the hands-on areas and played with a circuit activity, did trivia, explored the exhibits and caught Kaboom (a fun show, but YES, earplugs are a must there). Trivia was also a great little break in the night. We grabbed drinks, sat down and played a round. I loved that they had a no-phones-at-the-table rule. If your phone came out, you were disqualified until the next round, which made everything feel much more fair. Food and drink prices were surprisingly reasonable for a special event. A beer was around $5-$6, and a big cookie from a local vendor (Sapanguita--the BEST) was around $4-$5 -- definitely better than what I'd expect to pay at a concert or sporting event. I also loved that several of the food options came from local businesses. HOT TIP: One thing to keep in mind if you have accessibility or mobility concerns: getting between floors via elevator can take some time, especially when they're crowded. I'd build a little extra time into your plans rather than trying to race from one scheduled activity to another. Speaking of scheduled activities: GET YOUR SHOW TICKETS EARLY! Both Kaboom and the laser show required tickets during our event, and it sounded like you could grab tickets for your preferred showtime near the beginning of the night. We got very lucky and snagged some of the last Kaboom tickets, and only made it into the laser show because other guests turned theirs back in. The one thing I'd personally skip next time was the laser show. The concept was cool, but ours was around 45 minutes long and ended after midnight. From where we were sitting, I felt like I was craning my neck quite a bit and the lasers eventually started bothering my eyes. Even with earplugs, it was still pretty loud, too. It also didn't feel especially easy to leave once the show started because of the dark theater and needing to exit up the stairs! The soundtrack was very '90s rock/grunge, which my husband recognized and enjoyed much more than I did. Overall, though, this was a really enjoyable night and I'd absolutely consider doing another adults-only event here -- especially if there were a new temporary exhibit to explore.

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.

I have always wanted to visit this free history museum, and on a recent trip to Orlando, I finally…read morecaught them while they were open. Located in Kissimmee, the Osceola County Welcome Center & History Museum offers visitors an in depth look at the people, places, industries, and natural environment that have shaped Osceola County. The museum is operated by the Osceola County Historical Society, which was founded on October 29, 1949, when Charles and Twylah Hartley of St. Cloud and Alma Hetherington of Kissimmee chartered the organization. Their goal was to collect local artifacts and publish historical information to ensure that Osceola County's heritage would be preserved. Beginning in the 1960s, the Historical Society displayed artifacts and other historical items in a wing of the Osceola Center for the Arts. In 1987, Ross and Willa Lanier donated their historic family home to the Historical Society. Built in 1889, the house is now known as the Lanier Cracker House. That same year, heirs of the Spence family, Carl and Ruth Yates Spence, donated four acres of land and their family home on North Bass Road in Kissimmee. The Historical Society moved the Lanier Cracker House to the property and opened the Osceola County Pioneer Enrichment Center, helping commemorate the county's centennial. In 1990, the Historical Society's collection was moved from the Osceola Center for the Arts to the newly named Pioneer Village which you can also visit. In 2010, Osceola County approved an expansion of the Pioneer Village and Museum into Shingle Creek Regional Park. The partnership between Osceola County and the Historical Society eventually led to the creation of the Osceola County Welcome Center & History Museum which opened on October 2012. Today, the museum provides visitors with an introduction to Osceola County's history and natural environment. The exhibits include dioramas depicting several of the county's distinct habitats, including swampland, pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and lakefront environments. Seeing these different ecosystems helps illustrate how closely the area's natural landscape is connected to its history and development. The museum also explores some of the industries and activities that helped shape Osceola County, including citrus, cattle, transportation, and early tourism. Many of the exhibits feature interactive displays and scavenger hunts, making the museum experience hands-on. After taking in the museum exhibits you can step outside and explore Shingle Creek, where you can see some of the natural environment featured in the exhibits. One thing that really stood out to me was how much this museum appeals to children. I love a free history museum, but some can be a little dry for younger visitors. This one does a great job of making history accessible through interactive exhibits, activities, and educational programs. The Historical Society also works with local school groups and offers field trips and community programs. Admission is completely free making it a budget friendly option. It is a worthwhile stop for families, history buffs, or anyone who wants to learn more about the history and natural environment of Osceola County. If you're in the Kissimmee area, I definitely recommend a visit.

WOW! What an absolute gem! This place had such a beautiful exhibit area! From the natives, to the…read morepioneers, to the wildlife in the area- we learned so much! Our 4 year and 1 year old were also BIG fans! Such awesome touch exhibits for them - a little tunnel they could crawl through, an adorable playhouse with toys and an awesome train station area with Lincoln logs. We will definitely be back - i just wish this was closer to my home!! Also bonus tip- if you are coming here with kids, check out the Construction Zone Restaurant near by- makes the perfect lunch spot!

