Information
Landmark: South Florida Cox Science Center and AquariumCity: Palm Beach
Country: USA Florida
Continent: North America
South Florida Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Palm Beach, USA Florida, North America
Overview
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium, once called the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, is a well-known spot in West Palm Beach where visitors can explore everything from glowing jellyfish tanks to hands-on science exhibits, as a result you’ll find exhibits spanning science, technology, engineering, and math, plus hands-on dives into marine life and the mysteries of space.You’ll find the center at 4801 Dreher Trail North in West Palm Beach, FL 33405, tucked beside leafy Dreher Park and just minutes from I‑95-an easy stop for families, school kids, and curious tourists, along with the aquarium’s main draw is its massive collection-more than 10,000 gallons of saltwater and freshwater tanks, where sparkling coral sways and silver fish dart through the water.The exhibits highlight native Florida marine life-sharks gliding past, stingrays sweeping the sandy floor, delicate seahorses drifting near coral reef fish-and Shipwreck Cove, a sunken-ship scene alive with curious sea creatures and the scent of saltwater, also coral reef tank: a six-foot display alive with color, showing visitors how reefs thrive and why they need protecting, not entirely Planetarium A features a full-dome digital display, wrapping you in a 360-degree show where stars sweep overhead, after that each day brings a modern show-one might explore the glow of distant galaxies, another the legends woven into ancient mythology.The shows pair sharp, sweeping projections with rich, layered sound, so visitors feel as if they’re gliding through the universe without leaving their seat, therefore the Science and Tech Exhibit features more than a hundred hands-on displays, from whirring robots and glowing circuits to solar panels, health science demos, and models of distant planets, a little Interestingly, Visitors of all ages can tinker, test, and play their way into learning, then the Fisher Family Science Trail stretches a quarter mile through the outdoors, dotted with 15 hands-on exhibits-like a wind tunnel you can step into.You’ll find a Physics Forest, outdoor displays on solar energy, a roaring wind tunnel, and a dinosaur roam with towering life-sized models, what’s more there are nature and conservation areas, plus mini golf-including an 18‑hole course built around a conservation theme.Golf architect Jim Fazio teamed up with pro golfer Gary Nicklaus to design it, sketching fairways that curve like green ribbons under the sun, in addition at every hole, you’ll find panels that share tips on protecting the environment and stories about the local wildlife, from the call of a red-winged blackbird to the tracks of a fox.The Discovery Center is a lively spot designed just for kids under six, with shining blocks scattered across the floor, also you’ll find soft play areas, hands-on science toys for each age group, and stations ready for curious exploration.It seems, It sparks early learning and curiosity, all in a risk-free space where a child can ask questions and explore without worry, after that field trips for our Education and Programs follow Florida’s science curriculum standards, whether we’re studying coastal habitats or examining seashells up close.STEM Camps offer hands-on spring, summer, and winter programs for kids in grades K–8, from building tiny robots to exploring simple science experiments, alternatively workshops & Labs: The center offers short programs in robotics, chemistry, marine biology, and coding, where you might solder a circuit or peer into a microscope.Scout programs offer Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts the chance to earn badges-whether it’s tying a perfect knot or spotting constellations under a clear night sky, as a result after-school programs and outreach bring hands-on learning to students across Palm Beach County, from mobile science labs to lively activities right in their classrooms.Special Events and Exhibitions features rotating national shows, from the roaring claws of *Dinosaur Revolution* to the puzzling twists of *Mindbender Mansion*, also each year brings events like Spooky Science Night, STEM Saturdays, and dazzling laser light shows that fill the planetarium with shifting beams of color.They offer birthday party packages and rent out spaces for private gatherings or corporate functions, whether it’s a lively kids’ celebration with balloons or a polished boardroom meeting, while we’re open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. To 5 p.m, and on weekends from 10 a.m, alternatively to 6 p.m.-but you’ll find the doors locked on Thanksgiving and Christmas.Admission prices depend on age-adults, kids, and seniors each pay a different rate, along with you might have to pay a little more for planetarium shows, sometimes just the price of a cup of coffee.Through the Museums for All program, anyone with SNAP or WIC benefits can get in for just $3 each-up to five people per EBT or WIC card-enough for the whole family to spend an afternoon exploring, along with you’ll need a valid government ID and your EBT or WIC card-bring both to the counter.The discount doesn’t cover planetarium tickets, so you’ll need to buy those separately, at the same time the building’s fully wheelchair accessible, with smooth ramps and wide doorways from front to back.There’s a minute café on-site, along with a gift shop that smells faintly of fresh coffee, to boot you can park for free-just pull into the lot and find a spot.You’ll find smooth, stroller-friendly paths inside the building and along the science trail where leaves crunch underfoot, meanwhile the Cox Science Center and Aquarium ranks among South Florida’s best family-friendly spots, where kids, students, and adults can dive into hands-on science-like touching a starfish or peering through a telescope-while learning in a lively, interactive space.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-09-29
