If you're a Florida resident looking for some family fun this fall, Sarasota & Her Islands (www.sarasotafl.org), renowned for being Florida's cultural coast, encourages you to experience its numerous museums in September 2008 and enjoy substantial savings during Sarasota's "30 Days of Discovery" Month (www.30daysofdiscovery.com).

This September, eight museums throughout the area will feature special savings like "Buy One Get One Free" admission to all residents of the state of Florida for the "30 Days of Discovery."

Here are some ideas for your family adventure:

• Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (www.selby.org) is a nine-and-a-half acre bay-front property including an open-air and under-glass museum of more than 20,000 colorful plants, many collected in the wild on over 150 scientific expeditions to tropical rainforests. Children will enjoy the indoor "rainforest", captivating dart frog collection and colorful koi pond, while adults can delight in Selby's living collection of over 6,000 orchids.
• The newly renovated and expanded state art museum of Florida, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (www.ringling.org), is located on a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, and was established in 1927 as the legacy of John Ringling. The Ringling campus includes the Museum of Art; the Ca d'Zan winter mansion of John and Mable Ringling; the Circus Museum depicting the history of the circus; the Tibbal's Learning center featuring the world's largest miniature circus; the 18th-century Historic Asolo Theater and beautifully manicured grounds and gardens.
• Crowley Museum and Nature Center (www.crowleymuseumnaturectr.org) is where Southwest Florida history and nature meet. A wildlife sanctuary and education center for Southwest Florida's fauna and flora, visitors walk leisurely through five distinct natural habitats and a pioneer history area, enjoying the sights and sounds of native Florida.
• Mote Aquarium (www.mote.org) invites visitors to explore the secrets of the sea with touch pools, shark, dolphin, manatee and sea turtle exhibits and over 100 other species of marine life. Viewable working labs and high-tech interactive exhibits showcase recent discoveries in marine science and the world-renowned research of Mote Marine Laboratory.
• Historic Spanish Point (www.historicspanishpoint.org), features exhibitions interpreting 5,000 years of Florida history, plus a pioneer homestead, formal gardens and nature trails.
• G. WIZ, The Hands-On Science Museum (www.gwiz.org), strives to make science relevant, technology understandable and learning an interactive adventure for people of all ages. Exhibits allow guests to make a bolt of lightning, build bridges with magnets, float a beach-ball in mid-air, design a robot and create an animated video.
• South Florida Museum (www.southfloridamuseum.org) is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida's Gulf Coast, and includes the Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium.
• Sarasota Jungle Gardens (www.sarasotajunglegardens.com) is one of the oldest continuously operating attractions in the State of Florida. Sarasota Jungle Gardens features 10 acres of lush tropical vegetation, winding jungle trails and entertaining, educational bird and reptile shows twice daily.

My kids love the Sarasota area.  There is so much to keep them entertained. Last year, we drove over for Circus Sarasota after a visit to Orlando. It's a great way to spend a long weekend.

Jennifer MIchaels, Family Travel Expert, VISIT FLORIDA and FamilyTravelPlanet.com