I love a history museum, especially one that's free, and the Brevard Museum of History and Natural…read moreScience checks both boxes. With more than 3,000 fascinating artifacts in its permanent collection, there's so much to learn and explore. The Brevard Museum, Inc. was formed in 1969. The museum is currently operated by the City of Cocoa in a building tucked away in the quiet College Green Estates housing subdivision. If you didn't know it was there, you could easily drive right past it. The museum has two wings to explore. One focuses on Florida's natural history, featuring Ice Age fossils, including a giant ground sloth and mastodon, along with exhibits that recreate life in 1800's Florida. The other wing traces the region's human history, beginning with indigenous people, the Spanish colonization of Florida, and continuing through pioneer life, before ending with the Space Age. Exhibits cover a wide range of topics, including Florida's Indigenous peoples, Ice Age and modern wildlife, early Brevard settlers, Spanish ships, the citrus and turpentine industries, Flagler's railway, space exploration, arrowheads, artifacts from the Seminole, Miccosukee, and Ais peoples, shells, and casts of prehistoric and modern animal fossils. The Albert and Grace Taylor exhibit displays the personal effects of pioneers Albert and Grace Taylor. Grace Webster Taylor was a resident of the City of Cocoa, who passed away on December 27, 1945. There are also replicas of a one-room schoolhouse, a general store, and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. The exhibit that fascinated me most was about the Windover archaeological site. In 1982, a bulldozer excavating a pond for a new housing development uncovered several human skulls. Archaeologists soon determined that the remains belonged to an ancient Indigenous community that had lived in the area approximately 7,000 to 8,000 years ago. Over time, researchers recovered the remains of 168 individuals from the peat at the bottom of the pond. The peat created remarkable preservation conditions, protecting not only the skeletons but also soft tissues, including some brain tissue. Research conducted by Florida State University revealed a wealth of information about Florida's earliest inhabitants. Textiles recovered from the burials provided rare insights into ancient weaving techniques, while preserved stomach contents offered valuable clues about their diet. The museum exhibit displays a preserved skeleton, a bust of the "Windover Woman," and a recreation of the unique wet archaeological excavation. Unlike many local history museums I visit, this one has activities for kids making it more family friendly. There is a Discovery Room designed for children, where there are toys and a rocket capsule they can climb into along with other hands-on activities to enjoy. Behind the museum is a nature preserve and the Johnnie Johnson Nature Trails. The winding network of paved and natural-surface trails meanders through 22 acres of native Florida upland and wetland ecosystems surrounding Clear Lake, making it a fun way to extend a visit. There is so much local history packed into this small, free museum. The exhibits on archaeology, Florida history, natural science, and the Space Age are interesting for all ages. This is a wonderful budget friendly activity outside of the typical tourist destinations.

Overall Rating: 3.5 Atmosphere: 3.5| Price Per Artifact: 5.0…read more Cool little museum, especially considering it's completely free. There are some genuinely interesting artifacts and exhibits, although the place could definitely use an infusion of newer, more up-to-date material. The strangest part is that they don't even accept donations. Apparently, ever since the city bought the museum, they're unable to accept money at all. So admission is free, but visitors can't even contribute a few dollars to help them update or add exhibits. Overall, it's a cool museum and worth checking out, especially for free. There's just a lot of untapped potential, and with a little investment, it could be much better.

If you're visiting Orlando, I highly recommend this as one of your stops. A historical landmark of…read morethe city. I found out the Leu family donated their family land hoping to share its beauty. Unique gardens with plenty of shade. Great for all ages, including toddlers. It is fenced in with lots of areas to picnic, if that's your thing! There's a small cafe for coffee, ice cream and a few snacks. On certain days they have infant and toddler reading time (20minutes long). The first Monday of each month is free entry however there are no guided tours. Check their website for more info!

This garden is huge with wide paths through all the gardens with optional dirt paths. Most paths…read moreare naturally shaded by the tall mature live oak, cypress, crepe myrtle and banyan trees. If you love nature, you are in for a special treat as this garden has hundreds of plants and flowers all very clearly labeled. Sprinkled throughout the paths are funky bird houses and information on the birds there which sing non-stop in the background which is mesmerizing to sit on a bench by the brook and listen to birds and water, like I said, a special treat. I located a new bird to me, the gila woodpecker! The house museum tour is full of local Florida history and the house is beautiful with many interesting details like the children's back stairs and the bathrooms have original tiles and fixtures! The bathrooms are accessible, clean and well stocked with supplies. The map gives a clear idea of where you want to wander to and where you might want to stop to take in nature. One of my favorite places with sculpture added to the gardens along with specialized gardens for cocktail ingredients, salsa garden, chutney garden and tea garden! Fun! Many fruits and herbs as well. A must see if you love the outdoors, birds, plants, flowers, gardening or the peace that nature brings. A must see!!!!

