Kid-Approved Museums to Excite & Engage

Make Science Fun at The Bishop Museum

Learn about Florida’s natural history as you move through time at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Located in nearby Bradenton, this museum promotes exploration of exhibits and interactive experiences for visitors of all ages.​

Start with the Sunshine State’s prehistoric past, uncovering fossil evidence of the first animals to inhabit the state as well as archaeological artifacts from Florida’s first people. For a bit of hands-on fun, study the solar system through a telescope or climb aboard a cardboard rocket bound for the stars (in your imagination) in the STEM-friendly Mosaic Backyard Universe. The museum is also home to a state-of-the-art planetarium offering Sky Tours and astronomical shows under a starlit dome. 

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St W, Bradenton, 34205, (941) 746-4131

Soar High at the Children’s Rainforest Garden

Recently named one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2024 by TIME magazine, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens continues to engage and grow (in more ways than one). Within its Downtown Sarasota campus, discover the Children's Rainforest Garden. 

Climb the roots of the massive, 100-year-old banyan tree, the garden’s centerpiece that provides a canopy for visitors. Soak up the tropical sights and sounds of the rainforest — including rushing water from the nearby 12-foot waterfall and the forest pool — from the Canopy Walk and rope bridge set nearly 30 feet above the ground.

Interactive play areas invite explorers to navigate through caves and complete research at field stations designed to pique their interest. Best of all, the garden is designed with a single entry and exit point to provide a secure environment, and its design ensures accessibility for visitors of all abilities.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens,1534 Mound St, Sarasota, 34236, (941) 366.5731

Feel Nostalgic at the Sarasota Toy Museum

Let’s start at the Sarasota Toy Museum, which offers much more than exhibits; it’s a chance for adults and kids to bridge the generation gap, with toys from the 1950s through the ‘90s on display.

Reminisce as you share stories of playing with toys like classic Barbies and Star Wars action figures. Peruse the collection of more than 600 metal lunch boxes and colorful Pez dispensers — and don’t miss the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots in their original box. Listen attentively (or try to) as the kids tell you how much power each Pokémon character has. Those, along with comic books and other trading cards, can be found in Moosehead Toys and Comics at the front of the museum.

Together in the train room, keep your eyes on your favorite locomotive. The mesmerizing toy train chugs through a miniature model of a Vermont ski town and takes passengers through scenes featuring all four seasons. In the interactive play areas, join in the fun of building with LEGO and putting together puzzles. 

Sarasota Toy Museum, 3580 17th St, Sarasota, 34235, (941) 993-1897

Dive Deep Into Mote Marine Aquarium

A longtime family favorite of Sarasota, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is designed to give visitors of all ages a deeper understanding of our oceans. The City Island aquarium on Lido Key is home to more than a hundred marine species, including sharks, manatees, sea turtles, seahorses, rays and coral reefs—each in its own unique ecosystem as determined by Mote Marine's dedicated scientists. ​

Kids and adults can dip their fingers into cold-water touch pools and softly touch rays, urchins and other creatures (even shark pups!). Watch the otters dip and dive, and see the manatees and sea turtles gently glide through the water. 

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, (941) 388-4441

Opening this year at Nathan Benderson Park will be the new MoteSEA.

Unlock Creativity at Sarasota Art Museum

Every Saturday from 1pm to 3pm, Sarasota Art Museum invites locals and visitors into its Family ArtLab for hands-on art activities inspired by the museum’s current exhibitions.

Ideal for preschoolers through kids age 10, the ArtLab explores creativity in different art forms, from still-life line drawings to winter animals made out of clay (all materials are provided). The program is drop-in, so no registration is required, and it’s included with museum admission. 

Sarasota Art Museum Ringling College Museum Campus, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 34236, (941) 309-4300

Step Up to The Ringling's Circus Museum

Get your own three-ring circus out of the resort and over to The Ringling's Circus Museum, where families can immerse themselves in the history and artistry of The Greatest Show on Earth.

Admire the craftsmanship of artifacts like circus wagons and costumes and get down to the kids’ level to study the museum’s model of an early-20th-century circus. The world’s largest miniature circus recreates the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as it appeared from 1919 to 1938, when townspeople anxiously awaited the arrival of their “tented city.”

Get hands-on with interactive exhibits that demonstrate the logistics of setting up the traveling show, try your hand at a balancing act or see if you can squeeze the entire family into a clown car. (The latter is sure to create lasting memories!)

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, 34243, (941) 359-5700

Snap Photos at Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy

Easy to spot when you’re driving “the Trail” in Sarasota, the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy offers an experience not quite like any other, with each piece designed to bring a smile to your face.

Visitors of all ages delight in contemporary art sculptures of joyous giraffes, larger-than-life sea horses and fanciful flamingos in the outdoor garden, where there’s even a smiling snowman. All make for great family photo backdrops, so consider snapping your next Christmas card here!

There’s no admission, but a donation is suggested. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday afternoons seasonally, typically after Thanksgiving through the end of May. (Snapshots are allowed with cell phones only)

Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, 2121 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, 34234, (941) 364-3399

Family-Friendly Places to Stay

Photo courtesy of Visit Florida

Sarasota offers several family-friendly accommodations ideal for visiting families. Lido Beach Resort features spacious rooms, beachfront access, a giant swimming pool facing the Gulf and close proximity to St. Armands Circle’s walkable shops, arcade games, sweet treats and restaurants. 

The boutique-style Amenti Bay hotel is conveniently located right off I-75 and Fruitville Road for easy navigation, plus kid-happy amenities include a resort-style zero-entry pool and free breakfast buffet before heading out for your day of exploration. 

For something closer to the beaches, families will enjoy Tropical Beach Resorts on Siesta Key, offering comfortable suites with kitchenettes, swimming pools, barbeque tiki huts, shuffleboard and direct access to Siesta Beach’s white sands. 

Additionally, The Resort at Longboat Key Club caters to families with large suites, supervised children’s programs, pools, golf and tennis. Each ensures a safe and welcoming atmosphere, convenient location and enjoyable activities suitable for the whole family.