Family went over memorial weekend. There were quite a few interactive exhibits that didn't work…read more The 3rd floor was closed down and the 2nd floor near the planetarium didn't make sense. You can tell the museum is closing down. The shows in the planetarium were great. They were very educational and entertaining. Other than that my other favorite part was the "Currents of Time." Seeing the evolution of the Jacksonville area. I definitely will check out the new location once it's done.

What a happy celebration day for the museum as they transition to a bigger and modern caliber for…read morethe city. I learned that the museum of science is expanding to a new home and it will take some years for the official move and space. Throughout my travels , looking for staples in the community that offer hands on learning, family friendly spaces, and a budgeted treat truly takes time to explore. Today I walked through showcases filled with history from the Victorian era; some relics were plants and photos from the 1970! I hadn't been inside a planetarium in a few years and you still appreciate the wonder when you hear children awe at the science and story telling in front of their eyes. All the staff were incredible , helping answer and questions they had- a major shout out to Vystar credit union as a volunteer partner making the day impactful for the masses. Go visit your museum- science centers- arts locations as we are continuously evolving in science and expanding our living history. Today was special!

Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville has honestly become one of my favorite recurring…read moreexperiences in Jacksonville. I'll admit, I've only visited specifically on Wednesdays Art Walk nights when admission is free, but it's genuinely hard to pass up when the experience is this enjoyable. The atmosphere during Art Walk is always lively and welcoming. I love that they bring in small local vendors in the lobby alongside the bar setup, which makes the entire museum feel more like a full community event than just a gallery visit. And speaking of the bar, I feel terrible that I can never remember the bartender's name, but that's because every single visit we end up laughing, chatting, and having such a good time that by the end of the night, what sticks with me most is her kindness, energy, and incredible service. She's become part of the experience itself. The exhibits are consistently engaging, thought-provoking, and entertaining without ever feeling pretentious. I especially appreciate the descriptions accompanying the pieces; they add context in a way that makes contemporary art feel approachable and immersive instead of intimidating. There's always something new to notice or discuss. At this point, going to MOCA on Art Walk Wednesdays is easily one of the top activities I look forward to most in downtown Jacksonville. It's creative, social, inspiring, and just an all-around great way to spend an evening.

We are so lucky to have this amazing museum. I brought a pair of girls from Iceland that I was…read morewatching and they said it was the best museum they have ever went to. We went on a Saturday and admissions were covered which was such a deal. They loved the atrium and the interactive art. It's a great way to spend 45 minutes. Also, on Saturdays, you can group this activity with the Riverside Arts Market, (RAM) The artworks do get switched out from time to time. I recommend everyone coming twice a year.

The museum was having a plant market right in front of the museum a few weeks ago and that's what…read moredrew me into coming here. The vendor I bought from told me that it was free that day to go into the museum and Gardens so my family and I decided to look at the beautiful garden to welcome spring. Sadly, we didn't have time to explore the inside of the museum, but that will be for next time. The garden is absolutely stunning and breathtaking with a plethora of colors and the river in the back it's just so pretty. I loved how you could just walk around and see the different parts of the garden and then stand by the river as well. They had super unique flowers. I especially loved the ones that looked like little red lanterns and I loved all the beautiful trees. I was so happy to come here and I loved that they had a little plant market that drew you in to come and actually check out the garden. I can't wait to go back and explore the museum and make a whole day out of it. You definitely need to add this to your list if you haven't gone yet.

Another museum on us weekend as a BOA cardholder, and I'm so glad I finally got a chance to check…read moreout Cummer Museum. I stopped by Saturday around 12p and parking was pretty much non existent due to the Farmer's Market nearby. I highly suggest the earlier you get to the museum the better. I did find parking at the River and Post lot. This museum is known for it's beautiful garden and that was the first thing I hit. Now since it was a lovely day, there were a lot of people here visiting. I was amazed by the beautiful courtyard but even more breathtaking garden. I see why this is a hot spot for wedding/engagement photos. The garden has the backdrop of the St. John's River and the beauty of the botanical garden is so peaceful. I would've hung out a bit longer if it was not so hot outside. Inside, there are some great exhibits on display like the feature Art in Bloom, Norman Studios (black movie posters collection) Italian to Egyptian art and artifacts, to the Tudor Room. This room is a chance to learn more about the Cummer family and their art collection. The museum also has a cafe and offer a children's learning area. I look forward to coming back for an event day at the museum but I highly recommend stopping by to this museum.

I went on a free tour of Sally Dark Rides and left feeling like my mind was blown. First of all - I…read morehad no idea this was a huge warehouse in Downtown Jacksonville. Nor did I realize most of the dark rides across the whole world are created and developed here! It was amazing!! Our tour guide led us through the building while showing us all of the stages of creating an epic dark ride. This made me think about amusement parks in a whole different way. The tour was about an hour and was very informative. We asked lots of questions and met people from different departments along the way. Highly recommend booking a free tour and checking this out. It would be great for kids as well!