Visiting a botanical garden for the first time, I expected a vibrant display of diverse flowers and…read moreplants, plus a little bit of cute wildlife, the kind of immersive nature experience you see in travel guides. Instead, this botanical garden felt more like a peaceful park with lots of trees and a well-maintained walking trail. My expectations were definitely high, so the experience surprised me. That said, it was calm, quiet, and relaxing. There were plenty of places to sit, which makes it a great spot for a picnic, reading, journaling, or simply unplugging for a while. If you are looking for a serene outdoor space to reset and enjoy a slow, mindful walk, this is a solid choice. If you are hoping for a colorful, flower-filled botanical garden experience, you may want to visit during peak bloom season or check what is currently flowering before you go.

We stopped at the Joy & Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden during a weekend in Melbourne Florida…read more It is located on the campus of Florida Institute of Technology. I had a little difficulty finding the correct parking lot and entrance to the garden but once in the correct lot I saw the sign. It is a leisurely walk through the 15 acre garden. It is not a garden in the sense of flowery plants but more a native hammock. There is a meandering stream and a little pond of turtles, we counted 10 including snapping turtles. Melbourne's oldest schoolhouse, 1883, has been relocated here. It was the weekend and campus was pretty quiet. We enjoyed a nice walk, even in misty rain. I recommend a visit to the garden if you are in the area especially if you have kids who would enjoy the turtles.

Free admission sponsored by Wawa August 30-31. Very cool homage to native Florida wildlife -…read morehundreds of plants - 48 of them rare. Originally planted by landscape artist Olmsted in 1920s. Bok Tower has 60 tons of carillon bells and is covered with depictions of FL birds, animals, plants, and humans. Built by Bok in Art Deco style of the period, it was designated a National Historic Landmark by Calvin Coolidge.

This is perhaps the best botanical garden in the world--we haven't gone to any outside of Florida…read morethough so take that how you will. We got engaged here! 8.28.26! So take that how you will! The tower itself is a masterful design, everyone is friendly and will answer any questions you have! The cafe is stellar and the wine and tap selection will appease anyone who partakes! This was our third time going, so many gift shop goodies and plants we've taken home!

The Winter Park Historical Museum is a small free museum located across the railroad from Central…read morePark. It is operated by the Winter Park Historical Association and resides in a former railroad freight depot. There is a one room exhibit hall that features changing exhibits. The goal of the museum is to engage people in the history of Winter Park. The current exhibit is about the hotels and motels of Winter Park throughout the city's history. The exhibit highlights include the luxury hotels of the late 1800s, like the Seminole Hotel, built in 1886 on Lake Osceola. It was a place that attracted northerners and had luxuries such as steam heating and gaslights. President Grover Cleveland was a visitor but it burned down in 1902. Also included in the exhibit is information about the roadside family motels, tourist courts and the boarding houses used by the workers who built Winter Park. The museum offers programs throughout the year. It is staffed by a volunteer so if you want to know more about the history of Winter Park you can actually speak to someone about it. It also has a small gift shop. If you are in the area it is worth stopping by.

If you wanna check out the beginnings of your neighborhood, the best place to start is the Winter…read morePark history museum on 200 New England Avenue. The current exhibit is motels and hotels. There is a volunteer who will answer your questions. This used to be the lobby for the Atlantic Railroad. There is free parking on the street and donations are recommended.

My child absolutely loves this type of museum. We have been to illusion museums all over the world…read more We went to similar to museums and places like Berlin and Scotland and Dubai. This one is definitely the smallest one we've been to, but my son really enjoyed it nonetheless. We've seen many of these type exhibits before. Most notably where it looks, as though your head is on a plate and you have lost your body, the table where you reflect and it looks like you're sitting with six of yourself, and the room where depending on what corner you're in you may look very large or very small. That being said it doesn't seem to get old to my kid and he had the best time. They also had some new stuff that he hadn't seen before which he really enjoyed. We spent about 45 minutes here and he had a blast. My only real issue with it was the cost as it was close to $30 a person.

This was more for younger kids. The thing that was most exciting and fun was the vortex tunnel. I…read moresee people post it on social media and thought they were being dramatic. Until I tried it. I really felt like I was off balance and going to tip over. It was cool. I feel it is overpriced and the person at the reception area was not the friendliest and she was very slow. Also there was not a whole lot. I would recommend it for ages under 12.