7/31/2019 Family Fun in Downtown Orlando by Sandra Chambers

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ENTERTAINMENT ORLANDO 25

Visitors can enjoy a unique multi-sensory

experience at the Orlando Science Center,

where the special exhibit PLAYcomprised

o giant interactive gamesruns through

September. In addition, guests o all ages will

enjoy the permanent exhibits NatureWorks,

DinoDigs, Science Park and KidsTown, eaturing

interactive science stations. While youre at

the science center, dont miss the giant screen

flms Tornado Alley, Rescue and Animalopolis.

Located atop the museum in the aluminum

dome is the Crosby Observatory, home toFloridas largest publicly accessible reractor

telescope, which oers SkyWatching and laser

light shows every Friday and Saturday night

throughout the summer.

Art lovers wil l appreciate not one, but two art

museums: the Orlando Museum o Art, eaturing

American, Arican and ancient American art,

and The Mennello Museum o American Art,

which contains a collection o paintings by 20th

century American olk artist Earl Cunningham.

For lunch, enjoy a picnic in the park or head to

Bananas, a modern American diner where kids

can enjoy burgers and handspun milkshakes

while adults savor specialty menu items. A ree

reward awaits those who clean their plates

a signature cotton candy treat!

Ater lunch, enjoy a walk at the nearby Harry

P. Leu Gardens, a 50-acre botanical garden

with a three-mile paved pathway through

Southern-styled gardens, including the largest

ormal rose garden in Florida. Or take in a

perormance o Cinderella at the Orlando

Shakespeare Theater, playing select mornings

and aternoons June 21-July 29.

A short drive away, the Orange County Regional

History Center (a Smithsonian afliate) takes

visitors back 12,000 years with a series o

interactive exhibits on the regions natural ora

and auna, Winter Parks amous sinkhole that

swallowed a whole city block, early settlers and

Orlandos major economic enterprises o cattle

and citrus. Theres also a Walt Disney World

exhibit showing the areas transition rom small

town to todays tourist centric-community.

A Loch Haven Cultural Pass is available withdiscounted tickets to the Orlando Museum o Ar t,

the Orlando Science Center and The Mennello

Museum o American Art. For more inormation,

visit redchairproject.tix.com.

EnJoy a Family day at sEvEral downtownmusEums, art gallEriEs and gardEns

By Sandra Chambers

Loch Haven Park, Central Floridas premier cultural park, is nestled between threelakes. Covering 45 acres, the park is home to a science center, two art museumsand performing arts venues. Its also a fun place to hike, bicycle or picnic.

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EC_Pub_Jun-Sept2012.indd 25 5/24/12 5:29 PM