We always say that it is especially important for older adults to stay active, and one would immediately think of encouraging their parents to remain physically active by doing simple home exercises or attending fitness classes for retirees. However, just staying physically active is not enough. To ensure better health as one enters retirement age, people should also ensure that they remain active mentally. This would include cognitive activities and classes.
Museums are treasure troves of information, and this makes them the ideal place for cognitive stimulation. Visiting the museum with your loved one is a great activity you can do together, as it is not only an educational opportunity for your parent, but it also fosters bonding between both of you. Additionally, many museums are now increasingly senior-friendly, launching programs tailored for people in this age group.
Here are some museums in Sarasota, FL that you can visit with your loved one!
The Ringling
Beautiful both inside and outside the building, this museum is home to one of the best art and cultural collections in the country. The large museum complex houses the State Art Museum of Florida, Circus Museum, Ca’ d’Zan mansion, and Bayfront Gardens. Your parent can experience and enjoy art, architecture, and circus in one single complex. They can appreciate art from around the world at the Museum of Art. For the circus, you can bring them to catch a circus show at the Historic Asolo Theater or visit the Circus Museum. Within the gardens, you can visit The Dwarf Garden filled with interesting stone statues, or the Mable Ringling’s Rose Garden. With so much to see, you can split the visit into several trips.
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
One of the largest natural history museums in the state, this museum is great for letting your loved one learn more about ecology and biodiversity. It features fossil collections of prehistoric and early post-contact animal inhabitants of Florida. You can also visit The Planetarium within the museum complex to learn more about astronomy through immersive visual displays, or visit The Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat to see adorable, rescued manatees.
Classic Car Museum of Sarasota
If your parent loves automobiles, this place is for you. The second oldest continuously operating antique car museum in the country, this place features many classic and exotic cars, and even carriages in rotating exhibits. Other than cars, you can also check out the museum’s antique camera exhibit. Your loved one will love this trip to the past seeing all these rare collectibles.
Florida Maritime Museum
Learn more about the history of the Sunshine State with a visit to the Florida Maritime Museum, which focuses on sharing the history of the fishing industry in Florida. The building features a collection of boat models, fishing equipment, and other tools used by locals in the past. The main exhibit building itself was formerly the Cortez Commercial Fishing Village’s schoolhouse, so you can get a first-hand immersion into the lives of people who lived there by walking through the building. Your parent will enjoy the visit here, as the museum also offers free educational programs for visitors of all ages, such as watercolor outdoor painting and interactive information kits about seashells.
