Free things to do

Ahh so the schools are back in not entertaining grandkids any more so now time to do things we enjoy.  We joy as much as we can that's free.  So here's what I've found that's free or near free for Sept.

Museums

CASA FELIZ HISTORIC HOME MUSEUM: with "James Gamble Rogers II Studio" architecture exhibit: 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday and Thursday, noon-3 p.m. Sunday; 656 Park Ave., Winter Park; free; 407-628-8200.

CENTRAL FLORIDA RAILROAD MUSEUM: 1-5 p.m. daily; (in former Tavares Gulf Railroad Depot) 101 S. Boyd St., Winter Garden; free; 407-656-0559.

DELAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MUSEUM: medical and historical artifacts: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 230 N. Stone St., DeLand; free (donations accepted); 386-740-5800.

DELTONA VETERANS MUSEUM: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. Sundays; 1921 Evard Ave., Deltona; free; 386-789-8247.

GOLDSBORO HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1211 W. 13th St., Sanford; free; 407-416-0416.

HANNIBAL SQUARE HERITAGE CENTER: African American historical archives: noon-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park; free; 407-539-2680.

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL RESOURCE AND EDUCATION CENTER OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 851 N. Maitland Ave., Maitland; free; 407-628-0555.

LAKE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; 317 W. Main St., Tavares; free; 352-343-9890.

LAKE MARY HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; 158 N. Country Club Road, Lake Mary; free; 407-585-1481.

LARRY E. SMEDLEY NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR MUSEUM: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday; 300 N. Tanner Road, Orlando; free; bunkerflorida.org.

MUSEUM OF THE APOPKANS: Native American artifacts and exhibits on historic industries of Apopka: noon-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 122 E. 5th St., Apopka; free, donations accepted; 407-703-1707.

 

MUSEUM OF GENEVA HISTORY:2-4 p.m. 2nd and 4th Sundays or by appointment; 165 First St., Geneva; free; 407-349-5697.

 

ORLANDO FIRE MUSEUM: displays and equipment from area firefighting history: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; 814 E. Rollins Ave., Orlando; free (donations accepted); 407-898-3138.

 

POLK COUNTY HISTORY CENTER: railroad, baseball and heritage exhibits, cemetery tour first Saturday of each month. 9 a.m.-5p.m.Tuesday-Saturday;100 E. Main St., Bartow; free; 863-534-4386.

 

SANFORD MUSEUM: exhibits of local history and city founder: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday; 520 E. First St., Sanford; free; 407-688-5198.

 

WINTER GARDEN HERITAGE MUSEUM: 1-5 p.m. daily; 1 N. Main St., Winter Garden; free; 407-656-5544.

 

WINTER PARK HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; 200 W. New England Ave., Winter Park; free; 407-647-8180.

  

 

  

Miscellany
DOWNTOWN DISNEY: restaurant and entertainment complex including DisneyQuest, AMC 24 Theatres and more: hours vary; East Buena Vista Drive off I-4, Orlando; free; 407-939-6244.

 
OLD TOWN: entertainment complex with nightclubs, shopping and thrill rides: from 10 a.m. daily, 5770 W. US Highway 192, Kissimmee; free, ride admissions vary; 407-396-4888.

 
 

Exhibits 

 

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF THE ARTS: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 325 S. Clara Ave., DeLand; free, 386-736-4004. "JAMFest Tropical Delight" (through Sept. 26).

 

ARTISANS ON FIFTH: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Monday; 134 E. Fifth Ave. at Mount Dora Center for the Arts, Mount Dora; free; 352-383-0880. "Marilyn Owens and Gwen & Mike Hertz" (through Sept. 30).

 

ARTS ON DOUGLAS: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; 123 Douglas St., New Smyrna Beach; free; 386-428-1133. "Christine Peloquin: Drawn to It" (opening reception 4-7 p.m. Saturday, through Sept. 26), "Richard Heipp: Looking &Seeing: Anatomy Paintings 2005-2015" (opening reception 4-7 p.m. Saturday, through Oct. 17).

 

CASSELBERRY ART HOUSE: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 127 Quail Pond Circle, Casselberry; free; 407-262-7700. "Seminole Art Association: Colorful Journey" (opening reception 6-8 p.m. today, through Sept. 25).

 

CORNELL FINE ARTS MUSEUM: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; 1000 Holt Ave. Rollins College, Winter Park; free; 407-646-2526. "Fashionable Portraits in Europe," "Jess T. Dugan: Every Breath We Drew," "Enduring Documents: Selected Photographs From the Permanent Collection" (through Jan. 3).

 

DANDELION CAFE: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; 618 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando; free; 407-362-1864. "Animalia Dos" (through Oct. 3).

