The Cummer Museum in Jacksonville.

By Carrie McLaren

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, located in the Riverside neighborhood just outside downtown Jacksonville, allows visitors to take a step inside a world surrounded with close to 5,000 works of art and a fantastic art education center for children. It's the largest fine arts museum in North Florida. 

Kid-Friendly Florida Museum

While the works in the main galleries of Jacksonville's Cummer Museum may have strict rules regarding the artwork, the Art Connections center allows kids to touch, feel and learn about art in an entirely new way. My girls love the ‘Gallery under Five’ area with replicas of artwork found in the main galleries, but on a much smaller scale. Kid-friendly Florida museums allow children to touch the art and gain a better appreciation of it. 

The ‘Picture Perfect’ activity in Art Connections gives kids a virtual paintbrush to create their own masterpieces. When completed, they receive a printed copy of their art to bring home. This activity is a big hit with adults, too, myself included. Kids and adults can also learn and play at Central Florida's Children's museums.

Cummer Museum Gardens

And a trip to the museum wouldn’t be complete without a stroll through the magnificent gardens. 

Located along the St. Johns River, both the English and Italian gardens offer a quiet spot to relax and maybe even paint your own masterpiece. You’d never even know you were in the heart of the city. Be sure to admire the Cummer oak tree while you’re there, too – it’s the centerpiece of the gardens.

Visit www.cummermuseum.org/ to plan your visit and learn about upcoming exhibits. 

PLACES TO REMEMBER