Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens offers a perfect blend of culture and outdoor exploration for families, featuring interactive family backpacks filled with hands-on activities and the CREATE Cart with art projects kids can actually touch and make. The stunning 2.5-acre riverside gardens provide plenty of space for children to explore nature while parents enjoy world-class art, making it a rare museum where fidgety kids can genuinely have fun.

• ✓Interactive family backpacks with scavenger hunts and hands-on activities themed to current exhibitions
• ✓CREATE Cart with drop-in art projects kids can make and take home
• ✓2.5 acres of historic English and Italian gardens with fountains, reflecting pools, and riverside views perfect for exploration
• ✓Art Connections interactive gallery designed specifically for families with touchable art experiences
• ✓Special family days and workshops throughout the year with professional artists

1. 1.Grab a free family backpack at admission,they're themed with puzzles, activities, and games that turn gallery exploration into a treasure hunt
2. 2.Start with the CREATE Cart near the entrance for an immediate art-making activity that gets kids engaged before touring galleries
3. 3.Visit the gardens first if kids have high energy,let them explore the pathways and fountains, then transition to quieter indoor galleries
4. 4.Tuesdays offer extended hours until 8:00 PM and often have special family programming, plus smaller crowds in late afternoon
5. 5.Pack snacks and use the gardens as a picnic spot; there's no café on-site, but the outdoor spaces are perfect for a break

Saturday mornings at 10:00 AM opening or Sunday early afternoons work best for families, offering cooler temperatures for garden exploration and fewer crowds. Tuesday evenings provide a unique option with extended hours and special programming, though avoid the last hour before closing when activities wind down.

General admission is $12 for adults (kids 5 and under free, youth 6-17 discounted), with free parking on-site. While there's no café, you can bring snacks to enjoy in the gardens, and strollers are welcome throughout most of the museum and outdoor spaces.

Gardens are most beautiful in spring (March-May) with blooming azaleas and moderate temperatures. Summer can be hot and humid for extended outdoor time, so plan garden exploration for morning visits. The museum hosts special family events during school breaks and holiday-themed activities in December. Note that Mondays are closed year-round.

Five Points district is just a 5-minute drive away with family favorites like V Pizza (build-your-own pizzas kids love) and The Fox Restaurant (casual American with a good kids menu). Riverside Arts Market (Saturdays only, under the Fuller Warren Bridge) offers food trucks and kid-friendly vendor options about 10 minutes away.