Located on Mote Marine Laboratory’s main campus in Sarasota, Florida, Mote Aquarium has played a key role in Mote’s outreach efforts since 1980, by presenting exhibits and programs that reflect ongoing research in the laboratory and that stimulate curiosity, discovery, exploration and stewardship of aquatic environments. Nearly 350,000 visitors from around the world experience Mote Aquarium each year.
The Ringling Museum
The Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida and is administered by Florida State University. It features an art museum, historic mansion, circus museum, historic theater, conservation laboratory, and research library, situated on sixty-six acres of spectacular bay front property in Sarasota.
A non-profit working marine animal hospital dedicated to the rescue, rehab and release of marine life. "We believe in preserving our environment while inspiring the human spirit through leadership in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life; environmental education; research; and conservation. We are also home to Winter the dolphin and the Dolphin Tale films!" Check out their YouTube Channel.
Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry – we call it MOSI for short – is a scientific playground with more than 100 hands-on activities! MOSI is a non-profit, community-based institution. "We are dedicated to advancing public understanding of science, industry and technology. Our core ideology is to make a difference in people's lives by making science real for people of all ages."
The South Florida Museum is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The museum interprets the region from the Pleistocene to the present. Highlights include fossil evidence of Florida’s earliest mammals and marine species, the Montague Tallant collection of prehistoric and early post-contact archeological artifacts, and the Environmental Wing focusing on Florida’s ecology and bio-diversity in the Pine Uplands and Riverine Galleries.
The Bishop Planetarium (part of the South Florida Museum), featuring one of the most advanced all-digital projection systems in the world, presents astronomy programs the whole family will enjoy.
The Parker Manatee Aquarium (part of the South Florida Museum), is part of Florida’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership, having served as a temporary home to 35 rehabilitating manatees since 1998.
Owned and operated by the same family since 1981, the Red Barn in Bradenton, FL, combines a traditional flea market, plaza shops, food courts and open-air farmers markets in a 145,000 sq.ft. former lumber yard
The Arts center is committed to being the community’s premier theater and the region’s center for cultural, educational and artistic expression.