 

FIFTH AVENUE ART GALLERY: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday; 1470 Highland Ave., Melbourne; free; 321-259-8261. "100% Pure Florida" (opening reception 5:30-8:30 p.m. today, through Sept. 27).

 

GALLERY ONE ARTISTS: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 10 W. Dakin Ave., Kissimmee; free; 407-944-0011. "Theresa Brown: Feather Artist" (opening reception 6-9 p.m. today, through Sept. 30).

 

HAND ART CENTER: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 139 E. Michigan Ave. at Stetson University, DeLand; free; 386-822-7270. "Fall Creative Arts Faculty Show: Ethan Greene & Nathan Wolek" (through Oct. 17), "Oscar Bluemner and the Orient: Works From the Vera Bluemner Kouba Collection" (Dec.4), "Pam Logobardi: Drifters" (through Oct. 17).

 

JEANINE TAYLOR FOLK ART: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday; 211 E. First St., Sanford; free; 407-323-2774. "Needle and Thread: New Work by Butch Anthony" (through Sept. 20).

 

LAKE MARY HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 158 N. Country Club Road, Lake Mary; free; 407-585-1481. "Local Artists Exhibit" (through Sept. 12).

 

MOUNT DORA CENTER FOR THE ARTS: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; 138 E. Fifth Ave., Mount Dora; free; 352-383-0880. "Conceptual Journeys" (through Sept. 25).

 

POLK MUSEUM OF ART: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, 800 E. Palmetto St., Lakeland; free; 863-688-7743. "Destinations in Painting: The Kasten Collection," "Moon Museum" (through Dec. 6).

 

ROSE ROOM GALLERY: 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; 600 Auditorium Blvd. at the Peabody Auditorium, Daytona Beach; free; 386-671-3461. "Photography Club of Flagler County" (opening reception 5:30-7:30 p.m. today, through Sept. 28).

 

SARA FOX GALLERY HOUSE: 1-5 p.m. daily; 110 N. Halifax Ave., Daytona Beach, free, 386-258-5333. "The Holocaust Exhibit: A Tribute to My Parents" (opens Thursday, through Sept. 20).

 

SOUTHEAST MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY: noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 1200 International Speedway, Building 1200, Daytona State College, Daytona Beach; free; 386-506-4475. "Alumni Focus 2015" (through Sept. 20), "Second Nature: Brad Temkin" (through Dec. 18).

 

THE FALCON BAR & GALLERY: 5:30 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-midnight Sunday; 819 E. Washington St., Orlando; free; 407-423-3060. "Peterson Guerrier: The Exhibition Will Remain Open" (through Sept. 11).

 

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA LIBRARY: 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, noon-11 p.m. Sunday; North Gemini Boulevard, Orlando; free; 407-823-5470. "Hidden Artists Exhibition" (through Sept. 30).

 

WINTER GARDEN ART ASSOCIATION: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 127 S.Boyd St., Winter Garden; free; 407-347-7996. "Beauty of the Beasts" (through Saturday), "Celebrating American Icons" (through Oct.31).

 

 

Ways to Keep cool in Central Florida

Looking for places to keep the kiddo's cool this summer and not leave you broke? Here's a list of Splash pads through out Central Florida for Free or a small fee..
Public splash pads in Central Florida
Lake
Tavares: Children's Splash Park, 100 E. Ruby St.; 352-742-6267; TavaresSplashPark. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends only in April and May; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends after Labor Day in September; closed October through March. $2 for anyone entering the splash-pad fenced areas; $15 for seasonal pass for Tavares residents. This is my personal favorite as well as the grandkids. They can play in the splash park great real wet then go dry of on the wooden playground.

