The Orlando Science Center is part museum and part playground for all ages.  Its four stories house interactive displays, rotating exhibits, live animals, and an observatory.  No matter what your age or what you’re interested in, you can probably find it at the Orlando Science Center.

I admit I hadn’t been to the Orlando Science Center because I thought it was geared towards children, but after visiting its four floors of interactive exhibits, I realize it’s for the kid at heart.  Orlando Science Center wants its guests to experience all the wonder that science, technology, and history have to offer. 

Triceratops

Dinosaurs are always a favorite and the OSC has impressive skeletal models.  They even have a dinosaur that moves!

Nature’s forces, light, electricity, and magnetism are interactively displayed and simulators offer the big kids a glorified video game to play. 

Simulator

Children or adults can become a weather man on Channel 9’s Severe Weather Center Studio and broadcast to the world (well, friends and family) about Florida’s freak blizzard storms. 

Young Alligators

Families can explore the different ecosystems of Florida from a coral reef with fish and stingrays to a Cypress swamp with turtles and alligators in NatureWorks. 

The largest refractor telescope accessible to the public in the state of Florida is fun for kids of all ages and the Dr. Philips CineDome featuring planetarium shows and giant screen films is a great place for a date.

These are just the every day fun activities, but there’s still more.

Phonograph

Disk Player

The Orlando Science Center hosts many touring exhibits throughout the year.  For the holiday season, The World of Mechanical Music on the mechanics and history of music boxes brings a touch of nostalgia.  A player piano, small to large cylinder music boxes and Thomas Edison’s phonograph are on display by private collectors and some still play.  Volume control didn’t seem to be a concern in the 1800s, but the Regina Automatic Disc Changer preceded the jukebox and CD changer by almost a hundred years.   The craftsmanship of the cylinders and discs is fascinating and the tour guide’s passion was admirable and infectious.

Because of all the exciting displays and touring exhibits, there’s always something new to explore at the Orlando Science Center. 

Otronicon in January shows the behind-the-scenes art and technology of video games and simulators.  From January to May, Your Healer Within will feature how the mind, body, and spirit interact and how your senses can improve health.  Kids will love the Curious George exhibit exploring math and science while the animal lovers can visit Jane Goodall on the big screen through her journeys with wild chimpanzees from February to May.

Calling all Chocolate Lovers: Don’t miss the 2-day Festival of Chocolate event in March featuring everything chocolate from truffles and pastries to even spa treatments.  Kids and adults not only get to observe professional pastry chefs design edible art, but will delight in making their own chocolate creations.

And not to be missed, the Crosby Observatory is open for seasonal night viewings through its massive refractor telescope.  Get up close and personal with the rings of Saturn or eye of Jupiter.  Check the schedule at http://www.osc.org/ for dates.

Gift Shop

Much like children, the Orlando Science Center is continuously growing with new exhibits and special events.  A full day adventure from prehistoric times to future energy producers can be experienced at the Orlando Science Center.  Come. Discover.  You’ll be glad you did.