I need to start b my saying that this part of our trip to Florida was not planned! My 11 yo LOVES…read moreanimatronics, most especially, Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF). He originally wanted to visit a much smaller place in Orlando, which is a one man operation charging $375. It was a bit too far and too expensive for what it was so I decided to do my own research of places he would love, Sally Corporation became the place. I filled out the reservation form online and was told there were no spots available during our time in Florida. I couldn't take no for an answer. I emailed back explaining how much my son wants to be a Robotics Engineer and that we would wait as long as we needed to snag a spot. We got an email back the next day that two spots opened up!!! We made our way downtown and parked for free in the back. We entered to learn that the tour was also FREE...FREE! This facility is HUGE! They are arguably the largest producer of Dark Ride Amusements in the US and don't just make the robotic aspect of the animatronics, but they handle EVERY aspect of the creation and completion. From make up, costumes, design, voices, all of that! We were thrilled to see they had a...yep...FIVE NIGHTS OF FREDDY'S attraction! If you've ever been to he Ripley's in San Antonio, you will see one of their biggest sellers there, a ginormous T-Rex, that's their baby that sells for $90,000! The tour takes you to each department and you are truly immersed in their production. It is an working operation so you get to see the people behind the scenes at work, which was SO DAMN INSPIRING for my 11 yo who has told me for 4 TM years that this is what he wants to do in life. He got to see what his future could be like, which is absolutely priceless. The staff, facilities, location, displays, animatronics, all were 5 stars! Hands down a MUST when in Jacksonville! Come for a 10 or 11am tour and then take the FREE Skyway (Tram) to Hemming Park and Check our Sweet Peet's. Your kids will have the best day ever!

This is a little hidden treasure in Jacksonville. Did you know the Karpeles Manuscript Library…read moreMuseums encompass the world's largest private holdings of important original manuscript documents? It's true! And we have one right here! This is a little hidden treasure in Jacksonville. Did you know the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums encompass the world's largest private holdings of important original manuscript documents? It's true! And we have one right here! There is always a rotation exhibit with a wide variety of literature pertaining to art, religion, political history and so much more. I was surprised to learn Karpeles owns the original draft of the Bill of Rights of the United States. They also own a wide variety of things from Einstein's famous formula "E=Mc2" to the sheet music of "The Wedding March". Of course, all of these treasures are not right here in Jacksonville, you can go to their main website to see where all the locations are and that is: https://karpeles.com/ You may have driven by this building and wondered what it was or admired the old architecture. But since you never heard about it, perhaps you never went in...well, now you know! Looking for something to do? Put this on your list! As mentioned, there is always a rotation of exhibits and to view what is currently on exhibit, please go to their website: https://karpeles.weebly.com/ The admission is free, however, donations are more than appreciated. Every little bit helps to keep these exhibits available for all of us to enjoy. Lastly, there is ample free street parking around the building.

Karpeles Manuscript Museum is the largest privately owned organization for historically significant…read moredocuments and works. The organization owns many unique things such as the proclamation setting aside Thanksgiving Day by George Washington, Richard Wagner's original composition of the Wedding March and scientific papers written by Einstein. My particular exhibit was at the Jacksonville location. The current showing was of Samuel B Morse work in the telegraph. It had many personal letters, diagrams and government correspondence for using the Morse code. It also included the very first transmission sent. Everything was nicely displayed and explained. Exhibits rotate around museums. Sometimes there may be a exhibits by the same name but with different documents so be sure to check what the specific exhibit contains. Facebook is usually the best place to find the info. Eleven museums exist in the United States. Locations and hours vary by location. Admission is free to all. A fantastic way to dig deeper into history and scientific discoveries. A true treasure!!

If you're a history lover and in the area, you can't miss the Amelia Island Museum of History -…read morewhich is housed in the old historic jail building. THe museum itself isn't the largest but you'll be very surprised at just how much has gone down on this small island on the edge of the Georgia/Florida state line. If it's any indication of just how tumultuous this area was - 7 distinct flags have flown over the island throughout written history. From natives to pirates to Spaniards and Confederates and everyone in between - there's a lot more to Amelia Island than just million dollar beach homes and waterside dining. Admission is $10 for adults. Make sure that you arrive with enough time to enjoy one of the complimentary docent tours. It's included with your museum admission so to not take advantage is a big missed opportunity. The tour we had lasted over 1 hour and in that time our guide covered essentially most things you would learn from reading the exhibit displays but with added insight. As an added bonus, there is a parking lot attached to the museum and plenty of street parking as well. I'd recommend starting your Amelia Island vacation with a trip to the museum so you can appreciate the historical footsteps you're walking in while on the island.

