Museum of Discovery and Science453

The Museum of Discovery and Science is a great way to spend a rainy (or extremely sunny!) day.

In the courtyard, check out the gravity clock. Balls climb to the top of this structure, then make their way down. Time is counted on the three different rails. Older kids will have fun trying to figure out what time it is, and, well, the little ones are fascinated with the journey of those balls through the different tracks of the maze.

When you enter, most kids gravitate immediately to Florida EcoScapes, with its coral reef, shark tank, sea turtles, and bats. The Discovery Center, especially created for smaller children (to age seven), provides the opportunity to climb a tree, build a wall, or hoist a sail.

On the second floor, hands-on exhibits abound. Kids can take to the skies in the Aviation Station, explore the forces of flight, test the strength and flexibility of aircraft materials, and examine a detailed cutaway diagram of the Airbus 380. They can also climb into the cockpit of a real DC-9 and find out how many buttons and toggles it takes to maneuver a plan, then try out a cockpit simulator.

The Autonation IMAX film theater is open after museum hours; check the website for the film schedule.

Food is available at Subway, which is conveniently located on the first floor. Movie snacks can be purchased at the museum's Explore Store.

Birthday Parties require a minimum of 16 children plus accompanying adults. Each party includes a museum T-shirt for the birthday child, pizza, soft drinks, ice cream cake, and paper goods, plus all-day admission to the museum. Museum members receive a discount. The Animal Antics party, for children ages three to five, starts in The Discovery Center (the museum's early childhood area) and continues in the Hammock Theater, where kids meet some of the museum's resident animals. Kids can spend the rest of the day exploring the museum. To book a birthday party, call 954.713.0930.

Camp-Ins are overnight adventures in the museum. You can pick the activities (from the schedule), campers sleep in the exhibit area, and the cost is $25 per child. Camp-in instructors facilitate the fun, and you need to bring one chaperone per five children. Call 954.713.0933 to reserve a date.

Family memberships start at $95 per year, and if you'll be visiting more than once per year it's well worth it.