Orange
Bithlo: Bithlo Park Splash Playground, 18501 Washington Ave.; 407-254-1905; BithloPark; call for hours and cost.
Lake Buena Vista: Magical Water Fountain at Downtown Disney Markeplace, near Once Upon a Toy, 1375 E. Buena Vista Dr.; 407-939-5277. Smaller splash pad is near Days of Christmas. Open daily; free.
Ocoee: Family Aquatic Facility, 1820 A.D. Mims Road; 407-905-3180; OcoeeAquatic. Pool has three play features. Open daily; hours vary; $1.50 for adults 18 and older; $1 for children and seniors 65 and older. Seasonal passes also available.
Orlando: Barnett Park, 4801 W. Colonial Drive; 407-836-6248; BarnettPark. Open daily 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; free. Orlando: Capehart Park, 715 Capehart Drive; 407-254-9160; CapehartPark. Open daily 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; free.
Orlando: Downey Park, 10107 Flowers Ave.; 407-254-9180; DowneyPark. Open weekdays through June 8; weekend cost is $1 per person per session. Sessions are 10 a.m-2 p.m. and 3 p.m.-7 p.m.; free.
Orlando: Dr. P. Phillips Community Park, 8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd., 407-254-9038; DrPPhillipsPark. Open year-round. Admission charged on holidays and weekends March through October and weekdays June through August. Admission is $1 per person per session. Summer sessions: 10 a.m-2 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. Winter sessions: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. and 3-5 p.m.
Winter Garden: Downtown Interactive Fountain and Splashpad, 104 S. Lakeview Ave., 407-656-4155; WinterGarden. Open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; free.
Winter Park: Shady Park, 421 New England Ave.; 407-599-3334; ShadyPark. Open daily; free.
Osceola
Kissimmee: Lakefront Park, 201 Lakeview Drive; 407-932-1958 or 407.518.2501; call for info.
Kissimmee: Bob Makinson Aquatic Center, 2204 Denn John Lane; 407-870-7665; BobMakinson. Open weekends only May 24-June 1; open daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (noon-5 p.m. Sundays) June 6-Aug. 17; open weekends only Aug. 16-Sept. 2. Age 3 and older, $5; age 2 and younger, free.
St. Cloud: Lakefront Splash Pad, Chris Lyle Aquatic Center, 3001 17th St.; 407-957-7287; ChrisLyle. Open 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; free.
Seminole
Lake Mary: Splash Pad at Trailblazer Park, Lake Mary Sports Complex, 550 Rantoul Lane; 407-585-1494; LakeMary. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; $2 per person or $15 for city-resident annual pass.
Oviedo: Splash Zone at Aquatic Facility, 148 Oviedo Blvd., 407-971-5565; http://www.cityofoviedo.net/node/368. Open noon-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday till May 30; open noon-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday from May 31-Aug. 10.
Sanford: Fort Mellon Park Splash Pad, 600 E. First St.; 407-688-5103; Sanford. Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and noon-6 p.m. Sunday through September. Open Friday-Sunday in March and October. Cost: $2 per person, but free from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. the first Friday each month. Season pass is $25 per person. We've visited this park too the kids like the play ground much better then the Splash pad with the dancing waters.

Winter Springs: Trotwood Park Splash Playground, 701 Northern Way and 1224 Trotwood Blvd.; WinterSprings. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Cost: $3 per person; free for Winter Springs residents.
Winter Springs: Torcaso Park Splash Playground, 104 N. Moss Road; 407-327-6599; http://www.winterspringsfl.org/EN/web/dept/pr/splashplaygroundinformation.htm. Hours vary amid renovation. Cost: $3 per person; free for Winter Springs residents.
Volusia
Daytona Beach: Breakers Oceanfront Park, 13 S. Atlantic Ave.; 386-671-3402; Breakers. Open sunrise to sunset seasonally; free. Please if you share make sure you give me credit for the post.

Lake county- places to see

Lake County

Antique Boat Museum
908 N Clayton St
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Lake County

Open to Public

Clifford House
Also known as Eustis Historical Museum and Preservation Society, Inc.
Historically known as Clifford-Taylor House

536 N Bay St
Eustis, FL 32726
Lake County
(352) 483-0046

Open to Public
More info/Directions:
1910. Classical Revival. 2 and a half stories, frame, clapboarding, full-height entrance portico with paired Doric columns. Built by Guilford David Clifford, Lake County pioneer merchant and a founder of Eustis.


Eustis Historic Museum
536 N Bay St
Eustis, FL 32726
Lake County
(352) 483-0046
http://www.eustis.org./Museum.shtml

Open to Public
More info/Directions:
Originally the home of an early settler to the area, city ordinance established the Eustis Historic Museum in the Clifford House in 1983. The museum collects, preserves, and displays artifacts relevant to the history of Eustis, Lake County, and Florida.

Lake County Courthouse
Also known as Lake County Historical Museum
315 Main St
317 Main St
Tavares, FL 32778
Lake County
(352) 343-9600

Open to Public
The museum is located on the first floor of the Lake County Historic Courthouse, located at 317 W. Main St., Tavares.
The museum is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays.
More info/Directions:
Constructed between 1923 and 1926, the Lake County Courthouse is a Neo-classical Revival style building. This property served as the County’s main courthouse until 1976. Today, part of the building houses the Lake County Historical Museum.


Royellou Museum
450 Royellou Ln
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Lake County
(352) 383-0006
http://www.historicmountdora.com/museum.htm

Open to Public
More info/Directions:
Housed in the old city jail, the Royellou Museum contains exhibits pertaining to the history of Mount Dora, which was originally called Royellou. The museum exhibits do not merely focus on the historic jailhouse, rather they pertain to the history of the city. The museum also maintains a photo gallery