In April 2025, Jill and I embarked on two unforgettable three-night cruises, both marking historic inaugural sailings. Our first adventure was aboard MSC World America, followed by NCL Aqua. Each ship showcased its unique charm and promised exhilarating experiences at sea—promises they effortlessly fulfilled.
Between cruises, we made the most of our day in vibrant Miami, where we strolled through a captivating sculptural garden and explored an intriguing science museum.
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our fun-filled week.
This story captures the best moments of my visit to the Frost Science Museum—a unique destination that combines a science museum, aquarium, and planetarium into an entertaining and educational experience.
Between cruises, we made the most of our day in vibrant Miami, where we strolled through a captivating sculptural garden and explored an intriguing science museum.
Click HERE to read a short introduction to our fun-filled week.
This story captures the best moments of my visit to the Frost Science Museum—a unique destination that combines a science museum, aquarium, and planetarium into an entertaining and educational experience.
Jill and me on the Rooftop Terrace
Miami, Florida (April 12, 2025) When Jill and I planned our day in Miami—between two three-night cruises, the first on MSC World America, the second on Norwegian Aqua—I suggested we visit the Phillip & Patrica Frost Museum of Science.
“The museum has a planetarium, an aquarium, and interactive science exhibits,” I said. “It’ll be a fun way to spend a few hours.”
And that’s exactly what we did.
Spoiler Alert: I walked in expecting an interesting afternoon. I walked out surprised, inspired, and a little bit smarter!
“The museum has a planetarium, an aquarium, and interactive science exhibits,” I said. “It’ll be a fun way to spend a few hours.”
And that’s exactly what we did.
Spoiler Alert: I walked in expecting an interesting afternoon. I walked out surprised, inspired, and a little bit smarter!
Opened in May 2017, the museum boasts a sleek, modern design with four interconnected buildings, each serving a distinct purpose. Its open-air layout encouraged movement between indoor and outdoor spaces, which made our experience feel effortless and dynamic.
Jill and I explored every exhibit, soaking in all the science and discovery the museum had to offer. But don’t worry—I won’t overwhelm you. Instead, I’ll highlight three of my favorites.
The Frost Planetarium: A Journey Through Earth’s Climate
When I entered the Frost Planetarium, I assumed I would travel through the universe to planets and stars millions of light years from earth. After all, planetariums are gateways to the cosmos.
Instead, I found myself drawn into the inner workings of our own planet—an unexpected but fascinating detour.
Dynamic Earth, a stunning 24-minute show narrated by actor Liam Neeson, brought Earth’s climate system to life. His distinctive voice added depth to this immersive show—and helped make complex science more engaging.
(On a side note, a pre-show announcement made it clear: “No Photography or Videography Allowed.” So, while I couldn’t capture my experience in photos, you can still get a glimpse of Dynamic Earth by checking out this short trailer.)
The 250-seat domed auditorium features a 67-foot-wide tilted dome that filled my field of vision—from above, below, and the side. With a cutting-edge visual system, surround sound, and data driven simulations, I gained a better understanding of how solar energy shapes weather patterns, ocean currents, and life on Earth.
Key takeaways:
Dynamic Earth proved that sometimes the most interesting discoveries aren’t light-years away—they’re right beneath our feet!
Instead, I found myself drawn into the inner workings of our own planet—an unexpected but fascinating detour.
Dynamic Earth, a stunning 24-minute show narrated by actor Liam Neeson, brought Earth’s climate system to life. His distinctive voice added depth to this immersive show—and helped make complex science more engaging.
(On a side note, a pre-show announcement made it clear: “No Photography or Videography Allowed.” So, while I couldn’t capture my experience in photos, you can still get a glimpse of Dynamic Earth by checking out this short trailer.)
The 250-seat domed auditorium features a 67-foot-wide tilted dome that filled my field of vision—from above, below, and the side. With a cutting-edge visual system, surround sound, and data driven simulations, I gained a better understanding of how solar energy shapes weather patterns, ocean currents, and life on Earth.
Key takeaways:
- Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere interact to regulate climate balance.
- Living organisms, from tiny plankton to vast forests, play a vital role in stabilizing our planet.
- Volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and extreme weather events significantly influence global climate.
