Article & Photos by: Kelsey Walters
Over Spring Break, our family took a day trip down to Miami, specifically with our sites set on the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. Nestled amongst the skyscrapers of downtown and overlooking the cruise port and Biscayne Bay, this six-story interactive museum packs a serious punch and our entire day was spent exploring.
With our budding scientist, Avery, in tow, we made our first stop at the rotating exhibit featuring sharks ranging from the prehistoric to modern beasts. This exhibit is a can’t miss, and will be on display through April 21. We came face-to-face with life-sized models of various species and dove through a virtual aquarium dodging sharks along the way.
Avery fancies herself a tiny astronaut in training, so our next stop was the planetarium. Admission includes one free show, but you must make a reservation (scan the QR code or ask available staff) to ensure your spot in the 250-seat dome. The shows vary from a look into our planet’s climate system, a trip to the moon and a mission to deep space. Avery’s eyes lit up when we snagged a reservation to learn more about one of her greatest interests, black holes, and she was completely sucked in (pun totally intended).
The centerpiece of Frost’s exhibits is the multi-level aquarium, with different vantage points across multiple floors, giving guests a view from the surface to the deep ocean, across 3 stories. You can view a slice of Floridian ecosystem across the top deck Vista then dive through the ocean currents across coral reefs, where you’ll finally find yourself looking up at the deep ocean through a massive 31-foot wide lens as though you’re traipsing the sea floor.
The bulk of our time was spent exploring the inner workings of the human body, across two floors of the “MeLab.” Once again, Avery was completely engrossed in the countless interactive exhibits detailing the skeletal system, how each of our senses work and more. We got up close and personal with various samples of parasites, body tissues and cells across an array of real working microscopes. Her favorite spot was an interactive digital model of the brain that takes you deeper and deeper all the way down to an extreme close up of how neurotransmitters work.
Frost Science has a unique way of seamlessly blending seemingly unrelated topics for captivating exhibits. The “Feathers to the Stars” exhibit lays out the long history of flight on our planet, detailing all the way back to the earliest feathered dinosaurs through modern space travel. “Power of Science” is a high energy floor jam-packed with an exploration of how science pushes the boundaries with groundbreaking research across the oceans, our bodies and the entire universe. While of course, kids will have a field day with so much to do, the exhibits are geared toward a broad audience and appeal to all ages.
The museum’s namesake, Dr. Phillip and Patricia Frost, have contributed over $45 million to the museum’s pursuit of science and education, enabling it to become the beacon of research and learning that it is today. However, its humble roots as the Junior Museum of Miami back in 1949 have sparked wonder and curiosity for the past 75 years. Outside of the regular exhibits, Frost also offers tons of community events like adults-only nightLabs, laser shows in the planetarium and plenty of themed educational days, so be sure to take a look at their calendar of events.
If you plan to make a day of your visit, Frost is easily accessible in many ways despite being in the bustling heart of the city. Located directly adjacent to the Miami-Dade Metromover’s Museum Park station, you can find off-site parking and take the free transit right to the front door of the museum. There are also free E taxis available, the Miami Trolley, or you can hop on the high speed rail via Brightline from Orlando (more about that in next month’s issue!). With a restaurant on-site, or the nearby Bayside Marketplace, you’ll have no trouble filling your day.
Our day at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science was nothing short of spectacular. From navigating the depths of the ocean to venturing into the cosmos, every exhibit offers a thrilling adventure for the family!
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 33132
(305) 434-9600 | Open daily 10 AM – 6 PM
FrostScience.org | FB/Insta: @FrostScience
Admission (surge pricing*): $29.95+/adult;
$22.95+/child ages 4 – 11; kids 3 and under free
*Ticket pricing varies depending on the day of your
visit. Advanced ticket purchase online is highly
recommended.