Worth a stop if you want to learn the history of beautiful Amelia island !…read more The Amelia Island Museum of History offers a well done look at the island's past, from the Timucua Indians to Spanish and French explorers and even pirates. The exhibits are interesting and well presented, with videos and displays that make the history come to life ! There is a docent led tour, which is included with admission. Tours run Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m., and they add great context and storytelling to the exhibits. Fun extras: there's a pressed penny machine for collectors and a passport stamps if you're tracking your travels. There's also a nicely stocked gift shop . Plan to spend at least 30 minutes here, though history lovers could easily stay longer depending on how much reading you want to do. Plenty of parking makes the visit even easier.

We really love this place. My LO is 19 months old and we've had a membership since he turned one…read more It's so cool to see him be able to engage in more and more on each visit. There are tons of options and areas. The older kids have always been so helpful with my little guy and he always has a blast. If you come more than once, the annual pass pays for itself and is very affordable. The staff is nice. Be prepared to have your photo ID with you every time you come!

Okay so to me the name is very misleading. Not a children's museum at all - more like an indoor…read moreplay area. Not bad for the price but you get what you pay for. The staff was nice but no real sanitizing procedures except for the hand sanitizer on the wall that is by the entrance. You were allowed to wear your shoes inside all the areas but no staff was going around sanitizing the floors at any time during the two hours we were there. The only staff I saw was at the front register. All the kid's socks and clothes that we saw were black from how dirty the play areas were. My daughter's pants & shoes were very dirty by the end of our time spent there. The bathrooms were disgusting & smelled really bad. Probably will be our only time going here- would rather spend $20 for my daughter to go to a cleaner indoor play area that requires their brand socks & no shoes at all.

Great gallery in Jacksonville. They have a large selection of art and rugs. You will be surprised…read moreof the high quality and wide selection or art.

Wonderful service, friendly staff, FAMILY BUSINESS and oh what fun roaming through the gallery! Had…read morerugs cleaned and new pads made. Very reasonable prices and the best service! Just to walk through then gallery - it's like a museum!

How cool to step back into time and learn about Egypt's most famous Pharoah. Although it had…read moreshowcased the artifacts digitally it felt real. Located on Hogan street down town across from the public parking garage. When we stepped in, there were refreshment bar stands throughout the tour. It was a nice way to feel refreshed after the tour. Inside there was an introductory speaker that tells us about the tour, informational screens and cool interactive stories projected all over the walls. Again, there are no actual artifacts. All artifacts are kept same in a museum safe. However it was beautiful how they designed everything. The price was a bit much but It was a cool experience.

Want a way to cool off the summer heat and see a phenomenal Virtual Presentation of Egypt's most…read moremysterious Pharaoh? For a little over $40 General Admission entrance and a $12 parking near 5 Points. The National Geographic: Beyond King Tut is an awesome way to reconnect with history and acquire knowledge about the Boy King's life along with the Egyptian culture and gods plus the colorful effects and storytelling makes you feel like you were back there in ancient times. Even got to buy authentic items from Egypt before the end of the tour! Go ahead and attend this special event while it it still in Jax as they showcase it in different cities.

If you're looking for a midweek pick-me-up, Jacksonville Downtown Art Walk is the place to be. Held…read moreevery first Wednesday of the month, it brings such a fun, creative energy to downtown Jax that's hard not to love. The streets come alive with local artists, live music, food vendors, and just an overall vibe that feels like the city showing off in the best way possible. It's the perfect mix of casual stroll and cultural experience; whether you're browsing art, grabbing a bite, or just soaking it all in. Bonus: it's super kid-friendly, so it's a great outing whether you're bringing the whole family or just meeting up with friends. One of my favorite parts? You can pop into downtown art galleries for free, which makes the whole experience feel even more immersive and accessible. Last month, my husband and I stopped by the ScribbleMatic booth and got a custom doodle of the two of us. I'm still obsessed! Such a fun, unique keepsake and honestly one of the highlights of the night. Between the creativity, the community, and the chance to discover something new each time, Art Walk has definitely earned a spot in my monthly routine. Highly recommend if you're looking to fall a little more in love with Jacksonville.

I truly feel that Jacksonville is America's sleeping giant and next great big city. The events like…read moreArt Walk are the reason why. Vendors, food trucks, great artists, lively Christmas decor this time, entertainment...it's just a fabulous showcase of what this city has to offer. If I have any constructive advice to make this even better it's simply that it's tough to navigate. I'm sure we missed some of the locations that featured artists because it's just not apparent. We'll be back, but it would be great to have signage and guides to find out where everything is.