Dynamic Earth proved that sometimes the most interesting discoveries aren’t light-years away—they’re right beneath our feet!
The Frost Aquarium: A Journey from the Surface into the Deep
The Frost Aquarium transported me into the heart of South Florida’s aquatic universe—from the sunlit surface waters of the Gulf Stream to the shadowy depths of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a captivating journey through a marine ecosystem of nature’s wonders.
My adventure began on the Vista Level, which offered a surface-level perspective of the region’s vibrant marine habitats. The focal point was a 100-foot-wide, 500,000-gallon tank teeming with hammerhead sharks, devil rays, and other open-water species. Their movement in the crystal-clear water was both thrilling and serene.
But what truly captured my attention was the aviary, an engaging space that spotlighted native Florida birds within a simulated mangrove habitat. There, I watched Rosette spoonbills, royal tern, black ibis, and other birds as they perched among live red and black mangrove trees or wandered the sandy “beach.” Of all the birds, the Rosette spoonbill fascinated me the most—its striking pink plumage and distinctive spoon-shaped bill were unlike anything else in the exhibit.
My adventure began on the Vista Level, which offered a surface-level perspective of the region’s vibrant marine habitats. The focal point was a 100-foot-wide, 500,000-gallon tank teeming with hammerhead sharks, devil rays, and other open-water species. Their movement in the crystal-clear water was both thrilling and serene.
But what truly captured my attention was the aviary, an engaging space that spotlighted native Florida birds within a simulated mangrove habitat. There, I watched Rosette spoonbills, royal tern, black ibis, and other birds as they perched among live red and black mangrove trees or wandered the sandy “beach.” Of all the birds, the Rosette spoonbill fascinated me the most—its striking pink plumage and distinctive spoon-shaped bill were unlike anything else in the exhibit.
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From left to right: Rosette spoonbill, royal tern, and black ibis
Below, on the Dive Level, the mangrove roots extended deep into the water, creating a sanctuary for snapper, grouper, snook, and barracuda. (Do you remember the chorus from 1977 song by Heart? You lying so low in the weeds/I bet you gonna ambush me/You’d have me down, down, down, down on my knees/Now wouldn’t you, Barracuda? Oh) Here, I also came face-to-face with sleek sharks, graceful rays, and shimmering schools of fish, moving effortlessly through their underwater domain.
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Grouper on the left, barracuda on the right
And then, I descended even further—into The Deep. This immersive level was designed to transport visitors into the depths of the Gulf Stream, a world rarely glimpsed by human eyes. The centerpiece? The Gulf Stream Oculus, a 31-foot-wide viewing portal through which I gazed up at the same sharks, rays, and schools of fish—but this time from below.
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One of the most hypnotic sights awaited me near the jellyfish exhibit. I lingered in front of a tank filled with jellyfish, captivated by the delicate creatures in their medusa phase—the classic jellyfish form, free-swimming and umbrella-shaped, their tentacles trailing below. As they pulsated rhythmically, contracting their bell-shaped body to propel themselves through the water, their movement looked like an endless, flowing dance.
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Rooftop Terrace
The observation deck at the Frost Science Museum, known as the Rooftop Terrace, is an open-air space offering breathtaking views of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay.
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The terrace houses the Sun Spot exhibit, an educational experience with several interactive features that showcased the Sun’s power as a renewal energy source. I explored each, but the one I was most intrigued by was the human sundial, as it invited me to tell the time of day by my shadow.
At the center of the sundial, a vertical line is marked with months—December and January at the bottom, July and June at the top. As I stood atop the marker for April, I watched as my shadow fell midway between the numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’. Sure enough, when I looked at my watch, I saw it was 1:24!
At the center of the sundial, a vertical line is marked with months—December and January at the bottom, July and June at the top. As I stood atop the marker for April, I watched as my shadow fell midway between the numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’. Sure enough, when I looked at my watch, I saw it was 1:24!
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I’ve seen many sundials over the years—but I’ve never been one myself. It was a unique way to learn more about the relationship between the Sun’s position and timekeeping.
What I loved most about Frost Science Museum was its perfect blend of entertainment and education—I learned as I enjoyed myself. It was a wonderful and engaging way to spend a few hours on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Miami.