Attraction
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is James Deering's early twentieth-century bayfront estate in Coconut Grove, with a furnished Mediterranean Revival villa and formal Italian Renaissance-style gardens.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Frost Science is a science museum, aquarium and planetarium in Museum Park, best known for its three-level aquarium and a large domed planetarium.
At a glance
- Type
- Science museum, aquarium and planetarium
- Area
- Downtown / Museum Park, Miami, United States
- Official site
- frostscience.org
Good to know
- Aquarium
- Planetarium
- Family friendly
Why we recommend it
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, usually called Frost Science, moved into its current building in Museum Park in May 2017. The museum traces its roots back to a small junior museum founded in Miami in the middle of the twentieth century, but the present complex, designed by Grimshaw Architects, is a very different proposition: a science museum, aquarium and planetarium under one roof on the edge of Biscayne Bay.
The aquarium is the centrepiece. It is built around a three-storey, cone-shaped tank. The top level holds the Gulf Stream Aquarium, the middle level focuses on coral reefs and mangrove habitats, and the lowest level has jellyfish and a 31-foot oculus lens that lets you look up into the main tank from below. The Frost Planetarium is a full-dome theatre with around 250 seats. Alongside these are science exhibitions, and recent programming has included a Science Behind Pixar exhibition included with museum admission. The museum also runs the Falcon Batchelor Raptor Rehabilitation Center.
The museum's website gives general opening hours of 10am to 5pm. Tickets can be bought online, and buying ahead is sensible at weekends and during school holidays, when the aquarium levels get busy. Check the planetarium schedule when you arrive and book your show time early so you can plan the rest of your visit around it. Allow at least three hours, and longer with children who like to linger at interactive displays.
Frost Science is a strong choice for a family day out in central Miami, and as an indoor attraction it works well on a hot or rainy afternoon. Teenagers and adults with an interest in marine life will also get a lot out of the aquarium. Couples might prefer to combine a shorter visit with Pérez Art Museum Miami next door, which makes Museum Park a good place to spend a full day.
The museum is at 1101 Biscayne Boulevard in downtown, in Maurice A. Ferré Park, also known as Museum Park. The park around the two museums is a good place to stretch your legs between exhibits, and the Adrienne Arsht Center is close by if you want to round off the day with a performance.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science FAQs
What are the opening hours?
The museum's website lists opening hours of 10am to 5pm.
What is the aquarium like?
It is built around a three-level, cone-shaped tank, with the Gulf Stream Aquarium at the top, reefs and mangroves in the middle and jellyfish and an oculus lens at the bottom.
Is there a planetarium?
Yes, the Frost Planetarium is a full-dome theatre with around 250 seats.
How long should I allow?
Plan on at least three hours, or most of a day with children.
Should I book tickets in advance?
Buying online is sensible at weekends and in school holidays, when it gets busy.
What is nearby?
Pérez Art Museum Miami is next door in Museum Park.
When did the museum open in Museum Park?
The current building opened in May 2017.
Is it good for families?
Yes, the aquarium and planetarium make it a strong choice for families.